International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), a leader in technological innovation, is setting its sights on a groundbreaking achievement in the world of quantum computing. After last year’s record-setting construction of a 433-qubit quantum computing system, IBM is now embarking on an audacious mission to build a 100,000-qubit quantum machine within the next 10 years, as reported by Technology Review.
This ambitious endeavor was unveiled at the G7 summit held in Hiroshima, Japan. IBM has announced a collaboration with the University of Tokyo and the University of Chicago, with a whopping $100 million investment in the project. The 100,000-qubit quantum system is poised to bring together the capabilities of the best classical supercomputers to drive essential discoveries in fields such as pharmacology, fertilizer production, battery performance, and more.
Quantum computers represent a paradigm shift in computing technology. Unlike classical computers that use a binary system of zeros and ones to encode information, quantum computers employ the fundamental unit of memory known as the quantum bit or qubit. These machines leverage the properties of quantum physics to store data and execute computational tasks that were once deemed impossible.
However, the practical utility of quantum computing has been hampered by a persistent challenge – noise. Quantum systems are highly susceptible to even the slightest interference, hindering their ability to perform reliably. The addition of more qubits is expected to alleviate these issues and pave the way for the realization of quantum computing’s potential.
IBM is not alone in its pursuit of a high-qubit quantum system. Google has set its sights on achieving a million qubits by the end of the decade, while PsiQuantum, based in Palo Alto, is exploring a similar aspiration. IonQ, headquartered in Maryland, aims to establish a system of 1,024 “logical qubits” by 2028, each constructed from an error-correcting circuit composed of 13 physical qubits.
IBM acknowledges that its quantum computers can currently scale up to 5,000 qubits, necessitating the development of new technology for greater computational power. Collaborations with universities, such as the University of Tokyo and the University of Chicago, are crucial in this pursuit. Google has also demonstrated a similar commitment by allocating $50 million for quantum computing research in these same institutions.
To foster research and innovation in the realm of quantum computing, IBM has made significant efforts to provide access to its quantum processors for academic researchers. These quantum processors can be accessed via the cloud through user-friendly interfaces designed to minimize the technical complexities of quantum computing. Presently, approximately 2,000 research articles have been published detailing experiments conducted using IBM’s quantum devices, underlining the company’s commitment to advancing quantum technology.
