IBM's Quantum Computing Breakthroughs: From 1,000-Qubit Chip to System Two and Heron

IBM has released the first quantum computer with over 1,000 qubits, but the company will now shift its focus to improving error resistance rather than increasing qubit count. The new chip, called Condor, follows IBM's previous record-setting machines. IBM plans to develop smaller chips with a new approach to error correction using the quantum low-density parity check (qLDPC) scheme, which could significantly reduce the number of physical qubits required for each logical qubit. While implementing qLDPC with superconducting qubits is challenging, IBM aims to add a layer to its quantum chip design to accommodate the extra connections needed. The company's roadmap aims to achieve useful computations by the end of the decade.