Why are we worried about Willow?
Two normal computer bits can exist in four possible states: 00, 01, 10, or 11. But they can only represent one of these at a time. A quantum computer allows two quantum bits (qubits) to represent the four states simultaneously due to 'superposition' and 'entanglement' properties, similar to running four computers. The power of a quantum computer grows exponentially with more qubits, but it also causes errors, making the system resemble a normal computer. Google's Willow reduces scaling errors, causing Elon Musk to respond with a “Wow” when Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced this at X.
Are they ready for everyday applications?
No. Governments, technology companies and venture capitalists are investing billions in quantum computing, driven by its promise to revolutionize industries and deliver commercial and military benefits. Quantum promises breakthroughs in cryptography, drug discovery and logistics optimization with its incredible processing speeds. Willow has indeed brought the world one step closer to running a more stable quantum computer. One challenge, Google says, is “demonstrating the first 'useful, beyond classical' computation on today's quantum chips that is relevant to a real-world application.”
Will this speed up AI models and put bitcoins at risk?
Blockchain-powered bitcoins rely on classical cryptographic algorithms. Quantum improvements like Shor's algorithm could break these systems in minutes, putting Bitcoin's $1 trillion ecosystem at risk, which justifies upgrades. Quantum computing capabilities could thus potentially eclipse blockchain for security applications.
Is it time to pop the champagne bottle?
Although notable, Willow has limited practical applications at this stage. While Willow is a 105-qubit chip, IBM offers a 156-qubit processor for testing enterprise applications. While Google uses surface code methods to correct errors in large qubit arrays, IBM's modular error correction approach focuses on breaking down quantum systems into smaller, manageable units, each with localized error correction. It remains to be seen which approach will be more efficient.
How is India doing in this area?
Under the National Quantum Mission (NQM), India plans to develop quantum computers with 50 to 100 qubits in about five years, and 1,000 qubits and more in eight years. However, the focus will also be on developing quantum error correction to make quantum computers stable and functional for everyday use, and on building quantum algorithms for practical applications. India currently has a six-qubit quantum computer built by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.