Create Google the most powerful computer in history

Google says it built the first quantum computer that can perform calculations beyond the capacity of today's most powerful supercomputers, a historic moment that was highly anticipated by researchers.

In a document from Google researchers who could see the FT and that was published briefly earlier this week on the NASA website before it was removed, it was claimed that its processor might be able to perform a calculation in three minutes and 20 seconds that would take the most advanced classic computer of today approximately 10 thousand years.

The researchers said this means that "quantum supremacy" was reached, when quantum computers perform calculations that were previously impossible.

"This dramatic acceleration in relation to all known classical algorithms provides an experimental materialization of quantum supremacy in a computational task and announces the advent of a highly anticipated computer paradigm," the authors wrote.

"As far as we know, this experiment marks the first calculation that can only be performed on a quantum processor."

The system can only perform a single and very technical calculation, according to the researchers, and the use of quantum machines to solve practical problems is still years away.

But Google researchers called it "a milestone towards large-scale quantum computing." They also predicted that the power of quantum machines will expand to an "exponential double rate," compared to the exponential rate of Moore's Law, which fueled advances in silicon chips in the first era of computing.

Although there are prototypes of the so-called quantum computers, developed by companies ranging from IBM to startups like Rigetti Computing, they can only perform the same tasks as classic computers, although in a faster way.

Quantum computers, if they can be built to scale, will take advantage of properties that extend beyond the limits of classical physics to provide exponential gains in computing power.

In a November 2018 report by the Boston Consulting Group it was said that they could “change the game in fields such as cryptography and chemistry (and, therefore, materials science, agriculture and pharmaceuticals) while continuing to mention artificial intelligence and machine learning … logistics, manufacturing, finance and energy. ”

Unlike the basic binary elements of classical computers, or bits, that represent zeros or ones, quantum bits, or qubits, they can represent both at the same time. By joining qubits, the number of states they could represent increases exponentially, which makes it possible to calculate millions of possibilities instantly.

Some researchers warn against exaggerating quantum supremacy and argue that it does not suggest that quantum machines will quickly outperform traditional computers and will pose a revolution in computing.

Under the direction of John Martinis, an experimental physicist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Google first predicted that he would achieve quantum supremacy by the end of 2017. But the system he developed, linking 72 qubits It was too difficult to control.

He eventually reformed the system to create a 53-qubits design with the code name Sycamore. The system was given the task of demonstrating that a random number generator was really random. Although that work has little practical application, Google researchers said "other initial uses for this computational ability" included machine learning, materials science and chemistry.

"It's a significant milestone, and the first time someone demonstrates that quantum computers could outperform the performance of classic computers," said Steve Brierley, founder of the startup of quantum software Riverlane, who has been working in the field for 20 years and is an advisor in quantum technologies for the United Kingdom. "It is an amazing achievement."

Innovation

Quantum computing is a different paradigm from classical computing, it is based on the use of qubits instead of bits, and leads to new logical gates that make new algorithms possible.

Acceleration

The acceleration of Google in relation to all known classic algorithms announces the advent of a highly anticipated computer paradigm.

Warning

However, some researchers warn against exaggerating quantum supremacy, since it does not imply that quantum machines will overcome traditional computers and rethink a computer revolution.

Prediction

Google predicted for the first time that it would reach quantum supremacy at the end of 2017, but the system it developed, joining 72 qubits was too difficult to control.

Historical

According to the US company, the new processor is able to perform a calculation in just over three minutes that can take up to 10,000 years to more advanced systems.