  Quantum error-correction is a prerequisite for reliable quantum computation.
Towards this goal, we present a recurrent, transformer-based neural network
which learns to decode the surface code, the leading quantum error-correction
code. Our decoder outperforms state-of-the-art algorithmic decoders on
real-world data from Google's Sycamore quantum processor for distance 3 and 5
surface codes. On distances up to 11, the decoder maintains its advantage on
simulated data with realistic noise including cross-talk, leakage, and analog
readout signals, and sustains its accuracy far beyond the 25 cycles it was
trained on. Our work illustrates the ability of machine learning to go beyond
human-designed algorithms by learning from data directly, highlighting machine
learning as a strong contender for decoding in quantum computers.
