IBM has announced a major leap forward in its quantum computing endeavors with the unveiling of two new quantum processors: the IBM Quantum Nighthawk and the IBM Quantum Loon. These chips represent significant advancements in qubit connectivity, error reduction, and computational complexity, paving the way for potential "quantum advantage" by the end of 2026.
The IBM Quantum Nighthawk is the company's most advanced quantum processor to date, designed with an architecture that complements high-performing quantum software. It features 120 qubits linked together with 218 next-generation tunable couplers. These couplers connect each qubit to its four nearest neighbors in a square lattice, increasing connectivity by over 20% compared to IBM's previous Heron processor. This enhanced connectivity enables users to execute circuits with approximately 30% more complexity while maintaining low error rates. IBM anticipates future iterations of Nighthawk to deliver up to 7,500 gates by the end of 2026 and up to 10,000 gates in 2027. By 2028, Nighthawk-based systems could potentially support up to 15,000 two-qubit gates enabled by 1,000 or more connected qubits extended through long-range couplers. IBM expects to deliver the Nighthawk to its users by the end of 2025.
IBM Quantum Loon is an experimental processor that demonstrates all the key processor components needed for fault-tolerant quantum computing. Loon validates a new architecture to implement and scale the components required for practical, high-efficiency quantum error correction. The Loon chip connects qubits vertically and horizontally, which allows for more complex computations with fewer errors.
These advancements underscore IBM's commitment to building a large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029. According to IBM, quantum computers could solve problems in minutes that would take today's supercomputers millions of years to complete. Areas such as finance, chemistry, healthcare, life sciences, and transportation could especially benefit from quantum computing due to its ability to process information in new ways.
To further accelerate the progress and validation of quantum advantage, IBM is contributing to a new community-led quantum advantage tracker supported by Algorithmiq, researchers from the Flatiron Institute, and BlueQubit. This tracker supports experiments for quantum advantage across observable estimation, variational problems, and problems with efficient classical verification, inviting broader research community contributions.
IBM's focus extends beyond hardware to encompass software and algorithm development, signifying a holistic approach to achieving practical quantum computing. The company aims to double the speed of its research and development efforts, achieve a ten-fold increase in the physical complexity of its quantum chips, and enable parallel research and exploration of multiple designs.
While Loon remains in its early stages, IBM plans to make Nighthawk available to partners by the end of 2025. The company believes Nighthawk could outperform classical computers on certain tasks by the end of next year and is collaborating with startups and researchers to openly share its code for testing and validation.
