BLUF

Google has developed a quantum computer that outperforms existing supercomputers, performing calculations instantly that would take conventional machines 47 years.

Summary

KEY POINTS:

  1. Google claimed "quantum supremacy" in 2019, a point where quantum computers surpass existing machines.
  2. Quantum computers could potentially undermine today's encryption systems.
  3. The new machine is 241 million times more powerful than the 2019 machine.
  4. The latest quantum computer is claimed to be more powerful than those from a leading Chinese lab.
  5. Critics argue that the tasks used to measure quantum machines lack practical value beyond academic study.

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