Microsoft Reveals New Quantum Chip Redesigned With AI, Targets 2029 for Commercial Systems
Microsoft has unveiled its new Majorana 2 quantum chip, redesigned with artificial intelligence to improve performance, and announced it expects to have commercially useful quantum computers ready by 2029.
Major Quantum Computing Announcement
Microsoft unveiled a new quantum computing chip that it redesigned with the help of AI, saying it now believes it will have commercially useful quantum machines by 2029. This represents a significant milestone in the company's quantum computing roadmap and marks a shift in the timeline for practical quantum systems.
The Majorana 2 Chip
Microsoft's new quantum processor, known as Majorana 2, benefits from improvements in its core architecture. Swapping materials in its Majorana 2 chip boosted the effectiveness of quantum bits that rely on the math of topology to reduce errors, Microsoft says. This topological approach to quantum computing has long been a focus of Microsoft's research, offering potential advantages in error correction.
Competitive Timeline
The new target date puts Microsoft on track to have quantum computers the same year as rival IBM, which last month said it plans to spend US$10 billion on quantum machines. The race to achieve fault-tolerant quantum computing is intensifying, with major tech companies and governments investing heavily in the technology.
Industry Context
It also spun out a company to make quantum chips for others, with backing from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. This expansion signals confidence in near-term quantum computing viability and reflects growing recognition that quantum systems will require new supply chains and specialized manufacturers. Microsoft had previously declined to specify timelines, saying only that practical quantum systems were years, not decades, away.