On Tuesday, Google announced its ongoing efforts to develop a super-fast “quantum” computer chip, part of its broader vision to enable machines to think like humans.
In a significant move to bolster these efforts, Google has brought on board renowned technology researcher John Martinis and his team from the University of California, Santa Barbara. They will join Google’s Quantum Artificial Intelligence team, led by Director of Engineering Hartmut Neven.
This strategic addition is a key component of Google’s “hardware initiative,” which aims to design and build next-generation quantum chips. These chips operate at sub-atomic levels, potentially allowing them to process information exponentially faster than the current generation of computer processors.
Hartmut Neven highlighted the importance of this integration, stating, “With an integrated hardware group, the Quantum AI team will now be able to implement and test new designs more effectively.” This initiative marks a pivotal step in Google’s quest to create a transformative new chip that could revolutionize computing by significantly boosting speed and processing power, bringing the company closer to achieving its goal of machine-based cognitive functioning.