Tue Dec 10 11:27:36 UTC 2024: ## Musk Impressed by Google’s Quantum Leap: Space-Based Computing Considered

**Mountain View, CA & Austin, TX** – Google’s unveiling of its groundbreaking Willow quantum computing chip has sparked excitement across the tech world, garnering praise even from SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The new chip, described by Google CEO Sundar Pichai as “state-of-the-art,” boasts an exponential reduction in errors as qubit numbers increase, solving a decades-old challenge in the field. In benchmark tests, Willow completed a computation in under five minutes that would take a leading supercomputer over 10²⁵ years.

Pichai’s announcement prompted a “Wow” from Musk, leading to an exchange suggesting a future collaboration on a space-based quantum computing cluster using SpaceX’s Starship. Musk envisions this as a step towards a more advanced civilization, highlighting the need for significant technological advancements.

This positive interaction is notable given Musk’s historically mixed relationship with Google. He previously criticized Google’s acquisition of DeepMind, even attempting to buy the AI startup himself. This led to the co-founding of OpenAI, although their relationship later soured. Musk has also voiced strong criticism of Google’s Gemini AI and warned about the potential civilizational risks of advanced chatbots. Despite these past disagreements, Musk’s reaction to Willow suggests a potential shift in their dynamic, focused on the shared ambition of pushing the boundaries of technological innovation. The potential for a joint space-based quantum computing project remains a fascinating prospect.

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