In addition to promoting the commercialization of technology and applications that allow more people to use it, in science, Google is already preparing new experiments.

Editor’s note: This article is from WeChat public account “The most advanced edge of quantum computing” (ID :QC-Frontier), author QC Aberdeen.

What is Google's next step after claiming

On Wednesday, Google claimed to have made a major breakthrough in the field of “quantum superiority” computing, which is only the first step on its long road to perfecting new technologies.

Next, the tech giant wants to expand the scope of its announcement—it has used a quantum computer to calculate far faster than current technology—to achieve more difficult milestones and eventually create a new business.

For many years, researchers at many companies have been studying quantum computers, which rely on strange quantum effects such as “overlay” and “entanglement.” On the long-term goal of achieving quantum superiority, Google has taken a striking step, paving the way for progress in a range of areas, from energy to healthcare to physics.

At the press conference held at the Santa Barbara Lab on Wednesday morning, the Google team revealed some upcoming business and research initiatives. They discussed their next intent, experimentation, and potential ways in which these computers could be used to improve cybersecurity and make significant advances in other areas of technology.

Give cloud access

First, Google plans to let more people use its technology.

ErikLucero, a scientist at the Google team, said: “I think the next thing to do is to make [computer] open to the world through so-called cloud services.” He hopes that these machines will be placed in Google’s data center. It is expected to provide remote access to the public via the Internet next year.

Lucero said that Google will first open access to the “Intimate Partners” list, which includes Daimler, Volkswagen and the US Department of Energy.

Competitor IBM questioned Google’s “quantum superiority” on Monday and publicized its quantum computing partnership, praised with ExxonMobil, JPMorgan Chase, and Samsung. ) and other companiesPartnership. Since 2016, the mainframe manufacturer has also opened its quantum processor to the public.

The two companies, along with other companies such as Intel, Microsoft, Honeywell, and startup RigettiComputing, may have more conflicts in the process of vying for talent and persuading companies to work with them.

Probable randomness

Google is working to commercialize at least one potential near-term application that was accidentally generated from its “quantum superiority” experiment.

HartmutNeven, founder of the Quantum Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, previews the company’s plan to create “certifiable random numbers” using the technology. These numbers may play an important role in computer security and digital privacy because they may bring “better keys” or tools for encrypting data.

Neven said: “You may know that randomness is an important resource in computer science.” It is conceivable that Google will provide it as a function through Google Cloud. After all, this is a backward competitor. Amazon and Microsoft’s corporate business.

Since Google announced “quantum superiority,” Neven said: “Many ideas fall on our heads. We are screening these ideas.”

Neven said one of the proposals involved improving the performance of MRI, an important tool for scientists to understand the molecular structure. Enhancing such critical analytical techniques can help advance research in biomedical, chemical, and materials science.

Google says it wants to use its quantum computers to better simulate the interactions between nature’s components, atoms and molecules, thereby potentially expanding scientists’ understanding of physics and accelerating their approach to new drugs and batteries. Development. Another, more advanced application can enhance machine learning algorithms to bring greater efficiency and profitability to all types of businesses.

Google’s chief quantum hardware scientist John Martinis said: “If this is a good idea, we will run it on the chip immediately.”

Correct the record

In science, Google is already preparing new experiments.

Google quantum scientist Marissa Giustina drew a timeline on the whiteboard wall in the conference room to show the team’s progress in developing “corrected” quantum computers. It will be able to improve the characteristic high failure rate that undermines many quantum computations.

Chief scientist Martinis said: “The current focus is on reducing the error of qubits.Error rate. “He was encouraged by the fact that as the Google team’s experiments became more complex and the error rate remained stable – there was no sudden loss of control – it was a potential obstacle to worry.

Google’s chief quantum theorist SegioBoxio describes how the team was worried about bottlenecks this spring: insurmountable mistakes. He said the team eventually found a way to overcome obstacles by better calibrating their machines.

Martinis mentioned a particularly difficult technical problem that has recently taken up most of his time: reducing “noise”, or experimental interference, caused by tangles of thin wires. These wires route signals back and forth between the team’s quantum processors.

Martinis said: “For me, the wiring problem is a very difficult problem, so I personally have been researching advanced wiring solutions for the past three years.” He said: “This is very boring. This is not a Exciting things, but they must do this.”

Martinis said he has made some unannounced breakthroughs in reducing the adverse effects of wires. He said: “We can do much better than now,” as long as there are plans to improve.

In the next few months, if everything goes well, it is expected that after Google announces its “quantum superiority,” error correction will be one of Google’s next major headline news experiments.

The spirit of the team is encouraged because they understand the pitfalls caused by mistakes so far. Giustina said: “This gives us confidence in building the next generation of machines.”