Alphabet’s research arm, Google, has announced that it has moved beyond classical supercomputers by running an algorithm on its new quantum chip, dubbed “Willow.” The company said this development could pave the way for quantum technology to reach practical applications within the next five years.
The algorithm, called “Quantum Echoes,” was detailed in a paper published today in the journal Nature. According to Google, the algorithm ran 13,000 times faster than the world’s most powerful supercomputer and, crucially, is verifiable, meaning it can be replicated on another quantum platform.
“Verifiability is a big step towards real-world applications. With this result, we’re one step closer to bringing quantum technology to the mainstream,” said Tom O’Brien, a Google Quantum AI researcher.
This development puts Google ahead in the quantum computing race, where Microsoft, IBM, and numerous startups are competing. The company also announced in December that its Willow chip could solve a problem in five minutes, exceeding the processing power required by a classical supercomputer for 10 septillion years.
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Quantum computers perform calculations like classical computers, but by doing so in parallel, they reach much higher speeds. The biggest challenge is making this power “useful” for everyday use.
University of Texas computer scientist Scott Aaronson called the work “fascinating” because of its success in “reproducibly outperforming supercomputers.” However, Aaronson cautioned, “Moving from there to commercially useful applications or building fault-tolerant systems are still major challenges.”
The Google team, with contributions from Michel H. Devoret, winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics, plans to increase the scalability and accuracy of their machines and move them toward real-world applications.
The scientists also shared a second paper showing that the algorithm could be used to study molecular structures. This could revolutionize fields like drug discovery and battery design, but it would require systems 10,000 times more powerful than current quantum machines.
The development has also resonated in the cryptocurrency world. It’s rekindled discussions that quantum computers could threaten Bitcoin’s cryptographic security. However, experts say such risks are currently remote. “There’s no evidence today that any computer, not even secret government systems, can break modern cryptography,” said Mysten Labs co-founder and chief cryptographer Kostas “Kryptos” Chalkias.
*This is not investment advice.
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