Some scientists claim to have achieved “quantum supremacy,” a breakthrough that could change the history of computing.
Google researchers say they have made significant progress, meaning a quantum computer has taken on a function that classical computers cannot.
Quantum supremacy marks the first step in a field that researchers say could continue to change the world. In theory, quantum computers are capable of performing a process much faster than the computers we use today.
IBM researchers have already criticized Google's claims of a major breakthrough, suggesting that the new discovery is not as substantial as promised.
Google researchers said their computer, known as Sycamore, is capable of completing a task in 200 seconds that would take about 10,000 years on a traditional system.
The project that Google researchers are using to test their system is largely useless at the moment, and its main function is to generate random numbers. But it's the first time any such work has ever been successfully demonstrated, and it could very soon lead to more practical applications.
The company now hopes to create a system that can carry out broader functions, which could be used in various fields.
Google's discovery has been rumored since the previous version of the document and has already been criticized by IBM.
The phrase “quantum supremacy” has also been criticized for its similarity to “White supremacy.”
