Google: we have evidence of the performance of our quantum computer

Google announced a major breakthrough in the development of quantum computing. The company believes that they have discovered a quantum algorithm that allows you to accomplish the tasks 100 million times faster than the more traditional way of computing. If the technological breakthrough is indeed confirmed by outside specialists, it will not only open the way to the creation of a more advanced artificial intelligence, but will also expand the capabilities of the same American program for space exploration.

In 2013, Google and NASA joined forces to create a computer system D-Wave X2. It is believed that D-Wave is the world's first working quantum computer, but experts, both inside and outside the company, did not have the opportunity to conclusively prove that this machine really works in quantum realities when performing certain calculations. However, recently such an opportunity appeared. About its opening, Google announced this Wednesday.

The solution of the problem is concentrated around the "quantum annealing" (or quantum normalization) - the method of finding the global minimum for some given function among some set of possible solutions. If in a simpler language - the method allows you to calculate the most appropriate (that is, the most effective) set of actions (among several presented) that allows you to solve a specific task.

Over quantum normalization, scientists work with the help of two main methods - the "simulation of normalization" and the "quantum Monte Carlo method" - both are essentially simulation (simulation) systems running on conventional computer equipment, while the D-Wave system is rigidly encoded to work with an algorithm with quantum annealing through quantum arrays.

Recently, Google tested the quantum annealing algorithm to prove the increased efficiency of computations in comparison with traditional computer systems based on the simulation method of annealing, as well as the quantum Monte Carlo method. The results were more than just impressive. The graph above shows that the Google method very easily bypasses the other two methods when solving functions with one thousand binary variables. The efficiency of the algorithm is 100 million times higher than the above methods.

Google estimates these results as "very intriguing and very impressive," but the company notes that there is still a long way to go before using the method on the commercial market. However, as soon as this happens ... In general, we are waiting for a real technical revolution. Thanks to this method, artificial intelligence researchers will be able to develop more intelligent and responsive computer training systems, and NASA will be able to use it to conduct virtual simulations of space launches (or even entire missions). And this is if you do not talk about more civilian uses.

The article is based on materials https://hi-news.ru/technology/google-u-nas-est-dokazatelstva-rabotosposobnosti-nashego-kvantovogo-kompyutera.html.