Google outlines performance of Willow quantum chip, highlights roadmap

Google launched its latest quantum chip called Willow with strong error correction improvements and outlined its roadmap for quantum computing.

In a blog post, Google outlined Willow, which can reduce errors as it scales up using more qubits. Google called the advance a breakthrough that will make quantum systems more reliable.

According to Google, Willow performed a standard benchmark computation in under 5 minutes and outpaces today's fastest supercomputers by "10 septillion years." Google rated Willow on the random circuit sampling (RCS) benchmark.

Willow is part of Google's 10-year effort to build out its quantum AI operations. The company said Willow moves it along the path to commercially relevant applications.

Google's news is just part of a flurry of announcements that have landed in recent days.

• IonQ outlined a rewrite of its original quantum operating system with IonQ Quantum OS and a set of hybrid services.
• AWS announced its Quantum Embark Program, an advisory service to help customers get ready for quantum computing without long-term commitments.
• AWS also said it is better integrating its Braket quantum computing platform with Nvidia's CUDA-Q platform. The effort between AWS and Nvidia is aimed at hybrid systems that include classical high-performance computing and quantum computing.

Google said its approach is to focus on the quantity of qubits while scaling.

• Quantum Computing Platforms
• Quantum Computing Software Platforms
• Quantum Full Stack Players

"We’re focusing on quality, not just quantity — because just producing larger numbers of qubits doesn’t help if they’re not high enough quality. With 105 qubits, Willow now has best-in-class performance across the two system benchmarks discussed above: quantum error correction and random circuit sampling. Such algorithmic benchmarks are the best way to measure overall chip performance."

\

• Quantum computing all in on hybrid HPC with classical computing
• Classiq CEO Minerbi on the intersection of quantum computing, HPC and use cases
•  IonQ’s bet on commercial quantum computing working, acquires Quibitekk | IonQ's quantum computing bets: Quantum for LLM training, chemistry and enterprise use cases
• IBM upgrades IBM Quantum Data Center with Heron
• IBM Boosts the Software Side of Quantum
• Quantinuum, Microsoft claim quantum reliability breakthrough
• Microsoft claims hybrid quantum breakthrough with Quantinuum, partners with Atom Computing
• Quantinuum raises $300 million, valued at $5 billion
• Quantum Brilliance, Oak Ridge National Laboratory aims to meld quantum computing, HP