IBM has announced its roadmap to build the world’s first large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer. The company revealed that the system, named IBM Quantum Starling, will be delivered by 2029.

It will be hosted in a new IBM Quantum Data Center in Poughkeepsie, New York. The system is expected to perform 20,000 times more operations than current quantum computers. IBM reported that simulating a single IBM Starling state would require the memory of more than a quindecillion (10^48) top supercomputers.

With Starling, users will explore quantum states far beyond what today’s systems can handle. IBM also introduced a new Quantum Roadmap that outlines its plans to make practical and scalable quantum computing a reality.

Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO of IBM, stated the company is paving the way for quantum computers that can solve real-world problems.

A fault-tolerant quantum computer with hundreds or thousands of logical qubits could revolutionize industries. It may enable faster drug development, materials discovery, and more advanced optimization algorithms.

IBM reported that:

• IBM Quantum Starling will use 200 logical qubits to perform 100 million operations.
• It will support the future IBM Quantum Blue Jay, which will run 1 billion operations using 2,000 logical qubits.

A logical qubit stores quantum information using multiple physical qubits that correct each other’s errors. This method helps reduce error rates and improves the system’s reliability.

Until now, building a fault-tolerant quantum computer without excessive engineering requirements was not possible. IBM’s new architecture aims to change that.

The company highlighted key features needed for a scalable system:

• Fault-tolerant structure
• Logical qubit preparation and measurement
• Real-time decoding and modular scalability

IBM has also released two technical papers supporting its approach. The first paper details how qLDPC (quantum low-density parity check) codes reduce physical qubit requirements by 90%. The second paper explains how to decode quantum information efficiently using conventional computing systems.

IBM’s roadmap includes three new processors:

• IBM Quantum Loon (2025): Will test components for qLDPC, including long-distance qubit connectors.
• IBM Quantum Kookaburra (2026): A modular processor combining quantum memory and logic.
• IBM Quantum Cockatoo (2027): Will link Kookaburra modules using “L-couplers,” enabling chip-to-chip quantum entanglement.

These processors are designed to culminate in IBM Quantum Starling by 2029. IBM Quantum continues to push the boundaries of what quantum systems can achieve, focusing on practical, scalable, and error-corrected solutions.

Related post

View all