Google claims ‘quantum advantage’ again — but researchers are sceptical

Google researchers claim to have achieved quantum advantage again with a new algorithm called quantum echoes, which they say can solve problems faster on quantum processors than classical computers could. The company asserts this breakthrough has potential for scientific applications such as determining molecular structures and could be replicated on other quantum computers. However, some scientists remain skeptical about the claim of quantum advantage, arguing that proof is lacking that no efficient classical algorithm exists to perform the same task. Google published its findings in Nature on October 22, while also submitting a preprint study detailing how they applied the algorithm to simple molecules like toluene for structure prediction using quantum simulations and NMR measurements.

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