Willow (Quantum Chip)

Technology

Google's latest quantum chip, which represents a major milestone by demonstrating that error rates decrease as more logical qubits are combined, bringing fault-tolerant quantum computing closer.


entitydetail.created_at

8/19/2025, 9:47:17 PM

entitydetail.last_updated

8/19/2025, 9:51:48 PM

entitydetail.research_retrieved

8/19/2025, 9:51:48 PM

Summary

The Willow processor is a 105-qubit superconducting quantum computing chip developed by Google Quantum AI and fabricated in Santa Barbara, California. This advanced chip represents a significant breakthrough in quantum error correction, demonstrating the ability to exponentially reduce errors as quantum processors scale up. Its impressive performance, such as completing a benchmark computation in under five minutes that would take a supercomputer 10 septillion years, marks a major step towards building useful, large-scale quantum computers. The development of Willow accelerates the potential threat to current encryption and cryptography methods like RSA and SHA-256, underscoring the urgency of transitioning to post-quantum encryption, primarily due to the capabilities of Shor's Algorithm.

Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
  • Type

    Superconducting quantum computing processor

  • Key Feature

    Quantum error correction, reduces errors exponentially

  • Number of Qubits

    105 qubits

  • Fabrication Location

    Santa Barbara, California, United States

  • Performance Benchmark

    Performed a computation in under five minutes that would take a supercomputer 10 septillion years

  • Logical Qubit Arrangement

    7x7 lattice

  • Qubit Coherence Time Improvement

    From 20 microseconds to 100 microseconds

Timeline
  • Google Quantum AI was founded with the vision to build a useful, large-scale quantum computer. (Source: Web Search Results)

    2012-XX-XX

  • Google Quantum AI announced the Willow chip, their latest state-of-the-art quantum chip, showcasing breakthroughs in quantum error correction and performance. (Source: Web Search Results)

    2024-12-09

Willow processor

The Willow processor is a 105-qubit superconducting quantum computing processor developed by Google Quantum AI and manufactured in Santa Barbara, California.

Web Search Results
  • Meet Willow, our state-of-the-art quantum chip - Google Blog

    Google's new quantum chip, Willow, is a major step towards building a useful, large-scale quantum computer. Willow reduces errors exponentially as it scales up, achieving a breakthrough in quantum error correction. Willow performed a benchmark computation in under five minutes that would take a supercomputer 10 septillion years. Willow's performance is a sign that useful, very large quantum computers can be built. [...] Google has developed a new quantum chip called Willow, which significantly reduces errors as it scales up, a major breakthrough in quantum error correction. Willow also performed a computation in under five minutes that would take a supercomputer 10 septillion years, demonstrating its potential for solving complex problems beyond the reach of classical computers. This achievement marks a significant step towards building commercially relevant quantum computers that can revolutionize fields like [...] The Willow chip is a major step on a journey that began over 10 years ago. When I founded Google Quantum AI in 2012, the vision was to build a useful, large-scale quantum computer that could harness quantum mechanics — the “operating system” of nature to the extent we know it today — to benefit society by advancing scientific discovery, developing helpful applications, and tackling some of society's greatest challenges. As part of Google Research, our team has charted a long-term roadmap, and

  • Meet Willow, our state-of-the-art quantum chip - YouTube

    # Meet Willow, our state-of-the-art quantum chip Google Quantum AI 42042 likes 1709763 views 9 Dec 2024 The Google Quantum AI team is proud to announce Willow, our latest quantum chip. Willow has state-of-the-art performance across a number of metrics, enabling two major achievements. First, Willow can reduce errors exponentially as quantum processors scale up using more qubits. This cracks a key challenge in quantum error correction that the field has pursued for almost 30 years. [...] With these and other breakthroughs, the Willow chip is a major step toward building a useful, large-scale quantum computer that could harness quantum mechanics by advancing scientific discovery and tackling some of society's greatest challenges. Hear directly from Director of Hardware, Julian Kelly, who leads the Google Quantum AI team driving this groundbreaking research.

  • Google's Willow Quantum Chip: Revolutionizing ...

    In a groundbreaking development, Google has unveiled its latest quantum computing chip, named “Willow,” which promises to revolutionize various industries, including the U.S. steel sector. This technological marvel represents a quantum leap in computational power, potentially transforming how steel is manufactured, optimized, and distributed across the nation. Willow is not just another incremental improvement in computing technology; it’s a paradigm shift. This quantum chip has demonstrated [...] To grasp the significance of Willow for the steel industry, it’s crucial to understand what sets this quantum chip apart. Willow operates on the principles of quantum mechanics, utilizing qubits instead of classical bits. Unlike traditional computers that process information in binary (0 or 1), quantum computers can exist in multiple states simultaneously, allowing for exponentially more complex calculations. Key features of Willow include its ability to reduce errors exponentially as it scales [...] The introduction of Google’s Willow quantum chip has far-reaching implications for production and distribution processes across the steel industry. This quantum leap in computational power could revolutionize the entire steel supply chain, from raw material processing to final product delivery. In terms of optimizing steel production, quantum simulations could help refine the extraction and processing of iron ore and other raw materials, potentially reducing energy consumption and improving

  • Google Quantum AI

    Featured Introducing Willow, the next generation of quantum chips ======================================================== Willow, Google Quantum AI's latest state-of-the-art quantum chip, is a big step towards developing a large-scale, error-corrected quantum computer. Read the blog and watch the video to learn more about Willow and its breakthrough achievements. open_in_new Blog postopen_in_new Paperopen_in_new Videoopen_in_new Spec Sheet Image 4Image 5

  • What is Willow? Google's Innovative Quantum Chip ...

    Search CIO Definition # What is Willow? Google's innovative quantum chip explained By Alexander S. Gillis, Technical Writer and Editor Published: Apr 28, 2025 Willow is a quantum computing chip developed by Google that was unveiled at the end of 2024. It can execute complex computations in minutes, whereas classical supercomputers would take 10 septillion years. [...] ## Why is Google's Willow significant for quantum computing? The Willow chip is significant for its breakthrough in error correction. Today's quantum computers generally have a lot of noise that can cause errors. For example, modern quantum computers can suffer from the following: Qubit decoherence when qubits are affected by their environment. Gate errors when a quantum operation is applied to a qubit incorrectly. Measurement errors when a qubit in the right state is read wrong. [...] The logical qubits -- error-corrected qubits -- used in Willow are arranged in a seven-by-seven lattice, enabling a more scalable architecture for error correction. This lattice structure confirms that larger logical qubits can be more effective at preventing errors than smaller lattices. Willow also improves the time a qubit can maintain its quantum state from 20 microseconds to 100 microseconds, enabling a quantum computer to run more complex problems.