By Hana Anandira

IBM preps industry for Quantum Computing as a Service

While the maturity of Quantum Computing as a Service is still in its seed stage, Lory Thorpe, Senior Strategy Consultant at IBM Quantum argues organisations of all kinds should start looking at the technology’s potential to unleash new business opportunities.

Ahead of a session on Quantum Computing as a Service (Hall 6 Stage A, Wednesday 2.45pm) Thorpe noted that while IBM is still “researching how quantum’s capabilities map to industry challenges”, the company claims it has established the largest ecosystem of more than 550,000 “quantum explorers, adopters and users to bring useful quantum computing to the world”.

In December 2023, IBM teamed up with universities to advance education on quantum computing for 40,000 students across Japan, South Korea and the US.

Thorpe also highlighted the company’s multiple milestones delivering “breakthrough quantum hardware” last year.

These hardware innovations include the 127-qubit IBM Quantum Eagle processor, allowing quantum computers to reach “utility scale” where the technology serves as a scientific tool to explore “new classes of problems in chemistry, physics and materials” beyond classical simulation of quantum mechanics.