Trend Quantum advantage will demand strength in numbers

Summary

IBM's fifth trend states that quantum computing has moved past wishful thinking, with recent research suggesting quantum advantage will probably appear by the end of 2026. The catch is that quantum at scale needs more computing power, richer data and deeper expertise than any single organisation can realistically maintain. IBM therefore argues that success requires joining one or more ecosystems. Quantum-ready organisations belong to several ecosystems at three times the rate of other organisations, and most executives say partners speed adoption and improve outcomes. IBM advises identifying big bets, partnering to share cost and risk, and training AI agents on ecosystem data.