TechStuff Unlocking Our Quantum Future
Nov 18, 2025
Join Malcolm Gladwell and quantum computing expert Jay Gambetta, IBM's Director of Research, as they dive into the revolutionary world of quantum technology. Gambetta shares insights on IBM's ambitious plans to scale quantum computers and explores practical challenges like qubit stability. They discuss current applications in healthcare and finance, revealing how quantum enhances drug design and risk modeling. Jay encourages a diverse range of professionals to engage with quantum, emphasizing its growing importance in various fields.
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Tiny Chips, Massive Infrastructure
- Qubit chips are microscopic but the full systems are large, with cryogenics and noise isolation taking up most space in a 20x20-foot setup.
- Chips sit at millikelvin temperatures and require extensive filtering, coaxial wiring, and insulation to operate reliably.
Rapid Iteration And Energy Efficiency Roadmap
- Quantum systems require frequent upgrades; IBM upgrades processors and control electronics roughly every six months to improve scale and noise.
- Future controls like cryo CMOS aim to reduce energy costs so large quantum machines consume only a few megawatts.
Milestones: Quantum Supremacy To Fault Tolerance
- IBM achieved a milestone in 2023 running quantum workloads that cannot be simulated classically, and targets a fault-tolerant machine by 2029.
- Fault tolerance will enable large scientific problems (hundreds of qubits, millions of operations) beyond classical approximate methods.