Google Claims Verifiable Quantum Advantage with New Quantum Echoes Algorithm

Details

• Google published research in Nature unveiling a new quantum computational task that measures out-of-time-order correlators (OTOCs) using its Quantum Echoes algorithm.
• The company demonstrated this algorithm on the Willow quantum chip, leveraging 103 qubits to run reversible circuit operations with inserted perturbations.
• Google claims this is a verifiable quantum advantage, stating the Willow chip's run was about 13,000 times faster than any classical computer simulation of the same task.
• The technique was tested at UC Berkeley, where OTOCs were measured on real organic molecules using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and the results were simulated on Willow.
• This preprint, soon to be submitted for peer review, highlights potential applications in Hamiltonian learning and marks a shift from prior, less tangible quantum supremacy claims.

Impact

Google's latest breakthrough moves the quantum computing field toward more practical and reproducible results, shifting away from abstract supremacy experiments. By focusing on measurable quantum observables, the work could accelerate progress in areas like molecular modeling and materials science. While some tasks remain within the reach of classical computers for now, this milestone signals a rapid approach toward meaningful, real-world quantum advantage.