Google demonstrates 99.99% accuracy for quantum magic states on Willow chip
Google reported a quantum computing advance on its 105-qubit Willow chip, achieving a record 99.99% fidelity in generating magic states while cutting errors and production costs roughly 40-fold.
Google announced a quantum computing advance on its 105-qubit Willow chip, reaching a record 99.99% accuracy in producing "magic states." Magic states are critical resources required to execute quantum calculations reliably, though generating them has historically been so resource-intensive that it could consume up to 95% of a quantum computer's capacity.[1][2][3][5]
According to research published in the journal Science, Google's technique—termed "magic state cultivation"—marks the first time a practical fix for this 20-year computing bottleneck has succeeded on physical hardware. The method cuts quantum errors by approximately 40 times and reduces production costs by an equivalent margin without requiring additional hardware.[1][3][4]
The cultivation technique also forms the foundation of Google's 2025 estimate for cracking RSA encryption using fewer than one million qubits. While crypto industry watchers noted the efficiency gains could accelerate "Q-Day"—the point when quantum processors become capable of breaking the cryptography securing Bitcoin wallets—Google cautioned that the technique still needs to be proven at a larger scale.[4]
Key facts
- Google demonstrated a record 99.99% accuracy in producing magic states on its 105-qubit Willow quantum chip.
- The technique, called magic state cultivation, reduces quantum errors and magic state production costs roughly 40-fold.
- Magic states are vital components for running reliable quantum programs, previously requiring up to 95% of a quantum machine's capacity to create.
- The demonstration represents the first practical resolution to a 20-year quantum computing bottleneck tested on real hardware, according to research published in Science.
- The technique is utilized in Google's 2025 projection for breaking RSA encryption with fewer than one million qubits.
- Google indicated that magic state cultivation has yet to be validated at larger operational scales.
Sources · 5 sources
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Bull Theory@BullTheoryioPost on X ·
BREAKING: Google says it has broken through a bottleneck that has held back quantum computing for 20 years. Quantum computers need special building blocks called "magic states" to run useful programs. They are so hard to make that up to 95% of a machine's capacity could go to making them. Google's new method cuts errors by about 40x on its Willow chip, with a record 99.99% accuracy. This is the first time a practical fix for this problem has worked on real hardware, according to Google's research published in Science today.
Open source - PO
Polymarket@PolymarketPost on X ·
BREAKING: Google announces a major breakthrough in quantum computing, achieving 99.99% accuracy in a key quantum operation.
Open source - SB
Shay Boloor@StockSavvyShayPost on X ·
$GOOGL says its Willow quantum chip can produce critical quantum resources called “magic states” at 99.99% fidelity while reducing their production cost by ~40x. Really interesting seeing Google make quantum computing more reliable without simply adding more hardware which potentially brings useful quantum computers closer than I expected.
Open source - CB
Coin Bureau@coinbureauPost on X ·
🚨JUST IN: Google may bring Bitcoin’s Q-Day sooner than expected after its Willow chip cuts quantum errors 40x. Google says a technique called “magic state cultivation” now works on its Willow chip, cutting errors about 40x with a record 99.99% accuracy. Q-Day is the moment a quantum computer becomes powerful enough to break the cryptography that protects Bitcoin wallets. Google’s own 2025 estimate for cracking RSA encryption with under a million qubits uses this same technique. The research was published in Science, but Google says it still needs to prove the technique works at a larger scale.
Open source - UW
unusual_whales@unusual_whalesPost on X ·
BREAKING: Google, $GOOGL, announced a major quantum computing breakthrough. It achieved a record 99.99% accuracy producing “magic states,” a key ingredient quantum computers need to run any calculation reliably, per Science. The work was done on Google’s 105-qubit Willow chip.
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