Google unveils quantum computer breakthrough; critics say wait a qubit

A Sycamore chip mounted in the printed circuit board during the packaging process. A team of experts working on Google's Sycamore machine said their quantum system had executed a calculation in 200 seconds that would have taken a classic computer 10,000 years to complete. — Google/AFP

BERLIN/SAN FRANCISCO: Alphabet Inc's Google said on Oct 23 it had achieved a breakthrough in computing research by using a quantum computer to solve in minutes a complex problem that would take today's most powerful supercomputer thousands of years to crack.

Google researchers expect that quantum computers within a few years will fuel advancements in fields such as artificial intelligence, materials science, and chemistry. The company is racing rivals including IBM Corp and Microsoft Corp to be the first to commercialise the technology and sell it through its cloud computing business.