Oct 29 2019: What is "quantum supremacy" and why is Google’s breakthrough such a big deal?

Back in Oct 29 2019: What is "quantum supremacy" and why is Google’s breakthrough such a big deal?

Google announced on October 23, 2019, that it has achieved "quantum supremacy" with its quantum computer, Sycamore. It solved a complex problem in 200 seconds, which would take the world's fastest classical computer 10,000 years.

However, IBM disputes this claim, saying its computer, Summit, could solve the problem in two and a half days. Quantum computing has enormous potential, from pharmaceutical drug discovery to breaking internet encryption. While the implications are significant, the practical applications are still largely theoretical at this point.

Fast forward to Jul 02 2023: Supercomputer makes calculations in blink of an eye that take rivals 47 years

Google has developed a quantum computer that can perform calculations that would take the best existing supercomputers 47 years, establishing that quantum machines can outperform conventional rivals. The new machine has 70 qubits, making it 241 million times more powerful than Google's 2019 machine.

The researchers claim that their latest quantum computer is more powerful than demonstrations from a Chinese lab. This breakthrough has significant implications for fields such as climate change and drug development but also raises concerns about the security of encryption systems.

Can Google's quantum computer truly outperform conventional machines and achieve calculations in seconds that would take rivals 47 years?