Microsoft unveils next‑gen quantum chip as QuantumX Labs adds leading physicist to advisory board

Microsoft presented an upgraded quantum processor, called Majorana 2, at a developer conference in Zurich. The chip uses AI‑optimized materials, delivering performance gains of up to a thousand‑fold in selected tasks. Microsoft stated it aims to sell commercial quantum computers by 2029 and will invest $10 billion in the technology, working with U.S. defence agency DARPA on research.

QuantumX Labs announced the appointment of Prof. Oren Raz from the Weizmann Institute of Science to its Scientific Advisory Board. Prof. Raz is a world‑leading expert on non‑equilibrium quantum thermodynamics. The company showcased its neutral‑atom quantum‑computing platform, which currently exceeds 50 qubits and targets a thousand‑qubit milestone by the first half of 2027, emphasizing its patented AI‑driven error‑correction architecture.

Both announcements reflect the accelerating race among major players—including IBM, Google, and emerging European and Chinese firms—to build scalable, error‑tolerant quantum computers for applications in cryptography, logistics, and advanced AI.