IBM and AMD Join Forces to Advance Quantum-Centric Supercomputing

IBM (NYSE: IBM) and AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) have announced a collaboration to develop a new generation of computing architectures that combine the strengths of quantum computing and high-performance computing (HPC). The two companies are working together to create scalable, open-source platforms that could redefine the future of computation by leveraging IBM’s leadership in quantum systems and software with AMD’s expertise in HPC and AI acceleration technologies.

 

Unlike conventional computing, which relies on binary bits that represent either zero or one, quantum computing operates with qubits governed by the principles of quantum mechanics. This allows quantum machines to represent and process information in vastly richer ways, opening pathways to solve complex challenges that remain out of reach for classical computers—such as breakthroughs in pharmaceuticals, materials science, optimization, and logistics.

 

Arvind Krishna, IBM Chairman and CEO, stated:“Quantum computing will enable us to model the natural world and process information in entirely new ways. By exploring how IBM’s quantum systems can work alongside AMD’s advanced HPC technologies, we aim to build a powerful hybrid model that extends beyond the limitations of classical computing.”

Dr. Lisa Su, AMD Chair and CEO, added:“High-performance computing underpins progress on the world’s most significant challenges. Through this collaboration with IBM, we see enormous opportunities to accelerate innovation by bringing together HPC and quantum technologies.”

 

The envisioned quantum-centric supercomputing architecture would integrate quantum processors with advanced HPC and AI infrastructure—powered by CPUs, GPUs, and other accelerators. In this hybrid framework, different parts of a problem are assigned to the paradigm best suited to solving them. For example, quantum computers could simulate atomic interactions, while AI-driven classical systems handle large-scale data processing. Together, these systems could tackle real-world challenges with unprecedented speed and scale.

 

As part of the initiative, AMD and IBM are investigating how AMD’s CPUs, GPUs, and FPGAs can be integrated with IBM’s quantum computers to accelerate emerging classes of algorithms that neither technology can efficiently address on its own. This collaboration also supports IBM’s long-term vision of building a fault-tolerant quantum computer, with AMD technology expected to provide real-time error correction—one of the most critical components of fault tolerance.

 

The companies plan to conduct initial demonstrations later this year, showcasing hybrid quantum-classical workflows that combine IBM’s quantum systems with AMD’s computing platforms. They will also explore how open-source ecosystems, such as Qiskit, can drive the development of new algorithms tailored for quantum-centric supercomputing.

 

IBM has already begun moving toward seamless quantum-classical integration. Recent milestones include connecting the modular IBM Quantum System Two with RIKEN’s Fugaku—one of the world’s fastest classical supercomputers—as well as partnerships with Cleveland Clinic, the Basque Government, and Lockheed Martin to demonstrate the combined value of quantum and classical resources.

 

AMD continues to play a pivotal role in HPC. Its EPYC™ CPUs and Instinct™ GPUs power the U.S. Department of Energy’s Frontier supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the first system to achieve exascale performance. AMD technologies also support the upcoming El Capitan supercomputer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, making AMD the driving force behind the world’s two fastest supercomputers on the TOP500 list. Beyond HPC, AMD’s processors, accelerators, and open software stack are widely used to support generative AI solutions across leading enterprises and cloud providers.