Microsoft Unveils Majorana 1 Quantum Computing Chip

Quantum computing will potentially be here sooner than later. After nearly 20 years of research, Microsoft says its first quantum computing chip — Majorana 1 — is finally here.

Quantum computing experts are often swift to explain how the technology is decades away from achieving a workable system. Yet, Microsoft is quickly advancing the field, making claims that mainstream quantum computing is much closer than most realize.

Quantum chips have the potential to fundamentally change computing. Quantum-powered systems can solve complex problems much quicker than existing technology and even tackle calculations likely impossible for modern computers to handle.

The basic building block of a quantum computing chip is called a qubit. Current computers use bits, which can be either on or off. Qubits, on the other hand, work in both states at the same time.

Ultimately, quantum computing will rapidly advance other fields of science. Future research and discoveries in chemistry, biochemistry, and materials will immediately transform many industries, especially healthcare and manufacturing.

Getting a Quantum Computing Chip to Market

There are two major hurdles for researchers to jump before quantum computing becomes practical. While exceptionally fast, a qubit also produces a substantial number of errors and is difficult to control.

According to Microsoft, Majorana 1 makes significantly fewer errors than competing quantum chips from Google and IBM. The Microsoft chip has eight qubits, but the eventual goal is to have hundreds or even a million on a single chip before officially bringing it to market.

“There’s a lot of speculation that we’re decades off from this,” said Jason Zander, a Microsoft executive vice president, per NBC. “We believe it’s more like years.”

Late last year, Google introduced a quantum computing chip known as Willow. In testing, the chip solved a particularly complicated problem in about five minutes, which would have taken a normal computer 10 septillion years to undertake.

Despite the apparent breakthrough, skepticism about the timeline still abounds regarding the development of the technology. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) last month, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang said quantum computing viability is at least two decades away, essentially deflating the excitement around the tech.