Sign in

How did Sundar Pichai react after Google’s Willow wowed Elon Musk? X conversation between CEOs goes viral

Sundar Pichai took to X to announce Google’s latest quantum chip, Willow. It attracted Elon Musk's comment, leading to a conversation between them.

Published on: Dec 10, 2024, 06:51:43 IST
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

Google is turning heads with the announcement of its new quantum chip, Willow. One of the individuals “wowed” by this innovation is the world's richest man, Elon Musk. Taking to X, he showed interest in Google Quantum AI’s latest quantum chip and engaged in a virtual conversation with Sundar Pichai.

Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s virtual conversation with Space X CEO Elon Musk intrigued many. (AFP, Reuters)
Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s virtual conversation with Space X CEO Elon Musk intrigued many. (AFP, Reuters)

Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Picha piqued Musk’s interest when he shared the news of Willow on X. The Space X CEO promptly posted his one-word reaction—“Wow.” Pichai upped the ante by suggesting that maybe one day they can place a “quantum cluster in space with Starship.” He referred to SpaceX’s starship, which, according to the official website, is “designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.”

Also Read: Sundar Pichai hints at a 'profound' shift coming to Google Search as AI continues to evolve

Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk’s conversation:

In his post, Pichai introduced Willow to the world, calling it a “new state-of-the-art quantum computing chip with a breakthrough that can reduce errors exponentially.” He further shared a few words about the quantum chip's exceptional performance. Reacting to the post, Musk wrote, “Wow.”

In response, Pichai posted, “We should do a quantum cluster in space with Starship one day.” Musk responded, “That will probably happen,” and discussed a cosmic philosophy, referencing Kardashev scale.

Take a look at how the conversation continued:

Sundar Pichai's post about Willow. (X)
Sundar Pichai's post about Willow. (X)

Elon Musk's response and Sundar Pichai's reaction:

Conversation between Elon Musk and Sundar Pichai. (X)
Conversation between Elon Musk and Sundar Pichai. (X)

What happened next?

Elon Musk and Sundar Pichai's X conversation on Willow. (X)
Elon Musk and Sundar Pichai's X conversation on Willow. (X)

What did social media say?

Expectedly, this conversation between the tech geniuses captured the attention of social media users, who posted their opinions in the comments section.

Space entrepreneur and engineer James Yenbamroong reacted to the conversation and wrote, “Quantum mechanics in action. Will be keen to see it in space application soon. Quantum cluster space data center sounds like the way to go forward! Keep it coming.”

Also Read: Dad Elon Musk gets advice from son 4-year-old son as he goes to work for Donald Trump. Watch

Praising X, an individual commented, “This conversation right here is the reason why X is superior to every other social media or news app.” A third expressed, “Space solar is nice but you still need to get the energy to earth. Personally I say, in the short term, use nuclear fission and also scale production of newer conventional solar panels.

A fourth joined, “This is the kind of tech breakthrough that makes your hair stand on end. Quantum computing was always the Sword of Damocles hanging over cryptography and it just took a massive step closer. If Willow can solve in 5 minutes what a supercomputer takes 10^25 years to crack, Bitcoin’s encryption is definitely on borrowed time. Buckle up. The future of decentralized finance may need a post-quantum overhaul & fast.”

About Willow:

Google announced in a blog post that Willow "demonstrates error correction and performance that paves the way to a useful, large-scale quantum computer."

What are your thoughts on this conversation between Elon Musk and Sundar Pichai?

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

Discover the latest Trending News, viral videos, social media stories and unusual events from India and around the world. Stay updated with the topics everyone is talking about.