A couple reflections on the quantum computing breakthrough we just announced... Most of us grew up learning there are three main types of matter that matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Today, that changed. After a nearly 20 year pursuit, we’ve created an entirely new state of matter, unlocked by a new class of materials, topoconductors, that enable a fundamental leap in computing. It powers Majorana 1, the first quantum processing unit built on a topological core. We believe this breakthrough will allow us to create a truly meaningful quantum computer not in decades, as some have predicted, but in years. 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. 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! Sometimes researchers have to work on things for decades to make progress possible. It takes patience and persistence to have big impact in the world. And I am glad we get the opportunity to do just that at Microsoft. This is our focus: When productivity rises, economies grow faster, benefiting every sector and every corner of the globe. It’s not about hyping tech; it’s about building technology that truly serves the world. Read more about our discovery, and why it matters, here: https://aka.ms/AAu76rr
Jason Filipowski
7mo
“When productivity rises, economies grow faster, benefiting every sector…” This sentence stood out to me due to the vague and specific use of the words productivity and sector. If we specify labor productivity then yes, I agree. If we specify capital productivity, as does the entirety of this post, then I’m skeptical. Large increases in capital productivity means fewer humans needed to generate similar/greater value. This means fewer jobs, higher ROI to capital owners, and increasing wealth disparity resulting in lower relative standard of living / higher COL for those non-owners of capital (i.e., regular folks). While increasing returns on capital benefits shareholders many will have to find new ways to earn a living. The middle class was created by investing in human capital, and is being depleted through advancements in capital productivity. In the long-run we may find ourselves in a more extreme version of today where most people have fancy gadgets in their pockets, but middle-class staples like homes, families, and free time are increasingly coveted luxuries as we compete with advanced technologies in the form of productivity and with capital owners for purchasing power. Just a thought. The chip sounds cool though 👍
Robert Edesess
6mo
Huge accomplishment for MSFT and a giant leap forward for computing. This is also desperately needed for the environment. It’s been scary to see the arms races in crypto and LLM that has created a likewise insatiable demand for energy. Indeed, MSFT announced not long ago a partnership to restart a nuclear power plant. Haven’t looked into it but in theory have to assume huge gains in power efficiency versus moving around electrons. Bring it on.
Independent Creative specialising in Web Design, Graphic Design & Marketing - Pixel Pushing for over 30 years.
7moAwesome achievement but I would be remiss to not point out your quote "When productivity rises, economies grow faster, benefiting every sector and every corner of the globe. "... If only this were true. The human workforce is now more productive that at any previous time in human history. People are working longer hours, achieving great success for their companies. We have made more billionaires & millionaires in the last 20years than any other time. The stock markets have been riding a high for the last 10 years, and yet... More people are struggling to get by than ever before. The wealth divide has never been greater. Families struggle to feed themselves, Young people can't afford rents, let alone save for a house. Wages have not kept pace with the rate of productivity & profits. It appears the last 40 years of trickle down economics have not worked. The benefits you speak of have largely landed in the hands of the wealthy, while the working class increasingly look to eat the rich.