University of Kwazulu-Natal

Ibm And Google Advance Quantum Computing Plans For This Decade

Bonisiwe Shabane
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ibm and google advance quantum computing plans for this decade

The quest to build a practical quantum computer, a challenge that has tantalized physicists and computer scientists since the 1980s, is gaining unprecedented momentum. Recent breakthroughs have prompted technology firms to unveil blueprints that could see quantum machines grow from experimental constructs into viable, large-scale systems capable of solving problems beyond the reach of today's supercomputers. Quantum computing, long seen as a distant goal, is moving closer to reality as leading tech firms outline fresh plans for building scalable machines. In June, IBM released an updated roadmap that it says resolves several of the field's most challenging technical obstacles, setting the stage for what could be the industry's most decisive period. "It doesn't feel like a dream anymore. I really do feel like we've cracked the code and we'll be able to build this machine by the end of the decade," Jay Gambetta, IBM's leader for quantum initiatives, told the Financial Times.

Despite recent progress, the road ahead remains lined with formidable hurdles. Even after researchers solved the fundamental physics problems, manufacturers still face daunting engineering challenges. Oskar Painter, who leads quantum hardware development at Amazon Web Services, cautioned that building a practical quantum computer will require a massive engineering effort and could take another 15 to 30 years. Current quantum prototypes typically use fewer than 200 qubits – the quantum equivalent of bits in conventional computers – but achieving machines with real industrial utility will require systems with a million or more. The challenge is immense, largely because qubits remain in their quantum states for only fractions of a second. As engineers pack in more qubits, interference, or "noise," multiplies, making reliable computation exponentially harder.

This decade could witness quantum computers that make today’s supercomputers look like pocket calculators. IBM’s “Starling” system promises to execute 100 million quantum operations by 2029, while Google pursues error-corrected quantum hardware on a similar timeline. These aren’t incremental upgrades—they represent a fundamental shift in how we process information, potentially cracking encryption that protects your bank account while discovering new materials for better batteries. Building quantum computers requires overcoming physics challenges that make rocket science look straightforward. The technical hurdles resemble trying to conduct an orchestra where every musician exists in multiple states simultaneously. Current quantum machines struggle with “crosstalk”—unwanted interference between qubits that corrupts calculations faster than a TikTok trend dies.

IBM’s 433-qubit Condor chip highlighted this problem so dramatically that engineers had to redesign fundamental components. Google’s approach focuses on error correction, essentially teaching quantum systems to catch and fix their own mistakes in real-time. Their Willow chip demonstrates these error reduction techniques that could enable practical quantum applications. Tech giants are betting billions on quantum timelines that some experts consider optimistic. The decades-long quest to create a practical quantum computer is accelerating as major tech companies say they are closing in on designs that could scale from small lab experiments to full working systems within... IBM laid out a detailed plan for a large-scale machine in June, filling in gaps from earlier concepts and declaring it was on track to build one by the end of the decade.

“It doesn’t feel like a dream anymore,” Jay Gambetta, head of IBM’s quantum initiative, told Financial Times. “I really do feel like we’ve cracked the code and we’ll be able to build this machine by the end of the decade.” Google, which cleared one of the toughest technical obstacles late last year, says it is also confident it can produce an industrial-scale system within that time frame, while Amazon Web Services cautions that it... The race to build the first workable quantum computer has come alive, with industry leaders Google and IBM both claiming that they can produce full-scale systems within five years. Recent technical breakthroughs have revived confidence in what was once considered little more than fantasy. "It doesn't feel like a dream anymore," says Jay Gambetta, who is heading up IBM's VP of Quantum.

"I really do feel like we've cracked the code and we'll be able to build this machine by the end of the decade." This renewed optimism amongst Big Tech's quantum computing teams comes in spite of the formidable challenges that lay ahead of them. Updated on: July 28, 2024 / 7:00 PM EDT / CBS News This is an updated version of a story first published on Dec. 3, 2023. The original video can be viewed here.

Artificial intelligence is the magic of the moment but this is a story about what's next, something incomprehensible. This past December, IBM announced an advance in an entirely new kind of computing - one that may solve problems in minutes that would take today's supercomputers millions of years. That's the difference in quantum computing, a technology being developed at IBM, Google and others. It's named for quantum physics, which describes the forces of the subatomic realm. And as we told you last winter, the science is deep and we can't scratch the surface, but we hope to explain just enough so that you won't be blindsided by a breakthrough that... The quantum computer pushes the limits of knowledge--new science, new engineering-- all leading to this processor that computes with the atomic forces that created the universe.

Dario Gil: I think this moment, it feels to us like the pioneers of the 1940s and 50s that were building the first digital computers. Major tech firms race to build full-scale quantum computers by 2030. Scaling qubits faces key challenges like interference and error correction. Different approaches vie for practicality amid tough engineering hurdles. Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays.

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