IBM revolutionizes quantum computing: Starling, the supercomputer for 2029

IBM has unveiled its most ambitious project to date in the field of quantum computing.: the development of Starling, a quantum supercomputer that promises to radically change the technological landscape starting in 2029. IBM's goal is to build the world's first commercial fault-tolerant quantum machine., thus overcoming one of the biggest obstacles that has held this technology back until now.

Quantum computing has been, until now, a promise full of technical complications, mainly due to the fragility of physical qubits and the high propensity to error due to ambient noise and decoherence. IBM seeks to address the sector's main handicap by focusing on real-time error correction., allowing future quantum computers to perform complex operations without being limited by the accumulation of errors.

Starling: 20.000 times more capacity than current systems

According to details revealed by IBM, Starling will be able to perform up to 200 million quantum operations using XNUMX logical qubits.. This figure represents a a huge leap forward compared to current quantum computers, which are typically restricted to a few thousand operations before succumbing to failure. The development of this system will take place in IBM's new quantum data center in Poughkeepsie, New York, from where it will be accessible to users and institutions around the world.

One of the most striking claims of the project is that Fully simulating Starling State would require the combined memory of more than a quindecillion conventional supercomputers.This unprecedented capability opens the door to solving, for the first time, problems that are currently impossible for classical computing: from the design of new drugs, through logistics optimization and the creation of materials with unprecedented properties, to the acceleration of artificial intelligence algorithms.

Error correction and the hopping of logical qubits

The key breakthrough behind Starling lies in the use of qLDPC (Quantum Low-Density Parity Check) code, a revolutionary error correction technique that drastically reduces the number of physical qubits required for each logical qubit, making the scalability of quantum computing much more viable. While traditional methods required hundreds or thousands of physical qubits, new techniques allow for the construction of compact, efficient, and stable systems, a crucial step toward bringing theory to life.

IBM has not only improved the efficiency of these codes, but has also developed real-time decoders capable of minimizing the error rate at unprecedented levels, according to recently published studies. The company believes that, with these advances, the main scientific hurdle has been resolved, moving the challenge to an industrial scale and the engineering required to assemble thousands of physical qubits.

Roadmap: From Loon to Blue Jay, the future of quantum computing

To achieve the 2029 goal, IBM has set an intermediate release schedule with several key processors:

• Quantum Loon (2025): experimental processor that tests the structural components of the architecture, including the “c-couplers” to connect qubits over long distances.
• Quantum Kookaburra (2026): first modular processor designed to combine quantum memory and logic operation, essential for building scalable systems.
• Quantum Cockatoo (2027): a system that allows the interlinking of several Kookaburra modules using “L-couplers”, which will make it possible to scale without resorting to giant chips.

The final goal will come with Starling in 2029 and his successor, Blue Jay, planned for 2033 with two thousand logical qubits and the capacity to execute one billion quantum operations, marking a milestone of power in the sector.

Impact on the industry and pending challenges

If IBM manages to meet its schedule, Starling could transform sectors such as medicine, energy, artificial intelligence, and logistics.The ability to simulate molecular processes, optimize supply chains, or design new materials in a matter of hours—or even minutes—would redefine the way companies and institutions tackle the most complex challenges.

Despite the progress, Large-scale quantum systems engineering remains a formidable challengeAchieving the precise integration of thousands of physical qubits, ensuring cryogenic stability, and maintaining system fidelity under real-world conditions requires addressing technical and operational unknowns. IBM insists, however, that the basic science has been solved and that the main challenge now lies in industrializing the assembly of the technology.

From a business perspective, IBM highlights that has already generated considerable revenue in the quantum field and sees cloud adoption and remote data centers as the path to widespread access. The market, however, is closely watching the emergence of potential competitors and the evolution of alternative technologies, with companies such as Google, Microsoft, IonQ, and D-Wave advancing their own roadmaps.

The arrival of Starling represents the result of years of work in physics, engineering and mathematics, and defines the starting point of a new era for quantum computingUntil now, such a concrete roadmap and such a defined industrial commitment have never been presented by a global player. Although ultimate success will still require overcoming enormous challenges, the prospect of a functional, fault-tolerant quantum computer is now closer than ever.