John Martines, a professor by profession, had been working on quantum computer hardware since before joining Google, funded mainly by grants from public universities.

Public funding for research is insufficient most of the time.

That's probably why John Martinis agreed to join Google.

The reason is that Google has money.

Scientists can lower the requirements for living materials, but the instruments used for experiments, industrial facilities for laboratory preparation, and nanoscale observation and processing equipment are too expensive.

Obviously, it is laboratory equipment that achieves the same function, the old one and the new one, the world-class one and the second-rate manufacturer, and in many cases it can be said that they are two different pieces of equipment.

Take a simple oscilloscope as an example, the old model may not be accurate in reading, waveform data data is fleeting, in order to study a waveform, either repeat over and over again, or take pictures with a mobile phone;

Not to mention nanoscale processing and preparation equipment that requires higher precision.

So John Martinis chose to join Google with his entire team, of course, many of his students were not the first to join, but waited until after graduating with a PhD to join the Google family.

For a very capable scientist, John and Google are mutually successful.

Without John Martinis, Google wouldn't have been able to showcase their quantum computer at last year's launch.

But it is clear that although John Martines finally decided to bend his waist for money, as a pure scientific researcher, he did not intend to turn his back on scientific research because of the pressure of his financial owners.

This is clearly not the attitude that Sundar Pichai wants.

"I don't agree with you, Mr. Martinis. You must know that the Chinese people entered this field later than us, but they now have the possibility of catching up with us. Google's president immediately retorted.

"Does that mean anything?" asked John Martines, looking at Sundar Pichai in surprise.

"Doesn't that say a lot of things?" Sundar was furious.

"No, no, no, it doesn't mean anything. In short, the deeper our understanding of the quantum world, the higher the degree of completion of the general quantum computer, and the stronger the ability, which has a certain relationship with the length of time we have studied in this area. But you must know that many times the world changes dramatically only because of a flash of genius. ”

John Martinis spread his hands and expressed his opinion.

The meaning is also very clear, I have limited inspiration now, so I can't guarantee you that Google's quantum computer will become more powerful in a few months, as for why the Chinese people can have great achievements, it is because people have inspiration, but it can't be compared, big brother, I don't feel ashamed.

This annoyed Sundar Pichai.

"John, I'm sorry to hear you say that, but please be aware of the fact that this is not just scientific research, you can think of it as a war! Yes, it's a war! So Google has to come up with more convincing results in eight months. ”

As a president who has always been very peaceful in management, Sundar is most likely to be overwhelmed by Changxiang Technology, no, it is the current Yuxin Technology that is a little overwhelmed.

After giving up Android and Google's self-developed operating system Fuchsia, if you want to give up quantum computers, it also means that in the past ten years, Google's most invested envy has all ended in failure.

This also means that Google's long-term layout for the future has mostly become a joke.

Thinking of the scenery when the Alpha dog was born, Sundar Pichai really couldn't accept the current defeat.

"Then I'm sorry, Mr. Pichai, and if you have to do so, I can only regret to resign. John spread his hands and spoke.

"Resign?" Sundar Pichai was stunned, then looked at Esslinger, who was responsible for the entire quantum computer project.

Well, the overall project leader has not taken a position and has not said anything.

However, Sundar Pichai probably understands that although John Martinis was personally invited by Esslinger to join Google, after six years, the relationship between the two does not seem to be very harmonious.

This is also understandable.

It's no joke that distance produces beauty.

When you don't get along day and night, you probably have feelings of sympathy, but you don't see you looking up every day, plus most people with ability have personalities, and it's normal to have friction if you don't get along well.

This is actually no different from the human system of husband and wife.

When you are in love, you can see the advantages of the other party, only care about you and me, love and sweetness, after a few years of marriage, I found that this person is actually full of shortcomings, the little fairy turned out to be going to the toilet, and it was particularly smelly;

The familiarity caused by sharing a bed has become the greatest obstacle to passion, and contradictions inevitably appear.

If at least one party has a tolerant personality and an open mind, they can still respect and love each other, but if both parties are very strong and have special personalities, a one-year paper marriage and a seven-year itch will likely appear.

And now that Esslinger and John have been working together for six years, it is obvious that the two of them are still very character scientists, and there are many differences on weekdays, and when this pressure multiplies, it is not too strange that the contradictions suddenly erupt.

However, at this juncture, John Martinis' request to resign only gave Sandal a headache.

John resigned suddenly, and where was he looking for a leader who was particularly familiar with quantum computer hardware?

Just when Sundar was struggling, Esslinger, who had been silent, spoke: "John, two questions, is your resignation application serious?

"I don't represent anyone, just myself. If the team wants to stay at Google, they will naturally follow their advice. Also, I was serious about my resignation and I would never promise something I couldn't do. John Martinis said indifferently.

When Esslinger finished asking, he was silent.

But the attitude of expression is already obvious.

As long as John Martinis doesn't pull the whole team along, it's not a big problem.

Of course, whether or not to approve the resignation of a tech executive of John's stature is ultimately a question for Sundar to consider.

"Well, Mr. John, I accept your resignation, but you still need to formally submit a resignation report. You may even need to talk to the company," Sundar said with a quick cut.

Google can't afford to delay.

If Yuxin Technology can really come up with a truly general-purpose quantum computer in eight months, or just show a quantum computer that far surpasses Google's capabilities, then the project, which has been invested for several years, is likely to die directly under the intervention of the board of directors.

This is the last thing Sundar Pichai wants to see.

Compared to the overall project, it is not a big problem to get rid of a person in charge who is not optimistic about the project, rather than taking the whole team with you. If there is enough time, Sundar will definitely hold on to the other person affectionately.

"Of course I know the process, so I don't need to participate in the discussion of the next thing, farewell!"

John Martinis simply turned and left Sundar's office.

As the office door slammed shut, Sundar Pichai looked at Esslinger with a solemn gaze.

Well, now there is no separation of powers and responsibilities.

Pressure will be the source of the highest quality power.

"So Mr. Esslinger, you're the head of the quantum computer project, and now tell me that in eight months the company needs your quantum computer project to make great progress, you know?"

"Yes, I know that very well, Mr. Pichai!"

Esslinger nodded and said, there is no way to say no, all the pressure is on him now.

Of course, there is no way back for Esslinger now.

He looked farther than John, and knew very well in his heart that if Google's quantum computer technology was forcibly overpowered by Huaxia's technology again this time, it would be unacceptable for all major shareholders.

He will not be the only one who will be uncomfortable, and even Sundar Pichai may be held accountable.

The board of directors is likely to be skeptical of Sundar Pichai's big-picture vision and execution, and the majority shareholders accept the company's billions of dollars in research and development every year, believing that these investments will be more rewarding in the future.

If these investments are followed by disappointments, shareholder sentiment will be very volatile.

In particular, these layouts for the future are now closely related to Google's stock price, more than three months ago, when Google's press conference announced that it had mastered quantum supremacy, the stock price rose sharply for three consecutive days, until the market gradually calmed down after a war with Wang Yufei and IBM's people were still involved.

Sundar is even more convinced that when eight months later, if the quantum computer released by the Chinese beats Google's quantum computer in all aspects, and their previously claimed quantum supremacy is first realized by competitors, then Google's stock price will also plummet very sharply.

The stock price plummeted, and the mood of shareholders was naturally not too good.

When everyone needed a scapegoat to vent their anger, Sundar felt he was definitely the most suitable one, and there was no one.

Of course, not talking about what shareholders think.

If Google's future-oriented layout fails, Sundar himself will not be too embarrassed to continue to shine in Google's place.

"Okay, then you can go! Remember that the quantum computer project cannot afford to fail!"

Sundar Pichai said, waving his hand.

Drums don't need to be hammered.

"By the way, do we need a non-compete agreement for John?" Esslinger asked.

"Non-compete agreement?"

Sundar Pichai thought for a moment, and the stubborn face of Mr. Martines just came to mind, then shook his head and said, "No need, I think returning to Santa Barbara to continue coaching is the best option for him." ”

It's not that Sandal looks down on John Martinez.

But signing a non-compete agreement means that Google has to pay a lot of money for this annoying guy, and the longer the non-compete lasts, the more money will be needed.

Not to mention that the physics professor himself just said that he is not optimistic about making significant gains in the short term.

Most of the research results he has made at Google during his six years at Google are Google's intellectual property rights and are protected. Even if he moves to companies such as IBM, Microsoft, and Intel, he can't use the technology he has developed at Google.

What's more, whether it's IBM, Microsoft, Intel, or other companies that research quantum computers, although everyone is researching quantum computers, in fact, the direction is completely different, and the way of implementation is also different.

Even if John jumped to these competitive companies, regardless of whether they offered the university professor a position or not, it would be impossible for them to overturn the achievements of tens of billions of dollars and implement quantum computers in another way.

Even if some companies are stupid and have a lot of money and can't use it to get a patent at Google, John Martinis can't build a quantum superbrain like Google.

Therefore, in Sundar Pichai's view, John's final choice must be to return to school to continue to be his professor, and it does not pose a commercial threat, so naturally there is no need to prepare a non-compete agreement and waste tens of millions of dollars.

"Okay, I see, you're right, John is definitely a great professor, but not necessarily a good partner. Esslinger gave his fair verdict.

......

Soon, the news of Professor John Martinis' resignation from Google caused an uproar throughout the quantum science community.

This situation is very difficult for many people to understand.

Google's various news about the verbal war with Wang Yufei a few months ago is still hanging on Twitter, but as a result, the chief hardware engineer of its own quantum computer suddenly resigned, and Google's senior management also approved it?

There aren't many quantum scientists in the world, and John Martinis is one of them, laying the foundation for Google's quantum computer.

The sudden resignation at this time naturally shook the industry.

How?

Google feels that it can't win, and the Chinese people decided to give up the treatment first?

Unfortunately, both Google and John Martinis have avoided talking about the departure.

Google only issued a statement, saying that it has never given up the idea of a quantum computer project, and will even increase investment in this project in the near future, and determine Google's dominant position in the project of quantum computer commercialization as soon as possible.

So it's naturally difficult for the outside world to know what's going on.

As for John's friends, most of them are also scientists, and they all belong to the kind of people who work hard, even if they know John's ideas from various sources, they will not publicize them everywhere, and why they left has become a mystery.

The news soon reached China, and of course the news of the scientist's departure received only a small amount of attention.

But this naturally includes the students of Yuxin Technology's Quantum Intelligence Brain Laboratory.

After all, everyone is a peer, and peers pay special attention to peers!