Google's quantum processor solves problem in minutes
Google's new 65-qubit Willow processor has pulled off a quantum calculation in under five minutes—a problem that would have taken even the fastest supercomputers longer than 10 septillion years.
This isn't just fast; it's proof that quantum hardware can now do things classical computers simply can't.
Processor can't be simulated on classical computers
The Google team used a clever trick called out-of-time-order correlators (OTOCs) to watch how information gets scrambled and then unscrambled in a quantum system.
By tweaking wave phases, they showed the results were real quantum effects, not just random noise.
These "quantum echoes" are like unique fingerprints that classical computers can't fake or simulate on a big scale.
Potential applications of quantum computing
This breakthrough opens the door to "Hamiltonian learning," which helps scientists figure out the hidden rules behind complex systems.
It's a big step toward practical quantum computers that could one day help with things like drug discovery, clean energy, and new materials.
We're not quite there yet, but Google's recent results bring that future a lot closer.