IBM unveiled the experimental quantum chip Loon.

In the future, quantum computers will be able to solve problems that would otherwise take thousands of years for classical systems to solve. However, due to the instability of quantum mechanics, such chips are prone to high error rates. Correcting these errors remains a major challenge for tech giants, including IBM, Alphabet, and Amazon.

In 2021, IBM proposed a new approach to error correction, adapting an algorithm used to improve cellular signal quality and running it on a combination of quantum and classical chips. As noted by Mark Horvath, vice president of research firm Gartner, the downside of this method is the increased complexity of chip manufacturing, as they must contain not only the basic qubits but also new quantum connections between them. Horvath called the chip's implementation of the idea "very clever" and "incredibly interesting."

The Loon chip is still in the early stages of development, and IBM hasn't announced a timeline for its public testing. The company also announced the Nighthawk chip, which will be available later this year. IBM predicts that by the end of 2026, Nighthawk will be able to outperform classical computers in certain tasks. To test these claims, the company is collaborating with startups and researchers, making its code open source.