The author arrived in Santa Clara for the Q2B conference, where Google announced its new 105-qubit superconducting chip named “Willow.” The chip demonstrated an error-corrected surface code qubit and a new quantum supremacy experiment based on Random Circuit Sampling. Despite the progress being in line with expectations, it’s a significant milestone for the field. Google aims to achieve true fault-tolerant qubits with highly accurate gates. Discussion around the experiment continued, including concerns about the unverifiable regime. Competing approaches like trapped-ion and neutral-atom qubits are also highlighted. Quantum skeptic Gil Kalai remains cautious about Google’s claims, while Sabine Hossenfelder’s take remains negative.
https://scottaaronson.blog/?p=8525