New Delhi, June 3(CXO Media): Microsoft has unveiled its new Majorana 2 quantum chip and said it expects commercially useful quantum computers to arrive by 2029, placing the company among the leading contenders in the global quantum computing race.
The announcement marks Microsoft’s latest push to turn years of quantum research into practical computing systems. The company said the new chip was redesigned using artificial intelligence-powered materials research tools, helping scientists identify and develop a new lead-based material approach instead of the aluminium-based designs commonly used across the industry.
According to Microsoft, the change delivered significant performance gains compared with its previous-generation chip. Company executives said one of the biggest challenges involved finding a way to manufacture lead-based components despite the material’s tendency to dissolve during parts of the production process.
The 2029 target is the clearest timeline Microsoft has provided so far for commercially useful quantum computers. The company is competing with rivals including IBM, Google and Amazon, all of which are investing heavily in next-generation quantum systems capable of solving complex scientific and computational problems beyond the reach of traditional computers.
Quantum computing is widely viewed as a technology with potential applications in drug discovery, materials science, financial modelling and cybersecurity.
While Microsoft highlighted progress with the Majorana 2 chip, some researchers continue to question aspects of the company’s underlying quantum approach.
Microsoft’s technology relies on Majorana quasiparticles, which the company says can help build more stable quantum systems. However, several physicists have argued that more publicly available data is needed to independently verify some of Microsoft’s scientific claims.
The company said it has shared detailed information with the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which is evaluating multiple quantum computing technologies.
The latest announcement underscores both the rapid pace of quantum computing development and the ongoing debate over which technology platform will ultimately power the industry’s first commercially viable quantum machines.
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