IBM Leads as Top Quantum Computing Investment Nowadays
IBM has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap for its quantum computing development, aiming to achieve practical quantum advantage by 2026 and a fault-tolerant, large-scale quantum computer by 2029. This ambitious plan involves a series of hardware advancements, error correction breakthroughs, and integrated hybrid quantum-classical systems.
By 2026, IBM aims to surpass all classical computation methods, moving beyond earlier milestones like quantum utility. This requires continual improvements in quantum hardware performance, infrastructure for synchronized quantum-classical hybrid workflows, and advanced error mitigation techniques.
In 2026, IBM expects to deliver Quantum Kookaburra, a quantum computer capable of storing and processing information with an attached processing unit. This will be followed by Quantum Cockatoo in 2027, enabling entanglement between modules.
IBM's roadmap also includes the release of three quantum chips over the next few years: IBM Quantum Loon, IBM Quantum Kookaburra, and IBM Quantum Cockatoo. IBM Quantum Loon, scheduled for this year, will feature greater connectivity than IBM's current quantum chips.
IBM is taking a modular approach to its quantum computing development, with the release of Nighthawk planned for this year. Nighthawk is a quantum processor with 120 qubits and 5,000 quantum gates. If successful, this could lead to true quantum advantage. The future versions of Nighthawk will increase the number of gates, culminating in a 15,000-gate version in 2028 that can be linked together in groups of nine.
In 2028, IBM plans to release Starling, a fault-tolerant quantum computer featuring around 200 logical qubits and 100 million quantum gates. Starling is expected to deliver fault-tolerance by 2029, according to IBM's roadmap.
IBM's roadmap reflects its leadership in the quantum field and sets a strategic timeline for when quantum computing moves from experimental to practical and ultimately to fully fault-tolerant quantum machines. The economic value generated by quantum computing is estimated to be $850 billion by 2040, with the market for quantum hardware and software potentially worth $170 billion.
Other companies are also making strides in quantum computing. Microsoft, for example, has developed the Majorana 1 quantum chip, using exotic particles to create more robust qubits, but it is still in the early stages of scaling this technology.
IBM's valuation today looks reasonable considering the enormous potential of quantum computing. With quantum computing, IBM could potentially drive growth in the 2030s and beyond, following the success of its hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) businesses today. If IBM delivers on its roadmap, quantum computing could become a major business for the century-old tech giant.
Investing in IBM's future could yield significant returns as they venture into the realm of quantum computing. By 2026, they aim to unveil Quantum Kookaburra, a quantum computer equipped with advanced error mitigation techniques, leveraging the power of technology and artificial-intelligence for superior performance and financial advantage. As IBM's roadmap progresses, they aim to exploit the market potential of quantum computing, predicted to generate an economic value of $850 billion by 2040.
