Google is developing its own chips for quantum computing

Google has added a group of scientists from the University of California to its Quantum Artificial Intelligence team to develop its own quantum computing processors. Until now, Google experimented with a quantum computer from D-Wave.

The processors the team at the University of California at Santa Barbara are working on are based on superconducting electronics. The scientists made headlines earlier this year with the development of an array of five superconducting qubits. “With the integration of a hardware group into the Quantum AI team, we are now able to test new quantum optimization designs based on the latest theoretical insights,” Google’s research division writes.

In addition, the company continues to experiment with the ‘Vesuvius’ machine based on D-Wave’s architecture. Google shares this quantum computer with NASA; According to Google, the system will be upgraded with the ‘Washington’ processor of 1000 qubits. It is still controversial to what extent D-Wave’s systems can be regarded as quantum computers.

Google is interested in developing a quantum computer because, thanks to its parallel computing power, it can bring great speed gains to searches, while it should also be usable for encryption and decryption. However, the development of a fully functioning quantum computer could take years.