Highlights

• Google’s new Willow quantum computing chip introduced.
• It promises to reduce errors and perform benchmark computations in under five minutes
• The same task would take the fastest supercomputer 10 septillion years.
• The announcement sparked excitement among tech leaders with Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk discussing the potential of quantum computing.
• Google Quantum AI founder suggested that Willow’s performance might indicate the existence of parallel universes.

Google has unveiled its latest quantum computing chip called Willow making waves across the tech world. Willow promises to reduce errors exponentially and tackles a challenge in quantum error correction that researchers have been chasing for nearly 30 years.

Google claims that Willow can solve a standard benchmark computation in under five minutes. For context, the same task would take the fastest supercomputer around 10 septillion years or approximately 1025 years.

The new chip announcement was made in a detailed blog post by Founder and Lead Google Quantum AI, Hartmut Neven.

Neven revealed Google Quantum AI was founded back in 2012 with a vision to develop large-scale and useful quantum computers that can be the tool to utilise quantum mechanics.  The aim was always to develop something that can benefit society by “advancing scientific discovery, developing helpful applications and tackling some of society’s greatest challenges.”

Here’s an introduction video shared by Google with Director of Quantum Hardware Julian Kelly –

Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk Exchange on X

Google CEO Sundar Pichai shared his excitement on X (formerly Twitter) saying, “We see Willow as an important step in our journey to build a useful quantum computer with practical applications in areas like drug discovery, fusion energy, battery design + more.”

Introducing Willow, our new state-of-the-art quantum computing chip with a breakthrough that can reduce errors exponentially as we scale up using more qubits, cracking a 30-year challenge in the field. In benchmark tests, Willow solved a standard computation in <5 mins that would…

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) December 9, 2024

The announcement quickly caught the attention of Tesla CEO Elon Musk who reacted with a simple “Wow” on Pichai’s post.

Wow

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2024

Sundar Pichai responded enthusiastically suggesting, “We should do a quantum cluster in space with Starship one day.” Musk replied optimistically, “That will probably happen” and the duo ventured into a discussion about civilization’s advancement on the Kardashev scale.

We should do a quantum cluster in space with Starship one day:)

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) December 9, 2024

Musk noted, “Any self-respecting civilization should at least reach Kardashev Type II. In my opinion, we are currently only at <5% of Type I. To get to ~30%, we would need to place solar panels in all desert or highly arid regions.” Pichai agreed, adding, “We should scale solar so much more. Amazing that we keep looking at alternatives when the most obvious path is staring at us, literally!”

That will probably happen.

Any self-respecting civilization should at least reach Kardashev Type II.

In my opinion, we are currently only at <5% of Type I. To get to ~30%, we would need to place solar panels in all desert or highly arid regions.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2024

indeed. We should scale solar so much more, amazing that we keep looking at alternatives when the most obvious path is staring at our eyes, literally!

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) December 9, 2024

How Social Media Reacted?

The open exchange between two of the biggest names in the tech community quickly went viral leaving tech enthusiasts on social media excited.

Some users seem excited witnessing two big names geek out on the platform. Appreciating the open discussion, one user wrote, “It’s so cool that we get to see on X unfiltered discussions between CEOs,” commented an individual.”

It’s so cool that we get to see on X unfiltered discussions between CEOs!

— Hyperion_Atlas 🇬🇷 (@hyperiongr) December 9, 2024

One user commented, “Love to see the discussion among leaders so casually on this app. This kind of open conversation is essential to bring the right attention to technology.”

Love to see the discussion among leaders so casually on this app.

This kind of open and casual public conversations are required by all top executives to bring right kind of attention to the technology, which will also help in it’s easy adoption.

— Singleton (@NotFromAsgard) December 9, 2024

Another chimed in praising the idea and wrote, “Quantum mechanics in action. Will be keen to see it in space application soon. Quantum cluster space data centre sounds like the way to go forward! Keep it coming.”

Willow Hints About Multiple Universes

Meanwhile, Google Quantum AI founder Hartmut Neven also fueled the excitement with a bold claim in his blog post. Neven claimed that Willow’s astonishing speed might indicate the existence of parallel universes.

Neven wrote in a blog post, “Willow’s performance on this benchmark is astonishing: It performed a computation in under five minutes that would take one of today’s fastest supercomputers 10 septillion years. This mind-boggling number… lends credence to the notion that quantum computation occurs in many parallel universes, in line with the idea that we live in a multiverse.”

This idea ties back to the theory proposed by physicist David Deutsch, who first suggested that quantum computing could be evidence of a multiverse.

However, not everyone is convinced. Several critics online pointed out that the performance claims are based on a benchmark created by Google itself. While this benchmark is useful only for measuring progress in quantum computing and does not necessarily prove anything about parallel universes.

FAQs

Q1. What is Google’s new quantum computing chip called?

Answer. Google’s new quantum computing chip is called Willow.

Q2. What are the main features of Google’s Willow?

Answer. The main features of Google’s Willow include reducing errors exponentially and solving a standard benchmark computation in under five minutes. These tasks that would take the fastest supercomputer around 10 septillion years.

Q3. What did Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk discuss on X regarding Willow?

Answer. Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk discussed the potential of quantum computing with Willow and advancements on the Kardashev scale, with Musk noting that civilization should reach Kardashev Type II and Pichai agreeing on the need to scale solar energy.

Q4. What theory did Hartmut Neven suggest about Willow’s performance?

Answer. Hartmut Neven suggested that Willow’s astonishing speed might indicate the existence of parallel universes, in line with the idea proposed by physicist David Deutsch that quantum computation occurs in many parallel universes.

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