On May 4, 2016, IBM made its first quantum processor available over the internet. The pivotal move of May 4, 2016, launched an era where over 300 organizations now run experiments on real quantum hardware, accelerating the technology's evolution and allowing global researchers and businesses to engage directly with advanced computational power.
Quantum computing remains a highly complex, specialized field. Yet, IBM has made it widely accessible to a global network, accelerating its development and bridging the gap between theory and practical application.
IBM's aggressive expansion of hardware, infrastructure, and research partnerships positions it to lead the charge. The company appears likely to make quantum computing a practical tool for a growing number of real-world problems.
IBM's Quantum Dominance Today
IBM operates the world's largest fleet of quantum systems, making it a de facto leader in the emerging tech sector, according to Time Magazine. Over 300 companies, universities, and research labs access these systems via the cloud. The Poughkeepsie facility alone hosts the world's highest number of utility-scale quantum computers at a single location, as reported by The Quantum Insider. The unparalleled global infrastructure and user base provides a substantial advantage in feedback and development, solidifying IBM's operational leadership.
Accelerating Performance and Infrastructure
IBM has reported experimental chips exceeding 1,100 qubits, pushing theoretical limits, according to The Quantum Insider. Yet, a substantial gap remains between these research capabilities and production processors available for widespread use.
Still, IBM's Heron-based system delivers up to a 16-fold performance improvement and a 25-fold speed increase over previous IBM quantum computers, as measured in 2022 by The Quantum Insider. The 16-fold performance improvement and 25-fold speed increase mark rapid progress in practical quantum computation.
