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▲Bringing the magic: Google breaks open a bottleneck in quantum computing (blog.google)
Terr_ 8 days ago [-]
> developed what we now call “magic state cultivation.”

Somehow I can't help but read that phrase as a translated Wuxia [0] thing.

"It was then that the Non-Observing Sage secluded himself in the clan datacenter to focus on magic state cultivation. Half a year later, he emerged having mastered Rosen-Bridge Crossing Under Plum Blossoms."

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuxia

nitwit005 8 days ago [-]
I was thinking more along these lines: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_mysticism
zem 8 days ago [-]
* xianxia
K604 8 days ago [-]
I really wish someone eventually understands this so they could explain it to me in the comments
skew-aberration 8 days ago [-]
It's kinda like magic numbers in a normal numerical algorithm. The issue is, the constants ('states') you need in some quantum computer themselves require some level of quantum computing to generate (in this case, iteratively 'cultivate'). In a normal computer you could read constants from the code, but that isn't possible here. You have to bootstrap the necessary quantum states from your non-quantum problem, and that needs to be efficient or else why did you build a quantum computer.
pelican0 8 days ago [-]
The paper: "Magic state cultivation on a superconducting quantum processor" https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.13908 (Dec 2025)
thriving_earthw 8 days ago [-]
I love that the researcher in the video is just hanging out in her living room and holding her cat while recording her portion of the explainer
xnx 5 days ago [-]
> her cat

Ahem: "Toast, Research Assistant"

Hopefully Toast hasn't been put in too many boxes with flasks of poison.

ppljudge 8 days ago [-]
and possibly changing the world :D
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