Microsoft unveils Majorana 2 quantum chip, targets practical quantum computer by 2029
Microsoft announced its next-generation Majorana 2 quantum computing chip at the Build conference in San Francisco, using a new material stack and AI-driven design to achieve 1,000 times more reliable qubits. The company aims to deliver a practical, working quantum computer by 2029, competing with IBM. The chip relies on Majorana quasiparticles, a controversial approach, and Microsoft has spun out a manufacturing company with U.S. government backing.
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Microsoft unveils Majorana 2 quantum chip built with AI, targets 2029 for commercial systems
Microsoft announced its new quantum computing chip, Majorana 2, redesigned using AI and made with lead instead of aluminum, achieving a 1,000-fold performance improvement in some aspects. The company now aims to have commercially useful quantum machines by 2029, matching rival IBM's timeline. The chip relies on Majorana quasiparticles, a controversial approach criticized by some physicists for lack of publicly reproducible data. Microsoft executives defended the progress, citing confidential data shared with DARPA. The announcement also included the spin-out of a company to manufacture quantum chips for others, backed by the Trump administration.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Microsoft Reveals New Quantum Chip Made with AI, Targets 2029 for Quantum Systems
Microsoft has announced a new quantum chip developed using artificial intelligence, setting a target of 2029 to have operational quantum computing systems. This timeline places the company in direct competition with rival IBM, which has a similar target date. The chip is based on Majorana quasiparticles, a previously unproven concept that Microsoft claims to have now demonstrated. The announcement marks a significant milestone in the quantum computing race, leveraging AI to accelerate chip design and fabrication. The news was reported by The Business Times on June 3, 2026.
The Business TimesMicrosoft Reveals New Quantum Chip Made with AI, Targets 2029 for Quantum Systems
Microsoft has announced a new quantum chip developed using artificial intelligence, setting a target of 2029 to have operational quantum computing systems. This timeline places the company in direct competition with rival IBM, which aims for a similar milestone. The chip is based on quasiparticles called Majoranas, a theoretical concept that Microsoft claims to have now proven. The announcement was made on June 2, 2026, and signals a major step forward in the quantum computing race, leveraging AI to accelerate chip design and manufacturing.
The Business TimesMicrosoft announces Majorana 2 quantum computing chip — claims a practical machine will come in 2029
Microsoft announced its next-generation Majorana 2 quantum computing chip at the Build conference in San Francisco. The chip uses a new material stack replacing aluminum with lead and updating the semiconductor region to indium arsenide and indium arsenide antimonide, resulting in significantly improved performance. Microsoft claims the qubits are 1,000 times more reliable than the previous generation with a mean lifetime of 20 seconds, with some lasting up to a minute. The company is accelerating its roadmap and expects a practical, working quantum computer by 2029. The chip was designed with Microsoft's Discovery agentic AI.
Latest from Tom's HardwareMicrosoft announces Majorana 2 quantum computing chip — claims a practical machine will come in 2029
Microsoft announced its next-generation Majorana 2 quantum computing chip at the Build conference in San Francisco. The chip uses a new material stack, replacing aluminum with lead and updating the semiconductor region to indium arsenide and indium arsenide antimonide, to create a more stable topological phase. Microsoft claims the qubits are 1,000 times more reliable than the previous generation, with a mean lifetime of 20 seconds and some lasting up to a minute. The company is accelerating its roadmap and expects a practical, working quantum computer by 2029.
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