On February 19, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce a “quantum breakthrough” made by the tech company.
This marks the launch of Majorana 1, a quantum processing unit (QPU).
According to The Times of India, Microsoft claims that the Majorana 1 is the world's first quantum processing unit built on a topological core. It is powered by a state of matter that is newly discovered.
NO LONGER JUST THREE STATES OF MATTER?
In his post on X, CEO Satya Nadella wrote, “Most of us grew up learning there are three main types of matter that matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Today, that changed.”
He explained that Microsoft has developed an entirely new state of matter that is unlocked by topoconductors, a new class of materials. They have the capability to enable a “fundamental leap in computing.”
It took nearly 20 years to create this new state of matter.
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THE MAJORANA 1 SOLUTION
Qubits are the building blocks of quantum computers. But for a long time, they've inhibited the growth of quantum computing.
This is because they are very unstable and can function reliably only in extreme conditions like near-zero temperatures.
According to Microsoft, the company's new topoconductor approach creates a more stable foundation for qubits.
“This is a needed threshold for quantum computers to deliver transformative, real-world solutions — such as breaking down microplastics into harmless byproducts or inventing self-healing materials for construction, manufacturing or healthcare,” Microsoft stated in in a press release.
Nadella echoed the same in his post, “The qubits created with topoconductors are faster, more reliable, and smaller. They are 1/100th of a millimeter, meaning we now have a clear path to a million-qubit processor.”
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MORE POWERFUL THAN ALL OTHER COMPUTERS COMBINED?
Microsoft claims that Majorana 1 quantum processing unit is highly compact and can fit in the palm of someone's hand.
Yet, it is capable of functioning more powerfully than all the computers on Earth combined.
The Microsoft CEO wrote, “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!”
He concluded by stating, “It’s not about hyping tech; it’s about building technology that truly serves the world.”
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ELON MUSK’S RESPONSE
Responding to Microsoft’s Satya Nadella’s post on X, Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote, “More and more breakthroughs with quantum computing…”
Nadella responded by saying that the development could be the “...quantum’s transistor moment.”
He wrote, “Exciting, right? We think this could be quantum’s transistor moment… just think of the implications for battery chemistry! And big congrats to you and the team on Grok 3!”
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