The last couple of months have brought some significant advances in the quantum computing field. First it was Google that announced a chip specifically designed for this type of scenario. Now it is Microsoft that has presented a chip for quantum computers with new properties that could speed up the mass implementation of these devices in real-world uses.
Microsoft has been very involved in the development of artificial intelligence lately. However, the Redmond giant maintains multiple fronts open in the tech industry. One of those fronts is quantum computing. The firm wants to be among the first to make this type of computer as common as current servers and data centers. The AI boom has demonstrated how leaders in a crucial area for the industry’s future can propel themselves to the top.
Majorana 1, a Microsoft chip for quantum computers with unique properties
When it comes to quantum computing, experts project real-world utility decades into the future. However, Microsoft’s new Majorana 1 chip has the potential to make quantum computers truly useful in just a few years. According to the company, Majorana 1 boasts unique properties based on a new topological state instead of taking advantage of states of the matter such as liquid, solid and gaseous. This is thanks to a new type of material called topoconductor.
The main goal of quantum computers is to perform calculations that would take traditional computers thousands of years to complete. Well, Microsoft claims that the properties of Majorana 1 are ideal for that purpose. The firm predicts that the chip could be of great use in research fields such as materials science and medicine.
A couple of months ago, Google introduced “Willow” as its own quantum computing chip. This hardware also has a unique capability for the segment. It can correct calculation errors resulting from high qubit usage. If you’re not aware, a qubit is the quantum equivalent of traditional computing bits. They also take values of 1 and 0, but the properties of quantum mechanics allow them to be in both states at the same time.
Expert opinions on when quantum computers will really be useful are varied. Jensen Huang—CEO of NVIDIA—believes that it is at least a couple of decades away. On the other hand, Sundar Pichai—CEO of Google—is more optimistic and foresees real utility within five or ten years.
