Google asks UK experts to find uses for its powerful quantum tech
12 hours ago Share Save Chris Vallance Senior technology reporter Share Save
Google Google's quantum chip which the firm dubbed Willow
Google has announced plans to team up with the UK to invite researchers to come up with uses for the tech giant's state-of-the-art quantum chip Willow. It is one of several firms competing to develop a powerful quantum computer - which is seen as an exciting new frontier in the future of computing. Researchers hope they will be able to crack problems in fields such as chemistry and medicine which are impossible for current computers to solve. Professor Paul Stevenson of the University of Surrey - who had no involvement with the agreement - told the BBC it was "great news for UK researchers".
The collaboration between Google and the UK's national lab for quantum computing means more researchers will get access to the technology. "The new ability to access Google's Willow processor, through open competition, puts UK researchers in an enviable position," said Prof Stevenson. "It is good news for Google, too, who will benefit from the skills of UK academics." What is quantum computing, and will it be bigger than AI? Quantum devices work in a fundamentally different way to the computers powering our smartphones and laptops, solving problems using technologies based on the science of particle physics But the full potential of the technology has yet to be realised and the machines that currently exist have few practical applications and most are experimental. It is hoped giving UK researchers access to Willow would help "uncover new real world applications". Scientists will be able to submit proposals describing how they intend to use the chip, and they will work with experts from Google and the UK quantum lab to design and conduct experiments.
Quantum competition