IBM Runs Quantum Algorithm on AMD Chips, Marking Key Milestone

IBM (IBM, Financials) said it has successfully run one of its core quantum computing algorithms on a standard AMD (AMD, Financials) chip, marking a key step toward making quantum systems more practical and cost-effective.

The company's researchers demonstrated that an algorithm designed to correct quantum computing errors could run in real time on an AMD field programmable gate array, or FPGA. These chips are commonly used in data centers and can be programmed for different tasks. IBM said the algorithm's performance exceeded expectations, running about 10 times faster than required for real-world use.

Jay Gambetta, who leads IBM's quantum division, said the experiment showed that complex quantum operations can be managed by hardware already available today. Implementing it, and showing that it actually works faster than needed, is a big deal, he said.

The test is part of IBM's long-term plan to combine quantum and classical computing power. The company is building toward a system it calls Starling, expected by 2029. Completing this milestone a year early suggests IBM is making steady progress in a field where Microsoft and Google are also racing to develop commercially viable machines.

IBM's next focus will be integrating these algorithms into hybrid systems that link conventional chips with quantum processors for scientific and industrial applications.