IBM introduces new processor, targeting quantum advantage by 2026

• IBM expects verified quantum advantage by 2026.
• IBM introduced its Nighthawk processor and noted advances in error correction and fabrication.

IBM used the annual Quantum Developer Conference to outline the next steps in its push toward quantum advantage and, later on, fault-tolerant quantum computing. The company believes both targets are within reach, with quantum advantage expected by the end of 2026 and a fault-tolerant system planned for 2029.

“There are many pillars to bringing beneficial quantum computing to the world,” said Jay Gambetta, Director of IBM Research and IBM Fellow. “We believe that IBM is the only company that is positioned to rapidly invent and scale quantum software, hardware, fabrication, and error correction to unlock transformative applications. We are thrilled to announce many of these milestones today.”

New processor built for quantum advantage

IBM introduced IBM Quantum Nighthawk, a new processor designed to support the level of performance needed to show quantum advantage. The chip is set to reach IBM users by the end of 2025.

Nighthawk has 120 qubits connected through 218 next-generation tunable couplers, giving each qubit four neighbours in a square layout. This is more than a 20 per cent increase in couplers compared with IBM Quantum Heron. The stronger connectivity is expected to help users run circuits with around 30 per cent more complexity while keeping error rates low.

The design is built for problems that need up to 5,000 two-qubit gates. IBM expects later versions of Nighthawk to handle 7,500 gates in 2026 and up to 10,000 gates in 2027. By 2028, systems based on this architecture could reach 15,000 two-qubit gates with 1,000 or more linked qubits through long-range couplers tested last year.

IBM expects the wider research community to confirm the first verified cases of quantum advantage by the end of 2026. To support this effort, IBM, Algorithmiq, the Flatiron Institute, and BlueQubit are adding new findings to a public quantum advantage tracker designed to help researchers compare and validate results.

The tracker currently includes three experiments involving observable estimation, variational problems, and tasks that can be checked through classical methods. IBM is urging researchers to add their own results and challenge the best classical techniques.

“I’m proud that our team at Algorithmiq is leading one of the three projects in the new quantum advantage tracker. The model we designed explores regimes so complex that it challenges all state-of-the-art classical methods tested so far,” said Sabrina Maniscalco, CEO and co-founder of Algorithmiq. “We are seeing promising experimental results, and independent simulations from researchers at the Flatiron Institute validate its classical hardness. These are only the first steps – quantum advantage will take time to verify, and the tracker will let everyone follow that journey.”

“BlueQubit is proud to support IBM’s efforts to track quantum advantage claims and algorithms as quantum computers are entering a regime beyond classical,” said Hayk Tepanyan, CTO and co-founder of BlueQubit. “Through our work around peaked circuits, we are excited to help formalise instances where quantum computers are starting to outperform classical computers by orders of magnitude.”

Software and HPC support for complex circuits

IBM is also expanding the tools needed to run and test large circuits. Qiskit, the company’s quantum software stack, now includes scaled dynamic circuit features that raise accuracy by 24 per cent on systems with more than 100 qubits. A new execution model will give developers more control and introduce a C-API that links quantum programs with high-performance computers for error mitigation. IBM says this reduces the cost of getting accurate results by more than 100 times.

As quantum systems grow, IBM expects more developers from HPC and scientific fields to work with quantum hardware. To support that shift, Qiskit now includes a C++ interface powered by the same C-API. IBM also continues to add advanced execution features, including expanded options for error-mitigated circuits. By 2027, Qiskit is expected to gain new computational libraries for machine learning, optimisation, differential equations, and Hamiltonian simulations.

Steps toward fault-tolerant quantum computing

IBM also detailed progress toward fault-tolerant systems. The company introduced IBM Quantum Loon, an experimental processor that includes the core components needed for large-scale error correction. Loon will test a new design that brings together several features IBM has already shown in separate demonstrations.

These include multiple low-loss routing layers that allow long on-chip links between far-off qubits, known as c-couplers, as well as methods to reset qubits between operations.

IBM has also shown that classical hardware can decode errors in real time — in under 480 nanoseconds — using qLDPC codes. This was completed a year ahead of plan. Paired with Loon, IBM says these capabilities form a base for scaling qLDPC codes on fast, high-fidelity superconducting qubits.

Quantum chip production moves to 300mm facility

To support its roadmap, IBM confirmed that its quantum processor wafers are now being built at the NY Creates Albany NanoTech Complex in New York, a 300mm fabrication site with advanced semiconductor tools.

The move has already helped IBM speed up development. The company says it has cut the time needed to produce each new processor by half, achieved a ten-fold jump in chip complexity, and created room to test several designs at once.

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