Smart Talks with IBM Unlocking Our Quantum Future
Nov 18, 2025
Jay Gambetta, IBM's Director of Research and a quantum computing trailblazer, discusses the future of quantum technology with Malcolm Gladwell. They delve into IBM's mission to scale quantum computing, groundbreaking experiments in chemistry and finance, and the challenges of building quantum hardware. Jay shares insights on the journey towards fault tolerance by 2029, the impact of quantum in practical applications, and how industries can prepare for this revolutionary shift. His perspectives equate this paradigm shift to the adoption of zero in mathematics.
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IBM's Research Legacy And Ambition
- IBM Research has an 80-year legacy shaping semiconductors, algorithms, and AI.
- Jay Gambetta plans to bring quantum, AI, and new mathematics together to define future computing.
From Lasers To Superconducting Qubits
- Jay Gambetta transitioned from laser science in Australia to building superconducting qubits at Yale.
- He pursued quantum computing to test interpretations of quantum mechanics at macroscopic scales.
Quantum Uses A Different Mathematical Primitive
- Classical computers excel at arithmetic while quantum machines use a different algebraic primitive.
- Quantum computes using math aligned with Schrödinger's equation, enabling new problem classes.