Google’s Willow is a breathtaking
step towards tapping quantum reality (I almost missed this news since I was
disconnected from the world for few weeks and took days to get my bearings).
The implications of this quantum computing chip are significant. The mind-blowing
computation power that it unlocks has paradigm shifting implications. For a start
Willow can perform computation that would take regular computers longer than
age of universe! (Hartmut Neven founder of Google Quantum AI claims that this “lends
credence to the notion that quantum computation occurs in many parallel
universes, in line with the idea that we live in a multiverse”).
Willow is a significant milestone
in quantum computing since it removes error rates, and thus makes it reliable.
As more qubits are added quantum computing becomes more error prone (these are
very fragile even microscopic
material defects, cosmic rays and ionizing radiation can destabilize) therefore
severely restricting the progress. Willow chip is 105qubit, it has doubled the
capacity but what is important is not the number but the sophistication of
qubit -vastly improved retention time allowing information to be held for
longer time hence stability. Importantly Willow not only reduces error but
reduces it exponentially as it scales up! Each qubit addition therefore strengthen
reliability; a scalable logical qubit. A benchmark is set. This is stupendous. These
are early days but it may not be exaggeration to say (hopefully claims are peer
vetted) that this is akin to invention of steam engine or electricity or human
on the moon. Technology is unravelling at mindboggling speed this one truly
stands out. A giant step towards stable quantum computers. This is moment of reckoning.
We are entering a new realm set to unleash possibilities that is difficult to
conceive. It would help tackle humanity’s greatest challenges as it turbo charge
R&D.
The immediate concern here is of binary
computer decryption and imminent collapse of digital world. There are assertions that
Willow will not break modern cryptography. Willow will not but few iterative upgradations
in a decade or so will surely. The concern also is whether corporate in a neoliberal
ecosystem or a state with authoritarian concern (like China or even US under
Trump) will reveal that they have achieved Cryptanalytically Relevant Quantum Computer
(CRQC) before acquiring sensitive data. The world is shifting fast towards post
quantum cryptography to save critical data. The sophisticated math-based
algorithm needed makes it inaccessible. Data pirates are out to harvest now and
decrypt later. Quantum safe cryptography standards are being integrated into products
and systems. State agencies and crucial infrastructure will
have to move fast and upgrade all their communication systems to post quantum cryptography.
