Amazon joins quantum race with 'cat qubit' powered chip

Quantum computers solve problems by exploiting the strange properties of matter and energy at very small scales, as described by the science of quantum physics.

Quantum computers won't replace so-called "classical" computers, but promise to be able to solve problems even the most powerful modern computers cannot - yielding new discoveries such as better batteries and new medicines.

But that potential is being held up by the problem of errors.

Quantum computers are extremely sensitive to noise in their environment - vibrations, heat, electromagnetic interference from mobile phones and WIFI networks, or even cosmic rays and radiation from outer space can all cause them to make errors, which then need to be corrected.

Amazon joins Microsoft and Google in announcing a new experimental chip. But is this flurry of announcements the result of clever research or clever PR? Or is it coincidence, the tech equivalent of the saying buses always come in threes?

Heather West follows the quantum computing industry for the International Data Corporation and was briefed on the new chip by Amazon in advance of publication.

She describes Amazon's results as an "advancement" rather than a breakthrough.

All three recent announcements have focused on reducing errors, and she tells me the industry is "pivoting" from a focus on the number of qubits to a focus the "ability to use these these systems at scale to solve real world life problems. And by doing so we need to be able to solve the error correction within the quantum systems".

However Mr Painter agreed "100%" that it wouldn't be easy to scale up today's experimental systems.