Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) is casting a critical eye on Microsoft Corp.’s (MSFT) recent announcements regarding quantum computing. According to a report by Business Insider, Microsoft unveiled a quantum processor called Majorana 1 last month, touting its potential to revolutionize data storage and complex calculations.
However, Simone Severini, Amazon’s head of quantum technologies, expressed doubt in an email to CEO Andy Jassy. Severini pointed out that the scientific paper published in Nature did not offer concrete proof of a breakthrough, only hinting at possible future experiments. He also referenced Microsoft’s past retractions in the quantum field.
Internal communications at Amazon, including Slack messages, further revealed skepticism within the company. Oskar Painter, Amazon’s head of quantum hardware, reportedly criticized Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s statements as overly optimistic. Painter was more complimentary of quantum efforts by Alphabet Inc.’s Google and IBM.
Despite the skepticism, industry experts acknowledge the significant potential of quantum computing. However, they caution that Microsoft still has a long way to go before achieving a practical quantum computer. Microsoft maintains that utility-scale quantum computers are just around the corner, but Amazon is projecting mainstream adoption further down the line.
The competition in quantum computing intensified earlier this year. In February Microsoft launched Majorana 1, a quantum chip based on a new Topological Core architecture. This chip aims to tackle large-scale problems through topological conductor materials, which purportedly produce more reliable qubits. This announcement came on the heels of Google’s unveiling of a new quantum chip in December, sparking interest in quantum computing stocks.
Shortly after Microsoft’s announcement, Amazon introduced Ocelot, a quantum chip designed to reduce quantum error correction costs by as much as 90%. Developed by the AWS Center for Quantum Computing, Ocelot utilizes cat qubit technology, among other key innovations, on a scalable microchip format, further illustrating the competitive landscape.
