- IBM and AMD Partner to combine quantum and high performance computing
- Collaboration aims to accelerate research in fields from discovery of drugs to logistics
- Businesses are planning open source platforms and hybrid workflows with initial demo soon
IBM and AMD have announced plans to “build the future of computing” by collaborating on new architecture to mix quantum systems with high performance hardware in an attempt to solve some of the world’s most difficult problems.
The partnership combines IBM’s expertise in the construction of quantum computers and related software with AMD’s background in processors, graphics and AI accelerators in a step towards quantum-centered supercomputing.
The companies look at ways to integrate AMD CPUs, GPUs and FPGAs with IBM’s quantum computers, with the final goal of speeding up new algorithms that neither quantum nor classic systems can handle on their own.
Pushing past the boundaries
“Quantum Computing will simulate the natural world and represent information in a whole new way,” said Arvind Krishna, chairman and CEO, IBM.
“By exploring how quantum computers from IBM and the advanced high -performance computer technologies of AMD can work together, we will build a strong hybrid model pushing past the boundaries of traditional computing.”
The two tech giants will work together to build open source platforms that can scale and support research in areas such as drug development, material science and supply chain optimization.
Lisa SU, chairman and CEO of AMD, also emphasized the importance of the partnership and said: “High-Performance Computing is the basis for solving the world’s most important challenges. When we collaborate with IBM to explore the convergence of high preaching computing and quantum technologies, we see huge opportunities to accelerate discovery and innovation.”
AMD has previously worked on some of the world’s fastest supercomputers, including Frontier and El Capitan.
This hybrid approach is also expected to support IBM’s roadmap against fault tolerant quantum calculation, a milestone that the company has said it hopes to reach by the end of the decade.
IBM has already started similar work with other partners, including Riken in Japan, as well as institutions such as Cleveland Clinic and Lockheed Martin.
An initial demonstration is scheduled for later in the year and shows how IBM-Kante computers can work with AMD technology to deliver hybrid quantum-classic workflows.
The partnership will support open source ecosystems, such as Qiskit, in an attempt to encourage the development of algorithms for quantum-centered super-computing.
