A leaked paper by Google has set the quantum computing community ablaze. But what does it mean?

By Xische Editorial, September 27, 2019

A supercomputer built by researchers at Google crossed a major milestone this month. At least that’s the claim. Using a quantum computing chip named Sycamore, researchers said they performed a task in just three minutes that would take the world’s most powerful supercomputer roughly 10,000 years to complete. This historic event comes with some caveats, and there is substantial debate in the scientific community as to the impact of this development. For one, the task completed was highly specific, and thus far no practical application for Google’s computer has been demonstrated. In fact, it is unclear exactly what type of application could use this type of “quantum supremacy” in the near future. 

In another instance of media branding distorting technological reality - think, “the singularity” in the AI debate - some researchers even disputed the notion of quantum supremacy, saying the term is misleading. Regardless of the debate, a milestone has been reached with Google’s breakthrough. As a result, there will be a flood of new capital and funding for quantum computing, although these delicate systems still face significant hurdles to commercial viability. 

Quantum computing is the final frontier and will unlock a host of advancements in fields ranging from artificial intelligence to chemistry. Before this month, such computing existed more in the realm of theory than practice. Naturally, any development as large as Google’s will set the bar. The perception of the advancement appears to much more significant than concrete developments themselves. 

Indeed, The Economist didn’t mince words in its reporting of the event. “What might quantum computing actually be used for?” The publication asked.  “That question is obscured by the piles of money and hyperbole that surround it. Along with 5G and AI, it is one of the technologies that presidents, of both countries and companies, love to cite. China and America have pledged to invest billions of dollars in it. There is excited talk of a race, and of the riches and power that await the first to seize the “Holy Grail of computing”.

The 5G connection is crucial to understanding the hype with which the techonology is described. The so-called race to 5G between the United States and China is a perfect example. When finally rolled out, 5G technology will unleash a wave of advancements in the marketplace thanks to super fast mobile connection speeds. This raw speed will help driverless cars navigate new streets. It will help doctors provide treatment from any corner of the globe to any other corner of the globe. It will be a watershed moment in the history of technology but right now all we seem to hear about is the race between the United States and China to roll it out first. 

This has a lot to do with the narrative around trade fights between Beijing and Washington. At the core of those negotiations is the role that Chinese technology company Huawei plays in the global rollout of 5G infrastructure. The US government says that Huawei can’t be trusted because it will place backdoors for the Chinese government. Washington has gone as far as threaten major US allies not to use Huawei equipment. It is a pretty bold situation and, well, has little to do with actual 5G technology. It is about a narrative of economic one-upmanship between two superpowers and 5G is just one vehicle for a much larger fight. 

The same premise can be applied to the race for quantum computing. There are a lot of bragging rights in debuting the first truly quantum chip and likely quite a bit of revenue involved as well. But we aren’t close to widespread quantum computing, yet. 

At best, most analysts and publications agree, Google’s latest advancement is something of a Sputnik moment. Sycamore has proven the technology is possible, even if it is far from an everyday reality. If anything, this moment should be an inspiration for the next generation of scientists, engineers, and, yes, quantum-computing sceptics. This generation is paving the way to a truly new future. It will be the next generation that makes it an everyday reality.