IBM claims to have 'only realistic path' to quantum computing

Error correction is the biggest obstacle to practical quantum computing. Quantum computing companies typically address error correction with redundant qubits, but with previous approaches the number of these redundant qubits would grow much faster than the number of total usable qubits, keeping the computers from reading any useful size.

Earlier this month, IBM published two more papers, demonstrating the value of its new approach to quantum correction.

“In the first paper, we show how the qubit advantage is retained even when we build large logical circuits on modular quantum system architecture,” says Matthias Steffen, IBM’s head of quantum process technology. “In the second paper, we show how we identify and correct errors in real time using conventional computing resources. When taken together, these papers will demonstrate the essential criteria for a large-scale error correction approach.”

“With this news, we’re confident that large-scale quantum computing is no longer a question of science but an engineering challenge,” says Gambetta.

However, even Blue Jay’s 2,000 logical qubits may not be enough to make quantum computing a practical reality for businesses. According to quantum computing expert Bob Sutor, founder and CEO at Sutor Group Intelligence and Advisory, it will take 100,000 qubits before quantum computers get interesting.

A shorter-term goal is quantum advantage, where a quantum computer can perform a calculation impossible or impractical for today’s classical computer.