In a quiet corner of Santa Barbara, California, American tech giant Google is working on what may be its boldest project yet – building one of the most powerful quantum computers in the world. The work is happening inside a highly secure lab under Google’s parent company, Alphabet. And now, the world is getting a first real look at what’s going on inside.
Deirdre Bosa, a top anchor from CNBC, recently got rare access into the Google Quantum AI lab, where a team of top scientists and engineers are testing a new chip called Willow. According to Google, this chip has shown the ability to solve a complicated problem much faster than any normal computer can ever do.
Willow is the company’s latest breakthrough in the world of quantum computing, a field that many experts say could completely change how the world solves major problems—from climate modeling to drug discovery and even artificial intelligence.
Google says the Willow chip completed a benchmark task millions of times faster than the most advanced classical supercomputers today. While this might sound like science fiction to some, quantum experts believe this is a real step forward.
But not everyone is convinced. Some critics argue that quantum computing is being overhyped. In the first part of the CNBC documentary, titled “Is quantum overhyped?”, Bosa explores these concerns and speaks to experts who believe the industry is still far from solving real-world problems.
In the second part, “Google’s breakthrough”, the documentary explains what makes Willow so special. Google’s quantum AI director explains how the company has moved from lab experiments to actual computing systems that may one day solve problems regular computers cannot handle.
In the third chapter, the documentary looks at the competition. Major players like IBM, Microsoft, and China’s tech sector are also heavily investing in quantum technology. Some even believe that China may already be ahead in certain areas of quantum research.
Chapter four focuses on how quantum computing may work together with artificial intelligence (AI). Google believes quantum machines could eventually speed up AI systems and help solve harder problems in fields like medicine, climate, and logistics.
In the final part of the documentary, Bosa interviews the head of Google’s Quantum AI division. He explains why the company is betting big on this technology, even though it may still take years before it’s used widely.
Despite doubts and challenges, one thing is clear—Google, with its Willow chip, wants to be a global leader in the next era of computing. Whether or not it succeeds, the race for quantum dominance has already begun.
