Google announced a major new achievement in quantum computing that could pave the way for future uses in drug discovery and materials science.
Using its latest quantum chip called Willow , Google developed a new algorithm that outperforms conventional computers.
The breakthrough was published in a peer -reviewed article in the journal Nature on Wednesday (October 22) and achieved by Google's quantum artificial intelligence ( AI) team.
Google's Vice President of Engineering Hartmut Neven said in a blog post that real-world use of quantum computers is likely still five years away. However, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the breakthrough with the algorithm, called quantum echoes by the US tech company, is a significant step.
According to Google, the Willow chip runs the algorithm 13,000 times faster than the best classical algorithm on one of the world's fastest supercomputers. In theory, the algorithm could also be replicated on other quantum computers.
"Our Willow chip has achieved verifiable quantum superiority for the first time," Pichai said in a post on X's social media, calling the breakthrough a significant step toward the first real-world application of quantum computing.
The new algorithm can describe the interactions between atoms in molecules using nuclear magnetic resonance ( NMR ), Pichai said, potentially paving the way for future uses in drug discovery and materials science.
It's not Google's first claim of quantum superiority, but researchers say the new achievement marks a significant milestone because the results can be repeated and independently verified.