Google’s Quantum Processor Requires Hundreds of Thousands of Qubits for Transformative Applications

The gap between current qubit counts and requirements for the most exciting applications is substantial. Moving from hundreds to hundreds of thousands or millions of qubits presents enormous challenges.
Transformative applications like breaking current encryption or simulating complex quantum systems require fault-tolerant quantum computers with massive qubit counts. Current systems fall far short of these requirements.
Scaling qubit numbers while maintaining quality and control is not simply a matter of building bigger systems. New architectures, error correction schemes, and control techniques will be necessary.
The roadmaps for reaching required qubit counts span many years and involve numerous technical milestones. Each milestone represents significant research and engineering challenges.
Intermediate-scale applications may emerge before fully scaled systems become available. Identifying problems solvable with hundreds or thousands of qubits could provide value during the scaling process.
The quantum computing community maintains optimism about eventually reaching required scales despite current gaps. Historical precedents of scaling classical computing provide some confidence, though quantum challenges differ fundamentally.