Google Executive Believes Enterprise Quantum Applications are Near

Quantum computing has often been viewed as a technology that is always just out of reach, seemingly ten years away from practical applications. However, experts at Google are now suggesting that these applications may be closer than commonly thought.

Hartmut Neven, the head of Google’s Quantum AI division, expressed optimism this week, stating, "We’re excited that in the next five years, we will see real-world applications that can only be realized with quantum computers," according to a report by Reuters.

This assertion stands in stark contrast to the views of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who claimed earlier this year that we are still two decades away from effective quantum systems. He stated, "If you said 15 years for very useful quantum computers, that would probably be on the early side. If you said 30, it's likely on the late side. If you went with 20 years, many would agree with that estimate."

Similar to the current buzz surrounding generative AI, the field of quantum computing has been surrounded by hype due to its potential to deliver processing power that far exceeds traditional computers. There are also concerns about its capability to undermine existing encryption standards.

Regardless of the excitement, fully functional quantum systems have yet to appear. Many companies in the quantum sector have directed their efforts towards more focused applications of the technology, such as chemistry, route optimization, logistics, and managing financial risks.

In particular, drug discovery and materials science are two fields that Google and other organizations aim to enhance through advanced quantum systems in the upcoming years.

One significant challenge in developing quantum applications has been that as the number of qubits increases, so do the complexities of error correction. Google has been actively tackling this issue for years.

In late 2024, Google introduced a new quantum processor known as Willow, designed to feature significantly lower error rates. This chip includes between 72 and 105 physical qubits arranged to form logical qubits, allowing error correction before final results are produced. While using multiple physical qubits for fault tolerance is not a new concept, Google claims that it has achieved substantially lower error rates, even as the number of qubits and overall computational strength increases.

Google is not alone in its positive outlook for quantum technologies, despite the ongoing skepticism. Following Jensen Huang’s remarks at CES last month, D-Wave, a quantum computing vendor, asserted that its technology is already being used commercially.

Similarly, Intel, which faces some financial and technological challenges, remains hopeful that its investments in quantum computing will eventually yield positive results. The company is reportedly collaborating with Japan’s Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) institute to develop a next-generation quantum computer that will be accessible to universities both domestically and internationally.

This collaboration with AIST comes in addition to their efforts with IBM to create a quantum supercomputer equipped with an impressive 10,000 qubits.

Quantum, Technology, Business