[NEWS] Google unveils new quantum chip "Willow" that completes calculations that would take 100 sextillion years in just 5 minutes

Google Quantum AI Lab, the quantum computing division of Google, announced the quantum chip "Willow" on the 9th.

According to the announcement, Willow completed a calculation that would take a conventional supercomputer 10 to the 25th power (100 sextillion years) in less than five minutes. Google said, "This is a number that significantly exceeds the universe."

Google emphasizes that Willow has achieved two major results. One of them is the computing power demonstrated by a benchmark called random circuit sampling (RCS).

The other is that it has achieved quantum error correction by scaling up by increasing the number of quantum bits. Google describes this as "solving a problem that has been pursued for about 30 years."

Quantum errors are positioned as a major challenge in the field of quantum computers, and are characterized by their strong susceptibility to external interference. Quantum error correction is extremely important for enabling quantum computers to perform accurate processing and retain information for a long time, and it detects and corrects various errors that quantum bits may encounter.

According to Google, they conducted experiments expanding the quantum bit array to 3x3, 5x5, 7x7, and so on, and were able to halve the error rate. This means that they have "achieved an exponential reduction in the error rate," they continued, and for the first time have achieved a rate "below the threshold."

Google says that these achievements bring them one step closer to running practical, commercially viable algorithms that are not possible with conventional computers.

The announcement of Willow, which boasts incredible performance, has raised concerns about its impact on crypto assets (virtual currencies) and blockchain. In the crypto asset market, when Google announced in the past that it had completed a similar difficult calculation using a quantum computer, prices dropped significantly. The main reason for this was the concern that quantum computers could decrypt blockchain encryption technology.

On the other hand, it is still expected to take time to put such quantum computers into practical use. Experts point out that research will be necessary over the next few years, and that investments of more than several billion dollars will be necessary.

Also, there is no widespread belief that the impact on crypto assets and blockchain is urgent. Kevin Rose, a former Google developer, said on X that Willow represents a major step forward, but pointed out that "a quantum computer with approximately 13 million qubits would be needed to decrypt Bitcoin's encryption within 24 hours." Willow currently consists of only 105 qubits, and he said, "It will be a long road (to decrypt it)."

Reference: Announcement , Mr. Rose X
Image: Quote from the announcement

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