The world has briefly turned away from artificial intelligence and focused on quantum computing. This shift comes after Microsoft unveiled a groundbreaking quantum chip made with topological conductors small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Called Majorana 1, the chip marks a new milestone in digital transformation.
Today, we'll examine why the release of Majorana 1 is so exciting and what benefits Microsoft's innovation can bring.
What Makes Majorana 1 Special?
We first discussed quantum computers in our blog in 2023. Even then, many leading companies were exploring ways to build powerful machines that use quantum superposition and entanglement to perform calculations simultaneously. So, what makes Microsoft's approach different?
Majorana 1 runs on topological conductors—an entirely new material that didn't exist before. It's not solid, liquid, or gas and doesn't resemble any substance we know. Instead, it represents an entirely new state of matter. Developing this breakthrough took Microsoft 17 years of research.
These topological conductors are used to create topological qubits.
A qubit (quantum bit) is a quantum computer's basic unit of information. Like a classical bit, it stores information, but its behavior is far more complex.
A topological qubit is a special type of qubit used in quantum computers. Its main advantage is greater stability and fewer errors compared to regular qubits. Unlike traditional qubits, topological qubits store quantum information in the overall structure of a quantum system rather than in local properties. This makes them highly resistant to small disturbances since only significant, system-wide changes can affect the stored information.
In simpler terms, topological conductors help create stable qubits with unique features that overcome some limitations of thermodynamics and electrodynamics. This innovation is a key step toward building scalable and efficient quantum computers.
The Majorana 1 chip currently has just eight qubits, but Microsoft claims this technology could eventually scale to a million qubits.
Quantum computers with that power level could solve some of the world's most complex problems, potentially transforming entire industries. With topological conductors, they could predict intricate chemical and biological processes, opening new possibilities in medicine, environmental science, and beyond. What once took decades could be accomplished in just a few years.
For instance, quantum computers might uncover why certain materials corrode or crack. This knowledge could lead to self-healing materials capable of repairing damage in bridges, airplanes, phone screens, or car doors.
Today, the vast variety of plastics makes it nearly impossible to develop a single catalyst to break them down. Quantum computing could help design such catalysts, turning pollutants into valuable byproducts—or even creating safer, non-toxic materials.
Criticism of Microsoft's Development
Some scientists compare Microsoft's breakthrough to the discovery of semiconductors in the 20th century, predicting a major technological shift. However, not everyone shares this optimism, and the development has been criticized.
Microsoft claims that Majorana 1 is the world's first quantum processor with a topological core. However, the company has not demonstrated the device performing actual quantum computations.
What concerns do scientists have?
In its demonstration, Microsoft showed only how data is read from the processor. There was no evidence that the device could process information using quantum mechanics. In addition, coherence—the ability of qubits to hold information long enough for calculations—has yet to be proven.
At the same time, other quantum processors have already shown they can store and work with quantum information. While Microsoft calls this a "revolution," critics point out that the company has revealed just an early step in a much longer process.
Microsoft also stated that it successfully created Majorana particles, quasiparticles believed to be key to building stable topological qubits. However, the company's cited Nature journal article notes that the observed low-energy states can't yet be confidently identified as Majorana particles.
What's behind the disagreement? The core of the debate lies in distinguishing between two similar types of quantum states:
The main issue is that current measurement methods—particularly interferometry, which studies wave interference—can't clearly distinguish between the two quantum states. While Microsoft's data is impressive, it could also be explained by Andreev bound states, raising questions about the company's conclusions.
Topological qubits are promising because they could solve two significant challenges in quantum computing: errors and instability. If Microsoft has indeed created Majorana zero modes, it will bring us closer to practical, scalable quantum computers. However, many scientists remain skeptical and believe the company may have announced its breakthrough too soon.
We hope Microsoft will soon provide stronger evidence to confirm its technological achievement and address the scientific community's doubts. Then again, with the world already racing ahead in artificial intelligence, maybe one technological revolution at a time is enough for now.
