IBM has revealed its highly anticipated quantum processor, Condor, boasting over 1,000 qubits, at the Quantum Summit in New York. Alongside Condor, the company introduced a utility-scale processor named IBM Quantum Heron, marking the inaugural installment in a series of such quantum processors that IBM has diligently crafted over a four-year period.
Quantum computers, recognized as the next frontier in computing, have spurred a competitive race among companies of various sizes to create a platform capable of addressing intricate challenges in fields like medicine, physics, and mathematics.
Despite some startups achieving the milestone of a 1,000+ qubit processor before IBM, the latter’s announcement remains significant due to the additional advancements it brings to the forefront.
IBM Quantum System Two was also unveiled, presenting a modular quantum computer operational in New York. The system, utilizing three Heron processors initially, signals a step forward in quantum computing. The Heron processor, featuring 133 qubits, is a slight improvement over its predecessor, the 127-qubit Eagle quantum processor introduced earlier in the year. IBM has confirmed immediate cloud access for users to the Heron processors.
Notably, IBM has enhanced the error rates in the Heron by a factor of five compared to the Eagle, making them more suitable for utility applications. This aligns with IBM’s long-term strategy of achieving error-corrected qubits by the end of the decade.
Navigating Quantum Eras: IBM’s Roadmap to Quantum Computing Reality
IBM categorizes the current state of quantum computing as Era 2, emphasizing the need to reduce errors and develop proof-of-concept applications. The company plans to establish eight quantum computing centers, providing researchers with access to System Two. In Era 3, IBM envisions quantum computers with error correction capabilities that can scale up, and the company has outlined a roadmap featuring successive processors such as Flamingo, Crossbill, and Kookaburra to pave the way toward this quantum reality.
To democratize quantum computing development, IBM is actively working on Qiskit, a software stack enabling developers to code for various applications. Qiskit Patterns, as mentioned in the company’s press release, will empower users to create, deploy, and execute workflows in both classical and quantum computing environments.
Addressing concerns about the potential risks associated with widely available quantum computation, IBM’s lead scientist, Jay Gambetta, assured that although quantum systems are making significant strides, executing simpler algorithms remains the immediate focus. Current encryption methods remain beyond their reach, despite their increased capacity to tackle more complex problems compared to conventional computers.
IBM’s roadmap includes processors like Flamingo, Crossbill, and Kookaburra, which, after refinement, could collaborate to achieve the 1,000+ qubit capacity demonstrated by Condor. With these developments, IBM has set noteworthy milestones for the evolution of its quantum computing systems, suggesting a promising trajectory towards making quantum computing a reality in the coming decade.
