IBM and AMD Join Forces to Advance Quantum-Centric Supercomputing

IBM and AMD reach quantum computing partnership

Why it matters: Quantum computing could have huge implications for everything from drug discovery, to financial modeling, to AI development. Driving the news: IBM and AMD said Tuesday that they're teaming up to "develop next-generation computing architectures based on the combination of quantum computers and high-performance computing." * IBM quantum VP Jay Gambetta said in an interview with Axios that the the goal is "quantum-centric supercomputing." * "High-performance computing is the foundation for solving the world's most important challenges," AMD CEO Lisa Su said in a statement. Zoom in: The partners will explore ways to integrate AMD's technology -- such as its computer and graphics processors -- into IBM systems to identify new algorithms that "are outside the current reach of either paradigm working independently." * "I want to get fault-tolerant quantum computers working by the end of this decade," Gambetta told Axios. The intrigue: The partnership comes after Jensen Huang, CEO of AMD rival Nvidia, expressed skepticism about the timeline for "very useful" quantum computers earlier this year, saying it was probably 20 years away. * He later backed off his initial comments -- which had sent quantum stocks plunging -- and said he sees the industry hitting "an inflection point." What they're saying: IBM CEO Arvind Krishna told Axios in an interview in July that Huang's comments show that "it's top of mind" and thus "probably not 20 years away." * "Otherwise, why is he even talking about it?" Krishna said on the sidelines of the Global Quantum Forum in Chicago. "We are not the only ones who see it as important. Many do." How it works: Gambetta declined to reveal details about the financial nature of the IBM-AMD arrangement, saying only that "we both intend to make money."

IBM, AMD work to merge quantum with high-performance computing

This hybrid approach allows the two technologies to independently tackle parts of a problem, providing results classical computing cannot. Semiconductor giant AMD and enterprise software and quantum leader IBM are joining forces to build "next-generation" computing architecture by combining quantum computers and high-performance computing (HPC). The two companies are collaborating to develop scalable, open-source platforms that which could potentially impact the future of computing. They plan to do so by leveraging IBM's state-of-the-art quantum computing tech and software and AMD's leadership in HPC and AI accelerators. Quantum computing utilises the unique behaviours of quantum physics to its advantage, giving it exponential power to compute at a scale much faster than traditional computing. These properties enable a much richer computational space to explore solutions to complex problems beyond what classical computing can do, including in fields such as drug discovery, materials discovery, optimisation, finance and logistics, among so much more. In this new quantum-centric supercomputing architecture, quantum computers work together with powerful HPC and AI infrastructure. In this hybrid approach, for example, quantum could simulate the behaviour of atoms and molecules, while classical supercomputers powered by AI could handle massive data analysis. Together, these technologies could tackle real-world problems at unprecedented speed and scale, the collaborators claim. AMD and IBM are currently exploring how to integrate AMD's CPU's, GPU's and Field Programmable Gate Arrays with IBM's quantum computers to efficiently accelerate a new class of emerging algorithms which are outside the current reach of either paradigm working independently. The teams are planning an initial demonstration later this year to show how IBM quantum computers can work in tandem with AMD's tech to deploy hybrid quantum-classical workflows. The proposed effort, the two say, could also help progress IBM's plans to develop fault-tolerant quantum computers by the end of the decade. "Quantum computing will simulate the natural world and represent information in an entirely new way," said Arvind Krishna, the chairperson and CEO, IBM. "By exploring how quantum computers from IBM and the advanced high-performance compute technologies of AMD can work together, we will build a powerful hybrid model that pushes past the limits of traditional computing." IBM is already working towards integrating these new technologies together, including through a recent partnership with Riken, a research laboratory in Japan. Together, the two unveiled the first IBM Quantum System Two outside of the US. The company is also working with Cleaveland Clinic and companies such as Lockheed Martin to demonstrate how combining quantum and classical resources could solve complex problems beyond what classical computers can do. "High-performance computing is the foundation for solving the world's most important challenges," said Dr Lisa Su, the chairperson and CEO of AMD. "As we partner with IBM to explore the convergence of high-performance computing and quantum technologies, we see tremendous opportunities to accelerate discovery and innovation." Earlier this year, IBM announced 75 new R&D jobs in Waterford to develop its enterprise infrastructure Z and Linux One. Don't miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic's digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.

IBM, AMD Partner on Quantum-Centric Supercomputing

AMD shares are rising in premarket trading and have gained 35% so far this year. IBM (IBM) and AI chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) said Tuesday they were teaming up to develop "quantum-centric computing." "In a quantum-centric supercomputing architecture, quantum computers work in tandem with powerful high-performance computing and AI infrastructure, which are typically supported by CPUs, GPUs and other compute engines," the companies said. IBM CEO Arvind Krishna said the companies would "build a powerful hybrid model that pushes past the limits of traditional computing." IBM shares, which entered Tuesday 9% higher this year, are 0.8% higher in premarket trading, while those of AMD are gaining 2%. AMD shares have gained 35% so far this year though Monday. In June, IBM showcased what it called a "viable path" to building the world's first large-scale, "fault-tolerant" quantum computer by the end of the decade. The computer, dubbed IBM Starling, is expected to be capable of performing 20,000 times the operations of quantum computers that exist today, the company said. That followed Google parent Alphabet's (GOOGL) breakthrough late last year with its unveiling of a quantum computing chip it said can complete computations in less than 5 minutes that would take some of today's fastest supercomputers 10 septillion years.

What's Going On With AMD Stock Tuesday? - IBM (NYSE:IBM), Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD)

International Business Machines Corp. IBM and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. AMD are partnering to advance quantum-centric supercomputing, combining IBM's quantum hardware and software expertise with AMD's strength in high-performance computing and AI acceleration. The collaboration, announced Tuesday, is aimed at building scalable, open-source platforms that integrate quantum and classical systems to solve problems beyond the reach of traditional computing. Target applications range from drug discovery and climate modeling to advanced optimization. As part of the effort, AMD's CPUs, GPUs, and FPGAs will be integrated with IBM's quantum systems, supporting IBM's push to deliver fault-tolerant quantum computers before the end of the decade. The companies intend to demonstrate hybrid quantum-classical workflows later this year, a step toward bringing commercially viable applications into view. Also Read: AMD Retreats After Trump Secures 9.9% Intel Stake to Strengthen America's Semiconductor Industry The move comes as momentum in quantum computing accelerates globally. According to McKinsey, the quantum technology market, spanning computing, communications, and sensing, is projected to grow from $4 billion in 2024 to as much as $97 billion by 2035, with quantum computing alone potentially accounting for $72 billion. By 2040, McKinsey estimates the sector could nearly double again to $198 billion as breakthroughs in error correction, qubit scalability, and secure communications open new frontiers in finance, defense, and life sciences. Governments worldwide have already pledged more than $10 billion in funding for 2025, underscoring the strategic importance of the field. Competition in the space is intensifying. Alphabet's GOOGL GOOG Google Quantum AI recently unveiled its Willow chip, a superconducting system that demonstrated exponential error reduction as qubit counts scale. Willow completed a benchmark in under five minutes that would take an estimated ten septillion years for a conventional supercomputer, marking a significant step in real-time error correction. Nvidia Corp. NVDA has also deepened its presence in quantum through a partnership with Google Quantum AI to accelerate device development and simulation, a collaboration that Wedbush analysts have flagged as a long-term growth driver alongside Nvidia's dominance in AI semiconductors. The IBM-AMD partnership adds another layer to the evolving ecosystem, where established players and startups alike are racing to make quantum systems practical at scale. Price Actions: AMD stock is trading higher by 2.43% to $167.33 premarket at last check Tuesday. IBM is up 0.81%. Read Next: Amazon, Meta Among Early Adopters Of Nvidia's Jetson Thor Robotics Platform Image via Shutterstock AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc$167.022.24%Stock Score Locked: Want to See it? Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Reveal Full ScoreEdge RankingsMomentum83.03Growth93.75Quality71.94Value12.09Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewIBMInternational Business Machines Corp$241.750.97%GOOGAlphabet Inc$208.43-0.35%GOOGLAlphabet Inc$207.80-0.33%NVDANVIDIA Corp$180.380.32%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs