The US firm claims its top conductor-powered chip is a game-changer, likening it to the invention of the semiconductor, which paved the way for modern smartphones, computers, and electronics. This tiny but mighty innovation could make quantum computers smaller, more reliable, and vastly more powerful than anything seen before.
According to a peer-reviewed paper in Nature, Microsoft’s cutting-edge technology enables quantum systems to fit onto a single chip smaller than the palm of a hand. The key lies in a new state of matter—neither solid, liquid, nor gas—that enhances the stability of these futuristic machines.
Professor Paul Stevenson of the University of Surrey acknowledged Microsoft as a "very serious competitor" in building the first fully functional quantum computer.
However, he urged caution, saying, "The next steps are difficult, and until they are achieved, it is too soon to be anything more than cautiously optimistic."
Professor George Booth from King’s College London called the achievement "impressive" but noted that the actual impact would only become apparent in hindsight.
"Whether a claim of ‘years’ rather than decades is accurate will remain to be seen," he added.
If Microsoft’s bold predictions prove correct, quantum computers could soon tackle problems previously thought impossible. These include breaking down microplastics into harmless byproducts, creating self-healing materials, solving global supply chain crises, and even cracking encryption codes.
The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has already noticed, selecting Microsoft’s top conductor as one of only two potential pathways to quantum computing under a programme aiming to develop an industrially applicable quantum computer by 2033. Its main competitor, PsiQuantum, is taking a different approach using silicon-based photonic qubits.
Microsoft’s foray into quantum technology has not been without controversy. The company previously claimed to have developed topological qubits, only to have a key paper retracted after scientific flaws were exposed.
However, experts say Microsoft has been playing the long game, focusing on an inherently more resilient architecture to noise and interference—problems plaguing existing quantum machines.
“These topological qubits protect the information they carry by using the properties of a new type of emergent particle, a Majorana fermion," explained Booth. "This means it is harder for this information to be lost. However, constructing these qubits is more complex than competing architectures."
Microsoft’s breakthrough comes after 20 years of research, and industry leaders are taking notice. Multiverse Computing CEO Enrique Lizaso Olmos called the announcement "a significant advance in quantum hardware" and emphasised the importance of combining quantum computing with artificial intelligence.
“ At Multiverse Computing, we also combine the power of quantum computing and AI to address long-standing unsolvable business problems even with today’s HPC machines. Our scientific expertise is in tensor networks, which have the power to make today’s AI algorithms smaller, portable and more energy efficient.”
