Microsoft, one step closer to making quantum computers a commercial success

The objective of the researchers of the two companies is to perfect the quantum computer, to then create tools that can perform scientific calculations much more efficient than those of conventional computers with silicon-based processors, calculations that would otherwise take millions of years.

Microsoft and Quantinuum’s innovation lies in correcting some errors encountered by quantum computers that use the qubit, a technology that is responsible for these very fast calculations. To solve this problem, quantum researchers often build more qubits than necessary and use error correction techniques.

According to Microsoft’s statements, the researchers found a method by which they obtained about four reliable qubits from 30 physical qubits.

Jason Zander, Microsoft’s executive vice president for strategic missions and technologies, said the researchers believe this is the best ratio of reliable qubits in a quantum chip that has ever been demonstrated.

“We performed more than 14,000 individual experiments without a single error. That’s up to 800 times better than anything else recorded so far,” Zander said in an interview with Reuters.

Microsoft said it plans to roll out the technology to its cloud computing customers in the coming months.

Quantum researchers, both at Quantinuum and their rivals, often talk about a figure of around 100 reliable qubits as the number needed to beat a conventional supercomputer. Neither Microsoft nor Quantinuum would say Wednesday how many more years they will need to use the new technique to reach 100 reliable qubits.

But Ilyas Khan, Quantinuum’s chief product officer, said: “The current view is that we have reduced that number by at least two years, if not more.”

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