Microsoft has unveiled Majorana 1, its first quantum computing chip, marking a significant breakthrough after nearly two decades of research in the field.
The chip, which utilizes topological qubits, represents a fundamental shift in quantum computing technology, as the company said it had to create an entirely new state of matter—a topological state—to bring it to life.
Unlike conventional qubits used in quantum processors by companies like Google and IBM, Microsoft’s quantum chip employs eight topological qubits made using indium arsenide, a semiconductor, and aluminum, a superconductor. The company said that topological qubits, though far more difficult to create, are inherently more stable and error-resistant, making them a promising pathway toward scalable quantum computing.
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Emphasizing the complexity of the materials science behind Majorana 1, Microsoft stated that it required an entirely new approach to quantum hardware. According to a blog post published Wednesday, the company had to engineer the material atom by atom to ensure that the exotic particles formed correctly and exhibited the desired quantum behaviors.
“Ironically, it’s also why we need a quantum computer—because understanding these materials is incredibly hard,” said Krysta Svore, a Microsoft technical fellow, in the blog post. “With a scaled quantum computer, we will be able to predict materials with even better properties for building the next generation of quantum computers beyond scale.”
The findings and technical details of Majorana 1 were recently published in the journal Nature, providing deeper insights into the engineering breakthroughs and the physical principles behind Microsoft’s quantum chip.
How Majorana 1 Stands Out from Other Quantum Efforts
Quantum computing relies on qubits, which, unlike classical bits that are either 0 or 1, can exist in superposition, meaning they can be both 0 and 1 at the same time. However, one of the biggest challenges in quantum computing has been qubit stability, as traditional qubits are extremely error-prone due to environmental disturbances.
This is where topological qubits differ. Unlike superconducting qubits used by companies like Google and IBM, Microsoft’s topological qubits are theorized to be more resilient to noise and interference, potentially solving one of the biggest barriers to scaling quantum computers.
“The difficulty of developing the right materials to create the exotic particles and their associated topological state of matter is why most quantum efforts have focused on other kinds of qubits,” Microsoft noted in its blog post.
While companies like Google, IBM, IonQ, and Rigetti Computing have already developed quantum processors, their approaches rely on different types of qubits that require intensive error correction. Microsoft’s approach with topological qubits aims to reduce the need for excessive error correction, making it a potentially more scalable solution in the long run.
No Immediate Commercial Plans, but a Step Toward a Million-Qubit Future
Unlike its custom AI chip, Maia 100, which Microsoft plans to make available to clients through its Azure public cloud, the Majorana 1 chip is not yet being deployed for commercial use. Instead, it represents a crucial research milestone toward Microsoft’s long-term goal of developing a quantum computer with one million qubits.
Microsoft is taking a different approach to fabrication as well. While tech giants like Apple, Nvidia, and Google rely on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) for chip production, Microsoft is manufacturing the components of Majorana 1 in-house within the U.S. Due to the experimental nature of the chip, the work is being done on a small scale for now.
Jason Zander, Microsoft’s executive vice president, stated that the company aims to scale up to a few hundred qubits before seriously considering commercial applications.
“We want to get to a few hundred qubits before we start talking about commercial reliability,” Zander told CNBC.
In the meantime, Microsoft will collaborate with national laboratories and universities to advance research using the Majorana 1 chip, allowing academic and scientific communities to explore its potential applications.
Investors’ Interest
Although quantum computing is still in its early stages, investor interest in the field remains high. Companies like IonQ and Rigetti Computing saw their stock prices skyrocket in 2024, with IonQ gaining 237% and Rigetti surging nearly 1,500%. Despite being relatively small players, the two companies generated a combined $14.8 million in third-quarter revenue, demonstrating that there is growing demand for quantum technologies.
Further gains came in January when Microsoft published a blog post declaring that 2025 is “the year to become quantum-ready.” This statement sparked speculation that Microsoft may be accelerating its quantum computing ambitions, fueling optimism among investors.
Quantum Computing’s Potential Impact on AI and Drug Discovery
Although quantum computing is often discussed as a separate field, Microsoft envisions it as a key enabler for other areas of technology, particularly artificial intelligence.
Microsoft’s Azure Quantum cloud service already allows developers to experiment with quantum programs and algorithms, offering access to chips from IonQ and Rigetti. While Majorana 1 itself is not yet available on Azure, Zander hinted that a Microsoft quantum chip could be integrated into Azure before 2030.
“There’s a lot of speculation that we’re decades off from this,” Zander said. “We believe it’s more like years.”
One of the biggest potential breakthroughs could be in AI-driven research and materials science. Quantum computers have the potential to simulate molecular structures, leading to breakthroughs in drug discovery, material design, and chemistry—areas that classical computers struggle with due to the complexity of quantum interactions.
“Now you can ask it to invent some new molecule, invent some new drug—something that really would have been impossible to do before,” Zander added.
The Future of Microsoft’s Quantum Ambitions
While Majorana 1 is a significant milestone, Microsoft acknowledges that there is still a long road ahead before quantum computing becomes commercially viable. Developing quantum computers at scale will require solving engineering, fabrication, and software challenges—as well as making quantum systems more accessible for real-world applications.
The company said for now, it will focus on scaling up its quantum research, improving qubit stability, and engaging with research institutions. However, if its topological qubit approach proves successful, it could put Microsoft in a leading position to disrupt the quantum computing industry—challenging Google, IBM, and other competitors in the race to build practical quantum machines.