Quantum Computing

Google claims to have made a major breakthrough in quantum computing.  The headline was that their prototype quantum computer could complete a very complicated mathematical problem in 200 seconds – something that would take todays fastest computers about 10,000 years to solve.  You can read the report in Nature here  and Google’s CEO’s thoughts here.

The results were disputed by IBM (who are developing their own quantum computer) and who said that modern computers could solve the problem in less than three days,  not 10,000 years.  None the less, even if IBM is right, the improvement ion speed is impressive.

However, my favourite part of the whole thing is the picture of Google’s machine; it is  a splendidly Heath Robison sort of affair, with more than a hint of Colossus, the code breaking computer created at Bletchley Park all those year ago. See for yourself below. 

I find this rather reassuring; I don’t pretend to understand how, or why, quantum computing works, but it is comforting to see that wires are still involved, and that it clearly needs to be plugged in.  The machines have not taken over yet.

Google's quantum computer

Colossus