WSJ Tech News Briefing: Amazon Unveils Quantum Computing Chip

Release Date: February 27, 2025
Host: Julie Chang, The Wall Street Journal

In this episode of the WSJ Tech News Briefing, host Julie Chang covers significant advancements and developments in the technology sector. The discussion spans Amazon's latest foray into quantum computing, competitive movements by tech giants Microsoft and Google, ongoing debates surrounding US chip export controls, and a recent incident involving Meta's Instagram platform.

Amazon Launches Quantum Computing Chip: Ocelot

At [00:31], Julie Chang announces that Amazon has unveiled its first quantum computing chip, named Ocelot. This groundbreaking development marks Amazon's entry into the quantum computing arena, aiming to address some of the most pressing challenges in the field.

"The company says the chip, dubbed Ocelot, can lower the costs of reducing quantum computing errors by up to 90%." — Julie Chang [00:31]

Despite this promising advancement, the head of quantum hardware for Amazon Web Services clarified that the Ocelot chip remains a prototype and is not yet ready for scaling:

"The company's Ocelot chip is a prototype and not ready to scale." — Julie Chang [00:31]

Competitive Landscape: Microsoft and Google's Quantum Milestones

Just a week prior to Amazon's announcement, Microsoft made headlines by claiming a breakthrough in quantum computing through the creation of a new state of matter. This achievement underscores Microsoft's commitment to advancing quantum technologies.

Additionally, in December, Google introduced the Willow chip, a new quantum computing chip designed to tackle quantum error correction issues. Chang highlights:

"Google said it developed a new CH chip called Willow that it said marks an advance in solving Quantum's error correction issues." — Julie Chang [00:31]

These developments indicate a fierce competition among tech giants to lead the quantum computing revolution, each striving to overcome existing technological barriers.

US Chip Export Controls: Microsoft's Advocacy and Industry Reactions

A significant portion of the briefing focuses on the evolving landscape of US chip export controls, particularly those affecting cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) chips.

Microsoft is actively urging the Trump administration to relax a new chip export system that currently restricts the sale of advanced AI chips to most of the world. Chang reports:

"Microsoft is urging the Trump administration to ease a new chip export system that would restrict the sale of cutting edge artificial intelligence chips to much of the world." — Julie Chang [00:31]

In a detailed blog post, Microsoft advocates for excluding a group of US-friendly nations, including India, Switzerland, and Israel, from these restrictive measures. The rationale is that imposing such restrictions could inadvertently drive these countries to source chips from China, thereby counteracting US strategic interests.

"The company said that countries facing limited US Chip supply would turn to China instead." — Julie Chang [00:31]

Nvidia, a leading player in the semiconductor industry, has also voiced strong opposition to the proposed export controls, characterizing the rules as a "sweeping overreach."

"Nvidia has also been vocal about export controls, calling the proposed rules a sweeping overreach." — Julie Chang [00:31]

Insiders familiar with the matter suggest that Trump administration officials are contemplating approaches to strengthen these restrictions while simultaneously simplifying the export control rules, aiming to balance national security concerns with industry growth.

Meta's Instagram Faces Content Distribution Error

Another critical issue discussed is Meta's recent apology concerning an error on Instagram that led to the unintentional distribution of graphic and violent videos to some users.

Chang details the incident:

"Meta apologized last night for what it said was an error that led to graphic and violent videos flooding some Instagram users feeds on Wednesday." — Julie Chang [00:31]

Some of the affected videos lacked the necessary sensitive content warnings, exacerbating user exposure to disturbing material. A Wall Street Journal reporter reported encountering numerous distressing videos, including scenes of people being shot, machinery accidents, and theme park ride malfunctions.

"A Wall Street Journal reporter's account featured scores of videos of people being shot, mangled by machinery and ejected from theme park rides." — Julie Chang [00:31]

An Instagram spokesperson confirmed that the company has resolved the error but declined to comment on the scale of the issue, keeping the extent of the problem under wraps.

"The spokesman declined to comment on the scale of the issue." — Julie Chang [00:31]

Conclusion

This episode of the WSJ Tech News Briefing provides a comprehensive overview of pivotal events shaping the technology landscape:

• Amazon's introduction of the Ocelot quantum computing chip signifies the company's strategic entry into quantum technology, aiming to reduce error-related costs significantly.

• Microsoft and Google's recent advancements highlight the intense competition among leading tech firms to pioneer breakthroughs in quantum computing.

• Debates over US chip export controls reveal the intricate balance between national security considerations and maintaining technological leadership, with major players like Microsoft and Nvidia actively influencing policy directions.

• Meta's Instagram incident underscores the ongoing challenges social media platforms face in content management and the potential repercussions of technical errors on user experience.

For listeners seeking a deeper dive into these stories and more, Julie Chang invites them to tune into tomorrow's Tech News Briefing podcast.

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