
IBM Unveils Ambitious Plan for 10,000-Qubit Quantum Computer by 2029
2025-06-10
Author: Ling
IBM Breaks New Ground in Quantum Computing
In a groundbreaking announcement, IBM has declared that it is on track to develop the world’s first large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029. This revolutionary machine, named "Starling," is set to harness an astonishing 10,000 physical qubits, organized into 200 logical qubits—promising to redefine the landscape of quantum technology.
Error-Correction Breakthroughs Powering the Future
Recent studies published by IBM on June 2 and 3 reveal innovative error-correction methodologies that are poised to boost processing power by 20,000 times compared to today’s best quantum systems. This shift means that what was once solely a scientific challenge—scaling up quantum systems—has now evolved into an engineering feat.
The Road to Quantum Supremacy
Despite existing quantum computers showing potential, they currently excel only under specific, purpose-built conditions. The primary obstacle to achieving true quantum supremacy has been the scalability of quantum processing units (QPUs), which suffer from significant error rates as more qubits are added.
Overcoming Noise and Errors in Quantum Mechanics
Qubits are far more fragile than classical bits due to the intricacies of quantum mechanics. These delicate states are prone to errors, which can accumulate and disrupt calculations. IBM's cutting-edge research emphasizes quantum error-correction (QEC) as a critical pathway to solving this problem, marking a significant leap toward the realization of fault-tolerant quantum computing.
Introducing LDPC Codes: The Game-Changer
Central to IBM’s new approach is the introduction of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes, a fault-tolerance paradigm that allows for scaling quantum hardware beyond previous limitations. These codes facilitate more efficient error detection and correction processes, reducing the number of physical qubits needed and significantly speeding up error mitigation.
Starling and Blue Jay: The Next Generations of Quantum Technology
With Starling, IBM aims to achieve an impressive 100 million quantum operations, while its successor Blue Jay, expected in 2033, could potentially execute 1 billion quantum operations. This leap in performance underscores the urgency for algorithms specifically designed for quantum hardware.
Preparing for the Quantum Revolution
To fully harness the capabilities of Starling and Blue Jay, IBM is actively developing Qiskit 2.0, a robust open-source development toolkit aimed at equipping researchers with the necessary tools to prepare for these advanced quantum systems. As Jay Gambetta, IBM’s VP of quantum operations, puts it: "The science has been solved," paving the way for a new era in quantum computing.