IBM will create a large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029

In the United States, IBM has made significant advancements towards achieving large-scale fault tolerance in quantum computing. The company revealed its ambitious roadmap to build a fault-tolerant quantum computer by the year 2029, a goal set in the context of high error rates that currently hinder complex quantum calculations. The capability to implement quantum error correction is paramount, as current quantum systems face limitations in scaling up due to these prohibitive error rates. To tackle the issue of fault tolerance, IBM is leveraging innovative approaches, such as utilizing a hybrid coding method known as gross code, which outperforms traditional surface code in error correction efficiency. The gross code enables the encoding of logical qubits while simultaneously reducing the required physical qubits significantly — a breakthrough that simplifies the error correction process. IBM envisions a future where only hundreds or thousands of physical qubits will be necessary to support a single logical qubit, a drastic reduction from the present requirements of tens of thousands of physical qubits. The roadmap includes several key milestones, starting with the introduction of the Kookaburra processor in 2026, which will focus on testing the gross code alongside other foundational components such as long c-couplers. This will be followed by the Starling processor in 2029, which is intended to be the industry’s first fully realized large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer, featuring around 200 logical qubits capable of executing an astonishing 100 million gate operations. By that time, IBM aims to have solved many complexities surrounding quantum decoherence, a major hurdle in realizing reliable quantum systems. In exploring the architecture needed for such advancements, IBM is also prioritizing the integration of non-Clifford gates to expand the operational capabilities of quantum computers. The architecture’s design is strategically crafted to enable not only basic computations but also universal computations, essential for executing the full range of quantum algorithms. As IBM progresses down this path, the implications for various industries and the broader scientific landscape could be profound, transforming the very way computation is understood and utilized across different sectors.