IBM and Japan’s AIST collaborate on 10,000-qubit quantum computer

IBM is taking the lead in quantum computing, which has been its major focus for a few years now, with a new governmental partnership. Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and IBM seek to produce a quantum computer containing 10,000 qubits by 2029, vastly outclassing today's class-leading 133-qubit machines. IBM had previously planned on a 2025 release of a 1,000 qubit computer, Condor, but the prototype has been shelved.

The 10,000 qubit machine explodes past IBM's current quantum roadmap, which doesn't even reach 2,000 qubits in commercial products until 2033 and beyond. The goal of the 10,000-qubit machine is to run quantum calculations without a traditional supercomputer as backup, as modern 133-qubit machines often make enough mistakes to need support computers checking their work.

IBM and AIST are set to announce the deal with a signed memorandum "in the coming days", according to sources. The partnership has some major goals already set forth.

IBM and AIST will seek to develop semiconductors and circuits that function in near-absolute zero temperatures. Quantum computers work more efficiently and correctly the closer to zero Kelvin they get, and today's largest machines have to have their qubits and chips/circuits in separate rooms or chambers, so creating components that function at extreme temperatures is a necessary step for advancing quantum research.