More or Less: Behind the Stats - Are quantum computers already super-powerful?

Download Are quantum computers already super-powerful?

Google claim their latest quantum computer chip is able to process something in five minutes it would take a normal computer 10 septillion years to figure out.

As this is a massive amount longer than the entire history of the known universe, that seems to suggest the chip is extremely powerful.

But when you understand what’s going on, the claim doesn’t seem quite so impressive. Dr Peter Leek, a quantum computer scientist from Oxford University, explains the key context.

Presenter: Charlotte McDonald
Producer: Tom Colls
Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
Sound mix: Andrew Garratt
Editor: Richard Vadon

Published on Saturday, 1st February 2025.

Available Podcasts from More or Less: Behind the Stats

Subscribe to More or Less: Behind the Stats

We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the More or Less: Behind the Stats webpage.