Google News: Company Hails New Milestone In Quantum Computing

Search giant Google has touted a new milestone in its development of a quantum computer. An experimental quantum processor was able to complete a calculation that would take a typical supercomputer thousands of years in a matter of minutes.

These results were published Wednesday in the scientific journal Nature. According to the researchers, “quantum speedup is achievable in a real-world system and is not precluded by any hidden physical laws.”

Google’s claims have not gone without pushback, the Associated Press reports. An early draft of the company’s paper leaked in September, allowing researchers to review some of its claims. Some from IBM took issue with Google’s claim that its processor had achieved “quantum supremacy,” a state at which a quantum computer can complete a calculation that would take a traditional supercomputer longer than its own lifetime. Google specifically claimed that its processor, Sycamore, completed a calculation that would take others over 10,000 years to finish.

IBM accused Google of underestimating the standard supercomputer, Summit, that it used for comparison. IBM, who developed Summit, claimed that it could complete the calculation used in the experiment in 2.5 days. Google has refuted this objection.

Quantum computing utilizes special quantum bits that are able to process the binary data values one and zero simultaneously. Advancements in the technique are being actively pursued by numerous large tech companies, including Microsoft, IBM, and Intel, in addition to Google.

“The quantum supremacy milestone allegedly achieved by Google is a pivotal step in the quest for practical quantum computers,” John Preskill, a Caltech professor and originator of the term quantum supremacy, said.

Preskill did, however, note that practical quantum computers would unlikely to see widespread adoption for several more decades.