Amazon Web Services (AWS) unveiled ‘Ocelot,’ a quantum computing chip, potentially cutting error correction costs by 90%

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has unveiled a new quantum computing chip called Ocelot. This chip promises to significantly reduce the costs associated with fixing errors in quantum computations, potentially by as much as 90%, compared to current methods.

The Ocelot chip was developed at the AWS Centre for Quantum Computing, with research based at the California Institute of Technology. According to AWS, Ocelot marks a significant step towards creating reliable quantum computers. These advanced computers could tackle complex problems in science and business that are currently beyond the reach of regular computers.

The chip uses a unique design, employing ‘cat qubits,’ inspired by Schrödinger’s famous thought experiment. AWS explains that cat qubits naturally suppress certain types of errors. This reduces the resources needed to correct those errors during quantum calculations.

AWS researchers have integrated cat qubit technology with other error correction components into a microchip that can be mass-produced. Error correction is crucial in quantum computing because these systems are highly susceptible to interference and disruptions.

AWS is tackling this issue by building error correction directly into the chip’s design. This differs from other approaches that add error correction after the initial design is complete. Oskar Painter, the director of quantum hardware at AWS, emphasized that they prioritized error correction from the start. AWS believes this is essential for building practical quantum computers.

AWS has also published a detailed report on this technology in the journal Nature. While Ocelot is still a prototype, AWS plans to continue investing in its development.