Amazon Web Services has introduced its new quantum computing chip, the Ocelot, claiming it could significantly cut down error correction costs by up to 90% compared to traditional methods. Oskar Painter, AWS’s director of Quantum Hardware, stated that this advancement could bring practical quantum computing closer by as much as five years. The Ocelot utilizes cat qubits, which are designed to be more fault-tolerant and less prone to bit-flip errors.
While progress has been made, Painter acknowledged there are still several hurdles to overcome. The immediate next steps involve reducing the error rates of logical qubits further before the Ocelot can be made publicly available. As the architecture develops, the potential for limited access to clients on AWS’s Braket quantum cloud service is anticipated, although the timeline for this remains undetermined.
The initial applications of the Ocelot chip are expected to focus on industries that are developing new materials or advancing molecular biology.
Despite the optimism surrounding Ocelot, industry analysts have raised skepticism about its competitiveness. Paul Smith-Goodson, a quantum computing analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, pointed out that Amazon’s chip lags behind existing offerings from companies like IBM and IonQ, which have made substantial strides in quantum technology.
Additionally, Painter noted that reaching a practical application for the Ocelot would require roughly 100 logical qubits and significantly improved error rates. He emphasized the ongoing need for quantum algorithms that are optimized for such technologies.
Experts have recognized AWS’s announcement as a significant development but remain wary of the uncertainties in quantum technology’s future. John Preskill from Caltech mentioned that while companies like Google may currently lead in scaling quantum technology, the open challenges mean it’s too early to determine which approach has a better long-term outlook.
As Amazon ventures further into quantum computing, its emphasis on unique approaches and innovative materials, such as Tantalum for improving oscillator performance, is noted. While a race among tech giants, including AWS and Microsoft, is heating up, the outcome remains uncertain, with various organizations vying to overcome substantial barriers in the realm of quantum computing.
For more information, you can visit AWS’s announcement on the Ocelot chip and the AWS blog.
