Google

Quantum computing is now a mainstream study and experimental area and many tech giants have been constantly striving to commercialize the technology. Many companies have been consistently competing in a race to build the best quantum computer. The most recent Google I/O developers conference launched many new products and introduces several innovations. However, a specific announcement grabbed too many eyes and Google planned to build an error-free commercial-grade quantum computer within a decade, that is by 2029. 

The announcement came right after the tech giant unveiled its new Quantum AI Campus based in Santa Barbara, California. The campus includes Google’s first quantum data center, quantum hardware research laboratories, and its own quantum processor chip fabrication facilities. The campus is an expansion of its experimental lab space. 

Google, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., said that it will build a working error-corrected quantum computer that could enable solutions for the world’s most pressing problems like sustainable energy, reducing carbon emissions, feeding the growing population, and unlocking capabilities of disruptive technologies to build a better and helpful AI. Google aims to provide commercial-grade quantum computing services over the cloud and is invested in enabling multi-utility services through this quantum computer. As announced in the blog post by Erik Lucero, Lead Engineer, Google Quantum AI, the quantum computer will be primarily deployed for creating energy-efficient batteries, environment-friendly processes for producing fertilizers, and creating more targeted medicine. 

Google has been investing in developing advanced AI and cutting-edge technological innovations. The company is on a journey to build 1,000,000 physical qubits that work in concert inside a room-sized quantum computer. This is not the first-ever attempt to commercialize quantum computers. Companies including D-Wave Systems, IBM, and Honeywell International have been working towards commercializing these quantum machines. A report by Fast Company reveals that IBM plans to complete the 127-qubit IBM Quantum Eagle this year and expects to develop a 1000-qubit computing machine called the IBM Quantum Condor by 2023. Although we do not have a commercial-grade quantum computer yet, Google’s determination sparks hope. Commercial machines can solve complex computing and calculations a lot faster than conventional computers. The aim to create an error-corrected machine is not an easy process as it combines many real-world qubits into a single working logical qubit. For this Google will have to engage a large number of researchers and execute more quantum computing manufacturing under the company’s supervision. According to the blog post, Erik Lucero says, “To get there, we must build the world’s first “quantum transistor” — two error-corrected “logical qubits” performing quantum operations together — and then figure out how to tile hundreds to thousands of them to form the error-corrected quantum computer. That will take years.” To achieve this the company needs to show that they can encode one logical qubit with 1000 qubits and to make sure this error-correction method, Google believes that it should be able to show that when more physical qubits participate in error-correction, it will cut down the errors. 

Quantum computers have a potential role to play in the future and hence, Google’s announcement gives great hope to researchers. However, Google had not experimented with this earlier unlike other rivals like IBM and this would pose a challenge to the company. With the increasing discoveries in the field of quantum computing there happens to be a lot of risks and challenges that these companies need to overcome before they can create a usable quantum computer.