IBM unveils new 'Quantum Nighthawk' 120-qubit processor and software stack — company on track for 2029 fault-tolerance milestone

IBM has introduced its new Quantum Nighthawk 120-qubit processor and software stack at the Quantum Developer Conference, aiming to advance quantum computing capabilities. The Nighthawk chip features a dense square lattice design with increased qubit connectivity, enabling more complex algorithmic workloads. IBM is on track to achieve a verified quantum advantage by the end of 2026, with plans for further performance gains and fault-tolerant systems by 2029. The company's Qiskit software stack has also been enhanced to support dynamic circuits and error mitigation techniques, showcasing IBM's comprehensive approach to quantum computing development.