O Google announced a historic achievement in the race for quantum computing. The company revealed that its processor Willow managed to run an algorithm called Quantum Echoes with performance 13 thousand times higher to that of the most powerful classical supercomputers in the world.
The feat was described in an article published in the magazine Naturewhich details the first verifiable experiment capable of being reproduced on other quantum platforms. The possibility of repetition gives the test an unprecedented status of “provable quantum advantage”something that has been sought after by scientists in the sector for years.
Quantum Echoes algorithm: unprecedented precision
The algorithm developed by Google allows map the molecular structure of substancesanalyzing the position and interaction between atoms in more detail than traditional methods, such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).
In experiments conducted by the Google Quantum AIthe system was tested on two molecules — one with 15 atoms and another with 28 atoms — and was able to replicate NMR results and identify additional information that were not visible by conventional techniques.
Imagine looking for a sunken ship at the bottom of the sea. Sonar may show a blurry shape, but our chip can even read the nameplate on the hull
O Quantum Echoes uses a method based on constructive interferencewhich amplifies the signal returned by qubits, the basic units of quantum computing. This process generates the so-called “quantum echo”extremely sensitive, which makes it possible to measure atomic structures with very high fidelity.
What makes the Willow chip different?
Originally introduced in 2024, the Willow is a processor with 105 superconducting qubits. At the time, Google had demonstrated that it solved five minutes a calculation that would take 10 septillion years to be processed by a classical computer, although the experiment had no practical application.
Now the new study shows real and verifiable resultsdemonstrating that Willow is ready for testing with useful algorithms. The chip also featured a significant reduction in error rates as the number of qubits increases, something vital for the stability of quantum machines.
According to the researcher Tom O’Brienfrom Google Quantum AI, the breakthrough is indeed a turning point:
Verifiability is a decisive step towards practical application. We are approaching a scenario in which quantum computing will become part of everyday scientific and industrial life
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Impacts and next steps of the research
The experiment validated by Google is the first to prove the quantum advantage in a verifiable waya concept that describes when a quantum computer demonstrably outperforms any classical machine in performing a task.
The feat has the potential to accelerate research in chemistry, pharmacology and materials scienceenabling, for example, discover new medicines or design next-generation batteries.
Researchers involved in the study estimate that machines 10 thousand times more powerful will be necessary to apply the method on an industrial scale, but the path to do so is clearer than ever.
The scientist Scott Aaronsonfrom the University of Texas at Austin, praised the progress:
It’s exciting to see Google beat supercomputers in a repeatable way. This type of consistency has been one of the biggest challenges in the field.
Scott Aaronsonfrom the University of Texas at Austin
The global scenario and the quantum race
The advancement of Google takes place amid a fierce dispute between technology giants. THE IBMfor example, announced plans to launch a processor called Starlingcom 200 logical qubits and ability to carry out more than 100 million quantum operations.
Meanwhile, the AlphabetGoogle’s parent company, saw its shares rise 2% after the results were released, driven by the expectation that quantum computing could become profitable and applicable within five years.
O Quantum Echoes consolidates the company as one of the most advanced companies in the area, showing that the quantum supremacy (concept demonstrated for the first time in 2019), which is now beginning to leave the theoretical field and get closer to concrete applications.
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With the success of the Willow chip and Quantum Echoes algorithm, Google shows that the era of functional quantum computing is closer than ever. The challenge now will be increase the scale without losing precisiona fundamental step towards transforming scientific discoveries into real products and solutions — from medicine to energy.
Source: Google and Nature
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Source: https://www.adrenaline.com.br/google/google-chip-willow-computacao-quantica-inteligencia-artificial/
