Google says it has developed landmark quantum computing algorithm

Google said it has developed a computer algorithm that points the way to practical applications for quantum computing and will be able to generate unique data for use with artificial intelligence.

The new algorithm called Quantum Echoes, which runs on the company's quantum chip, is 13,000 times faster than the most sophisticated classical computing algorithm on supercomputers, Google said. In the future, the Quantum Echoes algorithm may be able to help measure molecular structure in molecules which could aid in drug discovery and help material science through identifying new types of materials, company executives told a media briefing last week.

Alphabet's (GOOGL.O), opens new tab Google is among several major tech firms including Amazon (AMZN.O), opens new tab and Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab investing in quantum computing - which promises to speed up computing and solve problems out of reach for today's machines.

Last year, Google unveiled its quantum chip, Willow, that the company said is able to overcome a crucial problem with "qubits", the building blocks of quantum computing. The development of the algorithm was roughly equivalent in significance to the chip, the executives said.