Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasised the groundbreaking nature of this discovery, describing it as a new state of matter that enables a fundamental leap in computing. Microsoft envisions a million-qubit processor, a key milestone toward real-world quantum applications
The graphic processing units (GPUs) have created buzz due to their ability to accelerate computing power for tasks beyond just graphic rendering, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence. But now tech giant Microsoft has unveiled its first quantum chip ‘Majorana 1’, a breakthrough that could boost computing technology even more.
"Imagine a chip that can fit in the palm of your hand yet is capable of solving problems that even all the computers on Earth today combined could not!" said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
He said the chip is powered by the topological core architecture, a development that could accelerate the arrival of practical quantum computing. During the announcement, the company stated that the Majorana 1 chip harnesses 8 qubits (quantum bits) onto a hardware piece no longer than a sticky note.
Currently, the chip is capable of little more than solving math problems that prove it can be controlled. However, Microsoft engineers believe that it has advanced enough to be the foundation for future quantum machines. According to the tech major, Majorana qubits will be more stable and less susceptible to unintended flips between ones and zeros than qubits created by other approaches.
Quantum computing is a field of computer science that leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to process information beyond the ability of even the most powerful classical computers using bits (0s and 1s) to perform calculations. Whether it’s an iPhone or a supercomputer in a data center, all computers process information in bits.
Unlike classical computers, quantum computers use qubits (0, 1, or both at the same time) which can exist in multiple states simultaneously due to superposition.
The process allows quantum computers to perform multiple calculations simultaneously, exponentially increasing computing power with much less energy consumption. It could contribute to the fields of finance, security, artificial intelligence, machine learning, aerospace, digital manufacturing, and more.
Microsoft used Maajorana zero modes (MZMs) to develop its quantum computing technology. MZMs appears at the ends of certain superconducting wires. Unlike regular particles, which have distinct matter and antimatter versions, Majorana particles are their own antiparticles. Multiple MZMs can work together to store and process information.
Even Scientists can manipulate MZMs using a technique called ‘braiding’, which allows for error-resistant quantum operations. The company’s research team built a specialised device using a semiconductor ‘indium arsenide’ and superconductor ‘aluminum’. This enabled the measurement of fermion parity – a property that determines whether the system contains an even or odd number of electrons.
Scientists linked the superconducting wire to quantum dots and detected fermion parity shifts with an exceptional low error rate of just 1%.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlighted the significance of the breakthrough, explaining why this innovation can reshape the future of computing much sooner than expected. “Most of us grew up learning there are three main types of matter that: solid, liquid, and gas. Today, that changed...,” said Nadella in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“After nearly 20 years of pursuit, we have created an entirely new state of matter, unlocked by a new class of materials, topoconductors, that enable a fundamental leap in computing. It powers Majorana 1, the first quantum processing unit built on a topological core,” he said.
He explained that the qubits created with topoconductors are faster, more reliable, and smaller. They are 1/100th of a millimeter which means Microsoft has now a clear path to a million-qubit processor.
While quantum computing has long been a field of research requiring immense patience and persistence, Nadella said Microsoft’s latest achievement brings the industry closer to real-world applications. “When productivity rises, economies grow faster, benefitting every sector and every corner of the globe. It’s not about hyping tech; it’s about building technology that truly serves the world,” he concluded.
Tech major Google is setting an ambitious goal to bring commercial quantum computing applications to market within five years, challenging Nvidia’s more conservative estimate of a 20-year timeline. “We’re optimistic that within five years, we’ll see real-world applications that are possible only on quantum computers,” said founder and lead of Google Quantum AI Hartmut Neven.
Google started its quantum computing initiative in 2012. Since then, the tech company has developed several quantum chips and demonstrated their capabilities. One of its quantum processors previously solved a complex problem in minutes, a task that would take classical computers longer than the age of the universe to complete.
The timeline for quantum computing’s mainstream adoption remains a topic of debate, with projections ranging from a few years to several decades. The technology, which has been researched for years, is expected to vastly outperform classical computing by utilising qubits.