Microsoft recently announced a breakthrough in quantum computing with its Majorana 1 chip. The chip uses topological qubits, which are more stable and scalable than other types of qubits. However, some experts are skeptical of Microsoft’s claims.
They say there is not enough publicly available evidence to prove that the chip works as claimed. In 2018, Microsoft made a similar claim about topological qubits but later had to retract it. This history has made some experts cautious about the new announcement.
John Preskill, a physics professor at Caltech, said there is no public evidence that Microsoft’s protocol for demonstrating a topologically protected qubit has been successfully conducted. Scott Aaronson, a computer science professor at the University of Texas in Austin, also highlighted the need for peer review and validation of Microsoft’s claims. Despite the skepticism, some experts remain hopeful about the potential of Microsoft’s chip.
Experts scrutinize Microsoft’s quantum claims
If it can be successfully scaled while maintaining accuracy and consistency, it could lead to the development of large-scale quantum computers capable of solving important real-world problems. The race to develop quantum computers is heating up among big tech companies and nations like the US and China.
South Korea is currently behind in terms of technology, investment, and talent. The US and China have thousands of quantum computing experts, while Korea has only 264 specialists. Many young Korean experts are also leaving the country for better opportunities abroad.
To catch up, the South Korean government has announced plans to invest over 3 trillion won ($2.09 billion) by 2035 and increase the number of quantum researchers to 2,500. This year, an investment of 198.1 billion won has been announced. Microsoft’s Majorana 1 chip is a hopeful step towards overcoming the challenges of quantum computing.
However, its actual implementation and scalability remain to be seen. As the race towards quantum supremacy continues, South Korea will need to invest strategically to bridge its gap in the quantum sector.
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