Google has announced a major milestone in quantum computing, revealing an algorithm that performed a task beyond the reach of traditional supercomputers.
The algorithm successfully computed the structure of a molecule, a step that could eventually advance medicine and materials science. Google said this is the first verifiable instance of a quantum computer performing a repeatable “beyond-classical” computation.
Michel Devoret, chief scientist at Google’s quantum AI unit and recent Nobel laureate, called it a key step toward full-scale quantum computing. The algorithm reportedly allows the quantum computer to operate 13,000 times faster than a classical machine. The results were detailed in a peer-reviewed paper published in Nature.
Experts noted, however, that the breakthrough focuses on a very specific scientific problem. The computation involved two molecules, cross-checked using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology, similar to MRI scans.
Winfried Hensinger, professor of quantum technologies at the University of Sussex, said Google demonstrated “quantum advantage,” performing a task impossible for classical computers. Still, fully fault-tolerant quantum computers capable of large-scale applications remain years away. These would require hundreds of thousands – or even millions – of quantum bits, or qubits, to handle complex tasks.
“Google’s task is not yet the revolutionary real-world application often envisioned for quantum computers,” Hensinger said, “but it proves quantum machines are steadily gaining power.”
Qubits, the information units of quantum computers, differ from classical bits, which represent 0 or 1. Qubits can exist in multiple states simultaneously through superposition, allowing them to compute many outcomes at once. Maintaining qubits requires extremely controlled environments, free from interference, because they are highly sensitive and can easily be disrupted.
Hartmut Neven, Google’s VP of engineering, said real-world applications of quantum computers may still be around five years away. Google’s technology, referred to as “quantum echoes,” could also enhance artificial intelligence by generating unique data for AI models.
The development has drawn attention from cybersecurity experts, who warn that advanced quantum computers could break existing encryption. Governments and companies are being urged to adopt quantum-proof cryptography to stay ahead of future threats.