Could Google’s Quantum Chip "Willow" Unlock the Multiverse?

"When you want something, the whole universe conspires in order for you to achieve it." This motivational quote from "The Alchemist" might not just be fluff—it could be half right. Recently, Google unveiled its quantum chip, Willow, sparking a lot of buzz. But the chatter isn't just about how fast quantum computing speed is; it's about Google's hint at the possibility of parallel universes being real. Essentially, Willow's super-speedy calculations might be tapping into the energy of multiple universes!

Are you as amazed as I am? Is this a Google chip launch or a sci-fi YouTube channel?

In Google's latest blog post, "Meet Willow, our state-of-the-art quantum chip", Hartmut Neven, Google Quantum AI lead, wrote something particularly intriguing:

"Willow’s performance on this benchmark is astonishing: It performed a computation in under five minutes that would take one of today’s fastest supercomputers 10^25 or 10 septillion years. If you want to write it out, it’s 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years. This mind-boggling number exceeds known timescales in physics and vastly exceeds the age of the universe. It lends credence to the notion that quantum computation occurs in many parallel universes, in line with the idea that we live in a multiverse, a prediction first made by David Deutsch."

You might think this is just a metaphor or a way to hype up Willow's capabilities, right? Sorry, but this isn't just marketing jargon. The hypothesis linking quantum computers to parallel universes is more than just a sales pitch.

Why Are Quantum Computers Faster Than Supercomputers?

As someone from a humanities background, I must admit I'm not exactly qualified to explain quantum computing. However, in a world where Marvel movies, YouTube channels, and casual conversations are filled with "quantum superposition" and "quantum entanglement," it seems everyone can throw around a few quantum terms. So, let's break it down simply, shall we? (If you're still confused, maybe check out some YouTube explanations!)

Quantum computers outpace supercomputers thanks to three core principles of quantum mechanics:

Superposition: A qubit can be in a state of both 0 and 1 simultaneously. This means n qubits can represent up to 2^n states, allowing quantum computers to explore multiple possibilities at once—unlike traditional computers, which process one bit at a time. As a result, computational efficiency can be dramatically increased.

Entanglement: Quantum entanglement creates strong correlations between two or more qubits, linking their states even when separated by vast distances. This enables quantum computers to coordinate multi-qubit operations more efficiently, drastically reducing communication overhead and achieving speeds beyond what traditional computers can accomplish.

Interference: By adjusting the phase of quantum states, quantum computers can boost the likelihood of correct answers while reducing the odds of incorrect ones. In essence, interference in quantum algorithms amplifies the probability of the target solution and diminishes unwanted results, thereby improving both accuracy and speed.

Imagine navigating a maze. A traditional CPU sends one person in at a time—very slow. A GPU sends thousands, each taking a different path and reporting back. Quantum computers, harnessing superposition, entanglement, and interference, are like Naruto’s shadow clones, instantly syncing with each other until they find the exit.

Before diving into David Deutsch's ideas, let's cover the "Many-Worlds Interpretation" (MWI) in quantum mechanics.

Can Quantum Computing Prove the Existence of a Multiverse?

You’ve probably heard of the Schrödinger’s cat thought experiment. In essence, the cat is placed in a sealed box with a quantum mechanism that has a certain probability of killing it. Because this mechanism relies on quantum principles, the cat can be thought of as existing in a superposition of both “alive” and “dead” states—at least until someone opens the box and observes what’s inside.

According to the traditional Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, the act of observation causes the cat’s state to “collapse,” fixing it as either alive or dead. In contrast, the Many-Worlds Interpretation (MWI) proposes that all possible outcomes actually occur: the universe splits into branches, and in one branch the cat is alive, while in another, it’s dead. From this perspective, the observer only experiences one outcome directly, but the other outcome persists in a parallel branch.

David Deutsch, a physicist at Oxford University and a pioneer in quantum computing, is an advocate of the Many-Worlds Interpretation (MWI). In his book The Fabric of Reality, he suggests that quantum computing’s extraordinary efficiency arises from collaboration across multiple parallel universes.

His argument is that when a quantum computer processes a problem, each qubit in each parallel universe occupies a different state, collectively computing possible solutions simultaneously. Quantum interference is then not merely an isolated effect within a single universe; rather, it’s an interaction of wave functions across universes. Correct solutions get amplified through interference, while incorrect ones get canceled out—mirroring an exchange of information among these “multiverses.”

Put simply, quantum computing operates across parallel universes, evaluating all possible solutions at once. It’s reminiscent of how Doctor Strange in Avengers: Infinity War foresaw 14,000,605 possible futures, yet found only one path to defeat Thanos.

This line of thought also echoes Isaac Asimov’s The Gods Themselves, where humanity, desperate for energy, creates technology to draw power from another universe—meanwhile, intelligent beings in that universe have their own designs. It’s an unsettling notion: if Google were ever to offer definitive proof of the Many-Worlds Interpretation, it might overshadow even the pursuit of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), all while opening a window to the multiverse. Whether that would be a blessing or a curse remains an open question.