Research @ Citi Episode 60: What’s Next for Quantum Computing with Noelle Ibrahim from IBM
Jan 2, 2026
Noelle Ibrahim, a quantum physicist and senior executive at IBM, dives into the fascinating realm of quantum computing. She breaks down the intricate concepts of qubits, superposition, and entanglement, clarifying the differences from classical bits. Noelle elaborates on IBM's roadmap towards a fault-tolerant quantum machine by 2029 and discusses real-world applications like portfolio optimization and molecular simulations. She also highlights the importance of industry partnerships and the emergence of quantum-safe cryptography, making this a must-listen for tech enthusiasts!
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How Qubits Enable Parallel Computation
- Qubits use superposition, entanglement and interference to represent and process many scenarios at once.
- Quantum algorithms steer interference so desired outcomes amplify while wrong answers cancel out.
The Era Of Quantum Utility
- IBM calls the current period the 'era of quantum utility' where quantum computers solve problems inaccessible to brute-force classical methods.
- Achieving verified quantum advantage requires benchmarking against the best classical algorithms.
Logical Qubits Fix Noise With Redundancy
- Logical qubits encode one logical state across many physical qubits to detect and correct noise-induced errors.
- Building logical qubits requires physical qubits with error rates below a threshold so error correction becomes feasible.