3006: IBM Qiskit and the Road to Quantum Advantage

In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Blake Johnson, Quantum Engine Lead at IBM Quantum, to explore the recent expansion of Qiskit, the world’s most popular quantum software platform. IBM’s Qiskit has evolved from an experimental tool into a highly stable and reliable platform capable of running complex quantum circuits on processors with over 100 qubits. This conversation dives into how Qiskit is now purpose-built to extract the best performance from real quantum hardware as industries around the world search for quantum advantage—the point where a quantum computer offers the most effective solution to a problem over any classical method. Blake shares insights into how IBM’s collaboration with its global quantum ecosystem of over 600,000 users has driven the development of Qiskit’s new performance capabilities. These include AI-powered tools that help organizations map their problems to quantum circuits, features that simplify interfacing with quantum systems, and new abilities that efficiently merge the strengths of classical and quantum resources. We discuss the significance of Qiskit moving to version 1.0, which brings 16x faster performance and new tools like Qiskit Runtime, the Transpiler service, Code Assistant, and Serverless capabilities. These advancements are essential as IBM continues its journey toward achieving quantum advantage and, ultimately, fault-tolerant quantum computing by 2029. Tune in to learn more about IBM’s vision for quantum software, the growing role of Qiskit users, and how the quantum ecosystem is steadily advancing toward practical quantum computing. This episode provides a deeper understanding of the hybrid quantum-classical approach that is paving the way for future breakthroughs in this cutting-edge field. Whether you’re new to quantum computing or a seasoned expert, Blake’s insights will shed light on the future of this transformative technology.