Signal IBM sets a quantum roadmap and unveils its Nighthawk processor

Summary

The report observes that IBM leads in quantum computing and quantum AI at the corporate level and has published a roadmap targeting quantum advantage in 2026. The same roadmap aims for fault tolerance in 2029 and large-scale commercialisation in 2033. At its quantum developer conference on 13 November 2025, IBM unveiled the next-generation Nighthawk quantum processor. According to the report, the processor is to carry 120 qubits by the end of 2025 and run quantum circuits about 30 percent more complex than before. Following such roadmaps from leading firms, the report says the early stage of general-purpose quantum computing for solving hard AI problems has arrived.