Quantum Echoes: Google’s leap into the real-world quantum era

From theory to reality: the Willow chip achieves the first verifiable quantum advantage in history

A historic breakthrough for quantum intelligence

For the first time in history, a quantum computer has executed a verifiable algorithm faster than traditional supercomputers. This milestone, achieved by Google Quantum AI with its Willow chip, marks the debut of Quantum Echoes, an algorithm capable of computing molecular structures 13,000 times faster than the world’s most advanced classical machines.

This represents an epochal step toward real-world applications of quantum computing, building on decades of research and two major milestones: the 2019 quantum supremacy experiment and the 2024 breakthrough in error suppression.

Quantum Echoes: the quantum “echo” that reveals the structure of matter

The Quantum Echoes algorithm works like a highly advanced quantum echo. A signal is sent into the system, a single qubit is perturbed, and then the signal’s evolution is reversed to listen for the “echo” that returns.

Thanks to constructive interference, the returning signal becomes stronger, allowing researchers to measure the spread of disturbances across the quantum system with unprecedented precision.

Using this approach, Google successfully modeled two molecules — one with 15 atoms and another with 28 — achieving results identical to Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) data, but with richer structural detail.

From theory to practice: the dawn of quantum verifiability

The true revolution lies in quantum verifiability. For the first time, results produced by a quantum algorithm can be reproduced and verified on another quantum computer of similar quality.

This opens a new frontier: the ability to certify quantum experiments, which is essential to move from experimental demonstrations to industrial and scientific applications of quantum computing.

Toward real-world impact: medicine, materials, and energy

The precision achieved by the Willow chip paves the way for revolutionary tools in science.
By integrating quantum computing with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), scientists could soon model the shape and behavior of molecules, improving drug discovery, developing better batteries and solar materials, and even assisting research in nuclear fusion.

As Ashok Ajoy, professor of chemistry at UC Berkeley and collaborator on the project, explains:

“This technology marks the beginning of a quantum microscope capable of revealing natural phenomena previously invisible to us.”

A new era of quantum computing

With Quantum Echoes, Google takes a decisive step forward on its roadmap toward Milestone 3 — the creation of a long-lived logical qubit.

Every advance reduces the gap between theoretical promise and real-world implementation, bringing us closer to an era where quantum computing becomes not just an experiment, but a transformative tool for everyday science and technology.