Microsoft Majorana 2 Chip: 1,000x Qubit Stability Boost

Microsoft unveiled its Majorana 2 quantum chip, claiming it is 1,000 times more reliable than its predecessor in qubit stability. The chip extends qubit lifetimes from 5-10 seconds to at least 20 seconds, with some lasting a full minute, bringing the company closer to solving quantum computing's core challenge. Microsoft now targets a scalable quantum computer by 2029, cutting its previous timeline in half. The breakthrough relies on replacing aluminum superconductors with lead ones, improving resistance to environmental interference. Microsoft also credited its agentic AI platform, Microsoft Discovery, for accelerating chip design by automating complex measurements, optimizing fabrication, and analyzing decades of research data.