Quantum computers have long held the promise of solving certain problems faster than classical machines. While finding clear examples of this advantage has been difficult, a recent breakthrough may be changing that.
A New Algorithm Shows Promise
A team of researchers at Google has developed a new quantum algorithm called Decoded Quantum Interferometry (DQI). It appears to outperform all known classical algorithms in solving complex optimization problems—tasks that involve finding the best choice from many possible options, such as planning delivery routes or packing items efficiently.
These kinds of problems become extremely difficult as they scale, and classical computers often struggle to keep up. While quantum computers should, in theory, be better suited to these tasks, proving that has been challenging—until now.
Breaking the Pattern
In most cases, when a quantum algorithm is proposed, classical researchers soon find a way to match its performance. DQI seems to break that pattern. So far, no classical algorithm has matched its efficiency, making it a standout development.
The algorithm was created by physicist Stephen Jordan and his colleague Noah Shutty at Google. Surprisingly, they didn’t start with a specific problem in mind. Instead, their discovery came from exploring the overlap between quantum computing and decoding techniques used in fields like error correction and cryptography.
From Theory to Breakthrough
Jordan used quantum wave behavior to represent potential solutions, eventually discovering that an old decoding method from the 1960s could be adapted for quantum systems. This allowed them to highlight the best solutions more effectively.
To confirm the algorithm’s advantage, they consulted coding theory expert Mary Wootters, who verified that no current classical method could match DQI’s results.
Looking Ahead
While today’s quantum hardware isn’t advanced enough to fully run DQI, the research marks a major step forward. It suggests that quantum computers may soon begin to outperform classical systems in real-world applications.
As researchers continue refining the algorithm and expanding its use cases, DQI stands as a hopeful sign of quantum computing’s long-promised potential becoming reality.
References: https://www.quantamagazine.org/quantum-speedup-found-for-huge-class-of-hard-problems-20250317/
