Google invention solved in five minutes a problem that would take humans 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years
Experts say the tech could revolutionise medicine
We all know technology makes our daily lives a little more convenient, but when it can solve problems that would literally take us until the end of time, it's absolutely mind-blowing.
Unlike traditional computers that process information using bits (which are either 0 or 1), quantum computers use quantum bits or 'qubits' that can exist in multiple states simultaneously.
This allows them to perform incredibly complex calculations at speeds that seem almost magical compared to even our most powerful supercomputers.
While the first quarter of this century was shaped by the rise of the internet and then artificial intelligence, the next few decades will likely mark the beginning of the quantum age.
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Last year, Google revealed Willow, its cutting-edge quantum processor, which passed a benchmark test with, let's say, more than flying colours.
According to the tech giant's report, Willow 'performed a standard benchmark computation in under five minutes that would take one of today’s fastest supercomputers 10 septillion (that is, 1025) years.' That number is almost impossible to comprehend but it's basically longer than the universe has existed.
Compared to Microsoft's quantum project, which has 8 qubits, the Willow chip has 105 qubits.
The race is to reach one million qubits for a 'utility scale machine' that can perform quantum chemistry and drug design without errors. Willow seems to be on its way, as in the same test, it managed to 'reduce errors exponentially' as the engineers scaled up using more qubits.' The report noted: "This cracks a key challenge in quantum error correction that the field has pursued for almost 30 years."
Hartmut Neven, founder and lead of Google Quantum AI, noted in the post that the journey to this point began over 10 years ago. Now, the company has future plans to move Willow 'along the path of 'commercially relevant applications.'
Moreover, speaking to the BBC, Neven hopes the Willow quantum processor will 'help many problems that humankind has now.'
"It will enable us to discover medicines more efficiently," he explained. "It will help us make food production more efficient, it will help us produce energy, to transport energy, to store energy[...] solve climate change and human hunger."
The expert added: "It allows us to understand nature much better, and then unlock its secret to build technologies that make life more pleasant for all of us."
Some scientists believe that true artificial intelligence will only become possible through quantum computing.
Similarly, Nvidia has become a valuable company by positioning itself at the centre of the artificial intelligence revolution, powering everything from ChatGPT to autonomous vehicles. A couple of months ago, they secured a $500 billion deal that could completely transform the US energy sector.
Neven has even suggested that Willow's extraordinary speed might support some theories about the multiverse's existence. Essentially, this incredible performance could be explained by Willow accessing parallel universes for additional computing power, the BBC reported.