Google & IBM Race to Build First Practical Quantum Computer

In a joint project, Google and IBM have given a timeline for the first working quantum computer. The tech giants stated that the first working quantum computer, with a system of one million qubits, is on the verge of being built. The goal of a “working quantum computer,” which has been a dream in advanced physics and computer science since the 1980s, is now closer than ever before.

Advancements in Quantum Computing

Recent technical breakthroughs have led major tech companies to race to scale up laboratory experiments to an industrial level. Last June, IBM announced a clearer path to its goal by publishing a plan for a “full-scale quantum computer” that completed the missing parts of its previous designs. According to a Financial Times report, quantum computers have the potential to solve problems in fields like materials science and artificial intelligence that existing systems can’t.

IBM Quantum Initiative President Jay Gambetta stated, “It doesn’t feel like a dream anymore. I feel like we’ve cracked the code and can build this machine before the end of the decade.” This statement intensified the competition with Google, which also aims for an industrial-scale quantum computer before the end of the decade after overcoming one of the biggest technical hurdles late last year. Julian Kelly, the head of Hardware at Google Quantum AI, said, “All remaining engineering and scientific challenges are surmountable.”

The Challenge of 1 Million Qubits

To reach an industrial scale, the number of qubits must increase from under 200 to over one million. This is compared to the early days of classical computers, but quantum computers pose additional challenges.

One of the most critical issues is that qubits can only maintain their quantum states for tiny fractions of a second. As the scale grows, this increases problems with “noise” and instability. For example, on IBM’s experimental Condor chip, increasing the number of qubits to 433 led to unwanted interactions between components called “crosstalk.” Rigetti Computing CEO Subodh Kulkarni said that “stacking qubits this way creates a strange effect we can’t control,” calling it a serious physics problem. IBM, however, claims to have solved this problem with a new connection technology.

The Race for Error Correction

“Error correction” techniques, which make quantum computers fault-tolerant, are critically important. Google is the only company that has developed a chip capable of error correction as the system grows. Kelly warned that those who try to scale without reaching this stage risk building “very expensive, noise-producing but not value-producing” machines.

While Google is focusing on a one-million-qubit goal using the “surface code” method, IBM has switched to a different error correction approach called the “low-density parity-check code.” IBM claims this method requires 90% fewer qubits, but the need to establish long-distance connections creates significant engineering challenges.

The Heavy Engineering Load

Experts emphasize that the scaling process will be determined by challenges such as integrating massive cabling systems onto single chips, connecting these chips in modules, and developing giant refrigerators that operate at temperatures close to absolute zero.

Although the superconducting qubits used by Google and IBM have made great progress, they are difficult to control and require very low temperatures. Alternative methods like “trapped ions,” “neutral atoms,” or photon-based systems are more stable but face issues with speed and scaling.

The CEO of Universal Quantum, Sebastian Weidt, said that government funding will determine which technologies remain in the race. Last year, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) launched a comprehensive review to identify the most scalable technologies. Companies like Amazon and Microsoft are also working on radical designs for more reliable qubits.

Gartner analyst Mark Horvath summarized the confidence in the industry by stating, “Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it can’t be done.”

You Might Also Like;