IBM and AMD have jointly marked a significant leap in quantum computing, unveiling research that demonstrates a crucial quantum error correction algorithm running on standard AMD hardware—a move that could help bring quantum technology closer to commercial use.
IBM announced that its algorithm, which stabilizes fragile quantum calculations, now operates in real time on AMD’s field-programmable gate array (FPGA) chips. The ability to run quantum support code on readily available processors, rather than ultra-specialized, high-cost systems, could help accelerate the timeline for practical quantum computing.
The breakthrough comes as IBM pursues its long-term project, Starling, a fault-tolerant quantum computer slated for 2029. Jay Gambetta, VP of IBM’s quantum initiative, said the team achieved this latest milestone a full year ahead of schedule. IBM’s stock jumped nearly 8% Friday, while AMD shares rose by a similar margin, both setting record highs.
A Milestone in a Competitive Race
Quantum computing’s promise is enormous: to solve problems that conventional computers would need centuries to complete, such as simulating molecular behavior for drug design or optimizing large-scale financial models. But quantum’s fundamental unit of computation, the qubit, is notoriously unstable. Errors can cascade rapidly, overwhelming useful output.
IBM’s latest work addresses this problem with a pragmatic focus. The company’s algorithm detects and corrects qubit errors in real time, and now, critically, it does so on a chip that can be mass-produced. Using AMD’s FPGA chips rather than GPUs or proprietary accelerators not only reduces cost but also demonstrates compatibility between classical and quantum systems.
For AMD, this is a validation of the flexibility of its processors in emerging computing paradigms. For IBM, this advance builds on their position as one of the leaders in the quantum sector.
Both companies had announced a partnership in August to integrate AMD processors and graphics technologies into IBM’s quantum roadmap, a collaboration that aimed to merge high-performance computing with quantum architectures. IBM calls the approach quantum-centric supercomputing, a concept that links classical compute resources to quantum cores.
A Sector That’s Advancing Rapidly
The announcement sparked enthusiasm across the semiconductor sector, with related stocks like IonQ and D-Wave also seeing gains. It underscores how quantum development has moved from purely theoretical to increasingly practical stages, with major players, including Google and Microsoft, investing heavily in quantum systems.
While Google recently announced progress with its own Willow quantum chip, IBM’s achievement stands out for its demonstration of hybrid computing, which involves bridging the quantum and classical worlds with off-the-shelf silicon.
This focus on hybrid is likely a winning strategy for quantum, because quantum systems will need to coexist with classical hardware for many years.
The Importance of Cross-Platform Integration
IBM’s ultimate goal is a scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computer that can perform stable operations over long periods. Starling, planned for 2029, represents that vision. The company describes the recent progress as a definite milestone toward this goal.
Despite lingering skepticism over quantum computing’s timeline (NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang once predicted useful systems were decades away) the pace of advancement appears to be quickening. IBM’s ability to use affordable, accessible chips in such a critical function could accelerate industry adoption.
As quantum hardware matures, the next phase of innovation may hinge not only on physics breakthroughs but also on cross-platform integration. That is, systems in which commonly used infrastructure, including top chips from AMD, can perform the challenging work of keeping tomorrow’s quantum systems stable.
