Key Points
- IBM has successfully run a key quantum error correction algorithm on a standard AMD chip.
- This is a major step toward building a practical, commercial quantum computer. The algorithm is designed to fix the errors that plague current quantum systems.
- The breakthrough shows that a crucial part of the problem can be solved with existing, affordable technology.
- The work was completed a year ahead of schedule, accelerating IBM’s quantum roadmap.
IBM announced on Friday that it had successfully run a critical quantum computing algorithm on a standard, off-the-shelf AMD chip. The achievement is a major step forward in the quest to build a practical, commercial-scale quantum computer.
Quantum computers have the potential to solve problems that are impossible for today’s supercomputers, but they are notoriously fragile. The “qubits” that power them are prone to errors that can quickly ruin a calculation.
To solve this, IBM developed a special “error correction” algorithm that can run alongside its quantum chips to fix errors in real time. The big news is that IBM has now shown it can run this complex algorithm on a readily available AMD chip, not some expensive, custom-made piece of hardware.
“Implementing it, and showing that the implementation is actually 10 times faster than what is needed, is a big deal,” said Jay Gambetta, the director of IBM research.
This is a significant milestone in the global race to build a useful quantum computer, a field in which IBM is competing with other tech giants such as Google and Microsoft. It shows that a key piece of the quantum puzzle can be solved with existing, affordable technology.
The work was also completed a year ahead of schedule —a rare bit of good news in a field known for long timelines and frequent setbacks. IBM is currently working on a multi-year plan to build a powerful quantum computer called “Starling” by 2029.
