IBM Maps Path to Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computer by 2029

Details

• IBM has revealed its plan to build Starling, a large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer, by 2029 as part of its updated Quantum Innovation Roadmap.
• The initiative involves IBM's Quantum team, led by CEO Arvind Krishna and quantum VP Jay Gambetta, with development centered at the company's New York quantum data center.
• Starling will employ qLDPC error-correction codes, allowing a 90% reduction in physical qubits and enabling 200 logical qubits to execute up to 100 million operations.
• This effort builds on IBM’s 2024 Nature paper and overcomes scalability obstacles faced by earlier quantum error-correction techniques.
• Key milestones include the 2025 debut of the Loon processor for qLDPC testing, the 2026 launch of modular Kookaburra hardware, and Cockatoo module-linking advances in 2027.

Impact

IBM’s roadmap marks a major leap toward practical quantum computing, establishing its edge over rivals still tackling foundational errors. With a projected 20,000-fold power boost, Starling could unlock new advances in fields like drug discovery and materials engineering. This early push sets quantum advantage within reach for real-world applications before the decade’s end.