IBM Says Conventional AMD Chips Can Run Quantum Computing Error Correction Algorithm (reuters.com) 8
IBM announced that its quantum error-correction algorithm can now run in real time on standard AMD field-programmable gate array (FPGA) chips -- a major step toward making quantum computing more practical and affordable. Reuters reports: In June, IBM said it had developed an algorithm to run alongside quantum chips that can address such errors. In a research paper seen by Reuters to be published on Monday, IBM will show it can run those algorithms in real time on a type of chip called a field programmable gate array manufactured by AMD.
Jay Gambetta, director of IBM research, said the work showed that IBM's algorithm not only works in the real world, but can operate on a readily available AMD chip that is not "ridiculously expensive." "Implementing it, and showing that the implementation is actually 10 times faster than what is needed, is a big deal," Gambetta said in an interview. IBM has a multi-year plan to build a quantum computer called Starling by 2029. Gambetta said the algorithm work disclosed Friday was completed a year ahead of schedule.
Jay Gambetta, director of IBM research, said the work showed that IBM's algorithm not only works in the real world, but can operate on a readily available AMD chip that is not "ridiculously expensive." "Implementing it, and showing that the implementation is actually 10 times faster than what is needed, is a big deal," Gambetta said in an interview. IBM has a multi-year plan to build a quantum computer called Starling by 2029. Gambetta said the algorithm work disclosed Friday was completed a year ahead of schedule.
How nice for AMD (Score:4, Interesting)
That Xilinx acquisition keeps paying off for them. It's surprising Intel didn't get more mileage out of Altera.
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We'll not know until Monday, of course.
Tell me you're not technical without telling me (Score:3)
In this glorious age of AI, the punchlines can write themselves.
Re: Tell me you're not technical without telling m (Score:3)
What is this nonsense? (Score:3)
You need to run quantum error correction on the qbits, or it does nothing. Well, I guess they have stopped pretending QCs are ever going to be useful...
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I expect to see a lot of implementations of CNOTs in silicon represented as quantum in the next few years, but not big enough that anyone could actually use them in anger and discover they don't quite work as advertised.
They have to salvage their investments somehow, and pivoting the branding while betting that nobody knows any better seems to be tactically what they do by default these days.
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Apparently not. From https://thequantuminsider.com/2025/10/24/forthcoming-ibm-paper-expected-to-show-quantum-algorithm-running-on-inexpensive-amd-chips/ [thequantuminsider.com],
But qubits are fragile and they can lose coherence or produce calculation errors from the slightest environmental interference, making error correction one of the biggest challenges in building reliable quantum systems. IBM’s algorithm, first announced in June, is designed to detect and correct these errors dynamically while the quantum chip is running, allowing for continuous and stable operation.
According to IBM, the experiment shows that its algorithm can run effectively on AMD’s reprogrammable chips — hardware that is common in data centers and embedded systems — rather than on specialized quantum control units.
and
The research suggests a path to building hybrid quantum-classical systems that can operate with lower costs and faster development cycles.
It sounds like the error correction algorithm takes in data about the qubits and suggests some way to manipulate them to correct errors. So qubits still need to be monitored and manipulated, but the procedure for doing so can be computed on conventional hardware.
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