Taking a huge leap in the field of science and technology, Google on Monday unveiled its next-generation quantum computing chip called Willow. The new chip isn’t just a milestone for computing — it’s a leap into mind-bending physics. It’s great, isn’t it? There is something good here. With its breakthrough in quantum computing, Willow has reignited the discussion about the multiverse, a concept in quantum mechanics that suggests that parallel universes can co-exist with our universe.

But why talk about multiverse? The staggering speed of quantum calculations matches the idea that quantum computers could work by performing calculations in multiple parallel universes simultaneously, a concept first proposed by physicist David Deutsch. Although this remains a theoretical notion, Willow’s astonishing abilities raise the possibility that quantum mechanics may indeed have a multidimensional dimension.

Hartmut Neven, founder and head of Google Quantum AI, writes in a blog post that Willow “has performed a calculation in less than five minutes that would take one of today’s fastest supercomputers 10 septillion years. If you If you want to write, it is 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years. This is a shocking number in physics. This is greater than known timescales and far exceeds the age of the universe. “This lends credence to the notion that quantum computation occurs in multiple parallel universes, consistent with the idea that we live in a multiverse,” he added.

The quantum chip, developed at Google’s Santa Barbara lab, is powered by 105 qubits, the basic units of quantum computation. Unlike classical computer bits, which exist as 0s or 1s, qubits can exist in multiple states simultaneously. This unique property gives quantum chips their unparalleled speed, but also makes them prone to errors caused by the smallest disturbances, such as subatomic particles from space.

For decades, these errors have posed a major obstacle to the scalability of quantum computing. However, Google’s quantum AI team has cracked the code by combining Willow’s qubits in a way that reduces the error rate as the number of qubits increases. What’s even more impressive is that the Google team has developed a method to correct for these errors in real time, an important step toward making quantum machines practical for real-world applications.

The announcement caught the attention of tech leaders including Elon Musk, who responded to Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s post about Willow with a simple “wow.” Pichai jokingly suggested building a “quantum cluster in space” using Musk’s Starship rocket. Musk, never one to shy away from ambitious ideas, replied, “It probably will,” before turning to discussions about harnessing solar energy and humanity’s path to becoming a Kardashev Type II civilization.

While the multiverse debate may remain theoretical, Willow is a very real step forward for quantum computing. Google envisions Willow solving complex problems in medicine, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy – challenges that are far beyond the reach of classical machines. For now, it’s amazing that Willow not only breaks new ground in science and technology, but that it also invites us to rethink the fabric of reality.