IBM has unveiled plans to deliver a practical quantum computer by 2029, outlining a roadmap that includes the construction of the “Starling” quantum system at a new data center in Poughkeepsie, New York. The company said the machine will feature about 200 logical qubits—enough to begin outperforming classical computers in certain tasks
Quantum computers, which operate based on the principles of quantum mechanics, currently face major limitations due to high error rates. A significant portion of their computing power is used to correct these errors, limiting their practical speed. IBM says its new algorithm, developed after changing its error-correction strategy in 2019, will greatly reduce the number of qubits required for reliable computation.
The company’s revised approach involves designing error-correction methods based on chips that are feasible to manufacture, rather than first developing theoretical models. This shift, IBM says, has allowed it to set an achievable engineering path toward building progressively larger quantum systems between now and 2027, with a larger system targeted for 2033.
IBM is competing with tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and numerous startups in the quantum race, all grappling with the same challenge—making qubits stable and useful. But IBM’s vice president for quantum, Jay Gambetta, expressed optimism, stating that the scientific hurdles have been cleared, and what remains is an engineering challenge requiring scale, not reinvention.