Quantum Chips in Development Could Revolutionize Tech
Quantum Chips in Development Could Revolutionize Tech
Amazon, Google, IBM and Microsoft are advancing their efforts to build powerful quantum computers, each unveiling progress on their latest experimental chips.
The companies are competing to develop a system that could solve complex problems exponentially faster than today’s supercomputers, potentially reshaping medicine, cybersecurity and material science.
Quantum computing remains in its infancy, but experts say its potential is enormous. Unlike traditional computers, which process data using binary bits (0s and 1s), quantum computers use qubits—units that can exist in multiple states simultaneously.
This feature, known as superposition, allows quantum systems to perform complex calculations at speeds unattainable by classical machines.
However, a major challenge remains: error correction. Qubits are notoriously unstable and prone to interference, requiring extreme conditions such as near-absolute zero temperatures to function reliably.
As tech giants push forward, their strategies to reduce errors and scale quantum processors have become key factors in determining who will lead the race.
Microsoft
Microsoft is taking a unique approach with Majorana 1, its newly unveiled quantum chip. Instead of using traditional superconducting qubits, the company is developing topological qubits, which could be more stable and require less error correction.
Unlike conventional qubits, topological qubits store information across their entire structure, making them more resistant to disturbances. If successful, Microsoft’s approach could significantly speed up the timeline for large-scale quantum computing.
However, many experts say it’s too soon to assess Microsoft’s progress. “Microsoft’s progress is the hardest to get an idea about because it’s very niche,” said Tom Darras, founder of quantum startup Welinq.
While early research is promising, Microsoft still faces significant challenges before proving its technology works on a larger scale.
Google claims its latest quantum processor, Willow, can solve a problem in just five minutes that would take the world’s fastest supercomputer 10 septillion years.
The company’s biggest achievement with Willow is its “below threshold” approach, which defies a long-standing limitation in quantum computing. Traditionally, adding more qubits increases processing power but also raises the likelihood of errors.
Google researchers say Willow reverses this trend, making the system more reliable as more qubits are added.
Amazon
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is taking a different approach with Ocelot, a prototype designed to integrate with cloud-based quantum computing services. AWS says Ocelot could improve quantum error correction efficiency by up to 90% compared to traditional methods.
Ocelot’s architecture includes cat qubits, named after Schrödinger’s famous thought experiment. These qubits, combined with error correction features, could make Amazon’s system more reliable. However, the chip is still in early development, and its usefulness remains unproven.
“There’s lots of challenges ahead,” said Troy Nelson, chief technology officer at Lastwall, a cybersecurity firm focused on quantum resilience. “What Amazon gained in error correction was a trade-off for the complexity and the sophistication of the control systems and the readouts from the chip.”
Amazon’s long-term strategy focuses on cloud-based quantum computing, a model that could allow businesses and researchers to access quantum systems remotely.
IBM
IBM has been a leader in quantum computing for years. Its Condor chip, the second-largest quantum processor ever built, was unveiled at the IBM Quantum Summit 2023. However, IBM is now shifting focus from simply increasing qubit counts to improving error mitigation and modular computing.
This is IBM's quantum computer called Condor. It will soon be ready for use with a slightly better than 1,000 qubit chip, making it the most powerful in the world. Today, it would take more than 10,000,000 physical condors to be a threat to #Bitcoin , and even then, they all… pic.twitter.com/Kj1SdEtrcx
— Oliver L. Velez
1%'er Bitcoiner (@olvelez007) August 15, 2023
IBM’s newer Heron chip, with 133 qubits, aims for lower error rates and smoother scalability by linking multiple smaller, stable chips. Unlike companies focusing on single large-scale processors, IBM’s approach connects several quantum units to build a more powerful machine.
Rob Schoelkopf, co-founder of Quantum Circuits, told Business Insider that IBM has taken a brute-force scaling approach so far, but its methodology may need refinement for long-term efficiency.
While each company has made advancements, experts say it is too early to declare a winner. For now, the race continues, with each company pushing toward the next major breakthrough in computing.