Quantum computing is a fascinating and intricate field that shows promise for the future. Often, it feels like breakthroughs are just around the corner but remain elusive.

Recently, Google announced a significant advancement—a new algorithm called Quantum Echoes, for which it claims a speed increase of 13,000 times compared to traditional supercomputers. While impressive, the reception hasn’t been entirely positive.

The Quantum Echoes algorithm, run on Google’s Willow quantum chip, allegedly achieves verifiable quantum advantages through a unique operational method. By sending a signal into a quantum system and then reversing the operation, it detects interactions within the system in a manner comparable to the butterfly effect.

However, skepticism remains. MIT professor Aram Harrow noted the principle’s impact, while quantum physicist Dries Sels stressed the importance of proving such claims rigorously. Critics emphasize that the validity of the results must be established more robustly, especially since the current findings were based on just 15 qubits, with Google’s long-term goals pointing towards a full-scale quantum computer.

Despite the buzz surrounding quantum advances, conventional computers still lead in many areas, and Google continues to walk a fine line between innovation and exaggerated expectations.