Google is targeting ambitious goals for quantum computing in the future, envisioning commercial rollout within five years. Hartmut Neven, head of Google Quantum AI, told this to Reuters in contrast to the estimate by Nvidia of a 20-year wait before practical uses become available.
It is for these applications that Neven feels the most potential for real-world use that only quantum computers could offer, especially in such areas as material science: things like better batteries for electric vehicles, new pharmaceuticals, and new energy.
The announcement comes amid an ongoing debate over the timeline for quantum breakthroughs, with experts and investors making predictions that range from a few years to two decades. Quantum computing has long been a source of fascination because it promises machines capable of performing tasks that are beyond the reach of conventional computers. Whereas those conventional computers process one piece of information at a time, quantum computers use “qubits,” which allow them to process many values simultaneously.
The implications of quantum computing reach far into significant sectors, including cybersecurity, finance, and healthcare; thus, it is under the close watch of governments and businesses alike.
Contrasting Google’s vision, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has been more skeptical about the prospect of practical quantum applications within five years. Speaking at a CES event in January, Huang estimated it may take about 20 years before quantum computing becomes commercially viable. That would make 15 years an optimistic timeline and 30 years too late.
Huang’s comments immediately lopped around $8 billion off the market value of a handful of quantum computing stocks. But the sector got a boost last December when Google announced a breakthrough in quantum technology thanks to its new chips.
This company has been investing in quantum computing since 2012, developing different quantum chips and claiming to solve complex computing problems in minutes, which would take unimaginable time if classical computers had to perform them.
In a recent publication in Nature, Google’s quantum scientists unveiled a new approach to quantum simulation—yet another step toward the five-year goal of practical applications.
