IBM has announced its roadmap for developing a large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer named "Quantum Starlings." As part of this plan, the company will release a new processor, "Quantum Nighthawk," later this year. IBM emphasizes the need for a device capable of running complex circuits with hundreds of qubits and millions of gates, which can also correct errors to prevent their spread within the system. Fault tolerance refers to a system's ability to correct and manage errors.
The quantum computing field has seen intensified competition with Google's "Willow" chip and Microsoft's "Majorana 1" chip, followed by Amazon's "Ocelot" chip. Quantum computing has gained increased attention and investment due to its potential to outperform traditional semiconductor-based computers. A functional quantum computer could simulate complex physical phenomena or perform mathematical operations to decrypt data.
IBM's "Quantum Starlings" will be built in its Poughkeepsie, New York lab. The roadmap includes the "Quantum Loon" chip this year, the "Quantum Kookaburra" module in 2026, and the "Quantum Cockatoo" adapter in 2027. The "Quantum Nighthawk" processor will replace the "Quantum Heron" and aims to increase its gate capacity from 5,000 to 15,000 by 2028.
