Google’s Willow quantum chip achieved a groundbreaking milestone by solving calculations in minutes that would take classical supercomputers 10 septillions of years. These calculations involve random sampling of circuits, a key benchmark in quantum computing.
What is the meaning: The breakthrough in quantum computing with Willow points to possible future impacts on web3, as advanced quantum algorithms could improve decentralized systems, cryptographic security, and blockchain scalability.
Key details:
- Willow recently completed a random circuit sampling (RCS) benchmark in less than five minutes, outperforming the world’s fastest supercomputers by a factor of 10 septillion years.
- An exponential reduction in errors was achieved with increasing qubits, marking the first system to go “below the threshold” of errors.
- Developed using superconducting qubits, manufactured at Google’s Santa Barbara facility.
the numbers: Willow houses 105 qubits and can hold an excitation for up to 100 microseconds, a five-fold improvement over previous chips.
How it works: The Willow chip employs quantum error correction techniques to counteract environmental interference, ensuring that calculations remain quantum as the system scales.
Between the lines: Willow’s ability to reduce errors as qubits grow is a fundamental achievement, indicating the feasibility of reliable, large-scale quantum computing.
However: While the technology is innovative, it is still in its early stages and practical, real-world applications are still being explored.
what to look at: The possibility of quantum computing complementing AI advances.
- Google stated that Willow aims to help in fields such as drug discovery, energy, and optimization of learning architectures.
What’s next? Google noted that Willow aims for the first useful, beyond-classical quantum computing relevant to real-world applications.
- Researchers and developers are invited to contribute through Google’s open source tools and educational resources.
worth reading: In August, it was noted that experts are divided on whether quantum computing poses a threat to Bitcoin, with some arguing that it could be a bigger threat to banking systems, while others warn that it could jeopardize Bitcoin encryption, although the decentralized Bitcoin community could implement it. Quantum resistance measurements.
This article is published on BitPinas: Is Cryptocurrency in Trouble? Google’s Willow Quantum chip breaks speed records
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