Is Google’s approach to error-free quantum computers already outdated?

Many researchers believe that the only way to build unambiguously useful quantum computers is to enable them to correct their own errors. A breakthrough in December from researchers at Google Quantum AI charted one path towards making this a practical reality. Their approach, however, may already be in danger of becoming outdated.

A big factor preventing quantum computers from living up to their promise – solving seemingly intractable problems in materials science, chemistry, logistics and many other fields – is that they constantly make errors.…