Google just hit a massive milestone in quantum computing. On Monday, the company revealed that its new chip, Willow, can solve a complex computing problem in less than five minutes.
To put that into perspective, Google says it would take the world’s fastest supercomputer an almost unimaginable 10 septillion years to do the same task—that’s longer than the age of the universe.
This isn’t Google’s first big moment in quantum computing. Back in 2019, its processor tackled a problem in three minutes that would have taken a supercomputer 10,000 years. That claim sparked some debate, with IBM challenging the results. But Willow takes things to the next level, delivering a performance leap that shows just how fast this technology is evolving.
One of the hardest parts of quantum computing is dealing with errors. Instead of regular bits that are either 1 or 0, quantum computers use qubits, which can be 1, 0, or something in between—all at the same time. This makes them incredibly powerful but also very sensitive to interference, which can lead to errors. Google’s team figured out how to cut down these errors by adding more qubits to the system and fixing mistakes as they happen. They shared these findings in the science journal Nature.
Hartmut Neven, who leads Google’s quantum team, explained that this breakthrough—called getting “below threshold”—is a huge deal. “You have to reduce errors while scaling up qubits to show real progress, and this has been a challenge for nearly 30 years,” Neven wrote in Google’s blog. Willow, with its 105 qubits, has now set a new standard for quantum chips, with what Google calls “best-in-class performance.”
Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, praised Willow’s potential on social media, saying it represents a big step forward. Google isn’t stopping here. The next goal is to use quantum computing for a real-world problem that traditional computers can’t handle—something that could make a meaningful difference. Neven says the possibilities include creating better AI, discovering new medicines, designing efficient batteries, and advancing renewable energy.
While Google is leading the charge with Willow, it’s not the only player in the game. Competitors like Microsoft, Amazon, and IBM are also developing their own quantum systems. But with Willow’s performance, Google seems to have pulled ahead in the race to make quantum computing practical and useful. This is just the beginning of what could be a transformative era for technology and science.
