SAN FRANCISCO – In a move signaling its commitment to the burgeoning field of quantum computing, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced on February 27 the release of Ocelot, its inaugural quantum computing chip. The chip, developed by the AWS Centre for Quantum Computing at the California Institute of Technology, promises a significant breakthrough by potentially cutting the costs associated with implementing quantum error correction by as much as 90 percent.
Quantum computing, a field of intense research and development, has garnered substantial investment from both the United States and China. This technology differs fundamentally from conventional computing, which relies on bits representing either 0 or 1. In contrast, quantum computers utilize quantum bits, or “qubits,” which can exist in multiple states simultaneously. This capability allows them to potentially solve complex problems at speeds exponentially faster than traditional computers.
“We believe that if we’re going to make practical quantum computers, quantum error correction needs to come first. That’s what we’ve done with Ocelot,” stated Professor Oskar Painter, AWS head of quantum hardware.
The announcement places AWS in direct competition with other tech giants already making strides in the field. Microsoft, for example, recently revealed its own quantum chip, claiming it could revolutionize various sectors, from addressing pollution to developing new medicines. Google also unveiled its Willow quantum chip in December 2024, asserting that it had dramatically reduced computing errors and performed a complex calculation in minutes that would have taken conventional supercomputers millions of years.
One of the key challenges in quantum computing lies in the extreme sensitivity of qubits to environmental disturbances, such as vibrations, heat, and electromagnetic interference. These factors can readily induce computation errors. The Ocelot chip addresses this issue through its innovative design. AWS suggests that this design can reduce the resources needed for quantum error correction by a factor of five to ten compared to existing methods. The AWS team’s findings have been published in the journal Nature.
“We’re sort of in the vacuum tube days right now with quantum computing – making these massive machines and trying to figure out how to get better, smaller, more resource-efficient components to scale them more effectively,” Prof Painter explained.
While still in the prototype phase, AWS believes Ocelot represents a crucial step toward quantum computers capable of tackling problems beyond the capabilities of any current computer. The company has indicated that it will continue to refine its approach through ongoing research and development efforts.
