Google has unveiled its latest quantum chip, Willow, causing a wave of interested reviews in the media. According to the techno-giant itself, this chip is so powerful that it leaves traditional processors far behind, because it is able to perform calculations in a very short period of time, while classical computers would have to spend more time than the Universe exists. But the most interesting thing is that such insane chip performance can be explained by the existence of parallel Universes.
“Willow is so fast that it seems to borrow processing power from parallel realities. Its work confirms the theory of the multiverse put forward by David Deutsch,” said Hartmut Neven, founder of Google Quantum AI.
According to Neven, Google’s quantum processor performed the calculations in five minutes, which would have taken a classical supercomputer more than 10 septillion years, or 10⁵⁰ years, a number that exceeds the known time limits of physics and the age of our Universe.
Despite the boldness of the statement, the idea of a multiverse is not new. It has been considered in quantum physics for a long time, although it remains mainly at the level of theory. Some scientists supported Neven’s findings, but skeptics pointed out that the basis for these conclusions is Google’s own benchmark created to measure quantum performance. This is not direct proof of the existence of parallel realities.
Advantages of quantum computers over classical computers
Quantum computers, unlike conventional computers, are based on qubits, which can be not only 0 or 1, but also simultaneously in an intermediate state. Thanks to quantum entanglement – the mysterious bonding between particles – qubits can perform complex calculations much faster than classical computers. This makes it possible to solve problems that are beyond the reach of modern digital systems.
Willow is not positioned as proof of achieving quantum supremacy, unlike Google’s previous quantum computer, Sycamore. In 2019, Google claimed that Sycamore completed a task in 200 seconds that a classic supercomputer would have taken 10,000 years to complete. This claim has raised skepticism, with some researchers calling it exaggerated altogether. Since then, the company has avoided such statements, emphasizing instead “going beyond classical computing.”
Sycamore was a specialized device for performing tasks such as “random circuit sampling” (RCS), which has no practical application. Willow’s performance is evaluated using the same criterion. Google claims the chip performs the latest RCS test in less than five minutes, whereas Frontier’s supercomputer would take 10 septillion years. That’s why the technology giant attributes it to parallel computing, which supposedly takes place in “many parallel Universes.”
Google aims to make RCS the standard for evaluating quantum computers. Google Quantum AI founder Hartmut Neven states that “RCS is a starting point. If you can’t beat classical computers at this task, you can’t do it with other algorithms.” Other companies, such as IBM and Honeywell, offer an alternative metric, “quantum volume,” which accounts for the complex interactions of qubits. However, Willow’s specifications don’t include this indicator, which makes it difficult to compare.
Disadvantages of quantum systems
The key problem with quantum computers is the short duration of the quantum state of qubits and the high probability of errors as the number of qubits increases. Google claimed it was able to reduce errors by adding more qubits to the system. This is a significant step in the development of scalable quantum computing systems.
“Willow is the most convincing prototype of a scalable logic qubit to date,” Neven notes. ”It indicates that we are capable of building large quantum computers. Willow brings us closer to building and running practical algorithms that can’t be done on conventional computers.”
While the prospects for quantum computing look impressive, the question of its practicality and reliability remains open. Time will tell if these technologies can fulfill their ambitious promises and how they will affect our understanding of the nature of reality.
Earlier we reported on the top 5 unsolved mysteries of modern physics.
Provided by techcrunch.com
