What is the name of Microsoft's new quantum chip, and how does it differ from its predecessor in terms of materials and performance?

Microsoft's new quantum chip is called Majorana 2. The biggest change from its predecessor is that it uses lead — a larger, water-soluble atom — instead of aluminum-based superconducting wires used by Google, IBM, and others. This material shift, enabled by internally developed AI tools for materials science, delivered a 1,000-fold improvement in some aspects of performance; a key breakthrough was solving how to integrate water-soluble lead into chip manufacturing without it washing away.

Why has Microsoft's claim of observing Majorana quasiparticles faced scientific criticism, and how has the company responded to concerns about reproducibility and data transparency?

Microsoft's claims of observing Majorana quasiparticles have drawn criticism because physicists say the company has not publicly released enough data to verify them — including unresolved issues from a 2020 study under investigation by the journal Science — and critics like Henry Legg emphasize that reproducibility remains a fundamental scientific requirement. Microsoft acknowledges trade-secret constraints prevent full public disclosure but states it has shared extensive data confidentially with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and executive Jason Zander asserts, 'We've done enough of the physics to really have great data' and would not invest in engineering if the underlying physics were unverified.

Microsoft reveals new quantum chip made with AI, says it will have systems by 2029

Jun 2, 2026

Microsoft unveiled its Majorana 2 quantum chip, leveraging AI-driven materials science to utilize lead instead of aluminum, targeting commercial systems by 2029.

reuters

2026-06-02

Microsoft reveals new quantum chip made with AI, says it will have systems by 2029

Microsoft reveals new quantum chip made with AI, says it will have systems by 2029

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