Quantum computers have the potential to solve some valuable scientific problems faster, more accurately, or more cost-effectively than any classical computer. They haven't reached this point yet, but when they do, they will have achieved what we call "quantum advantage," a long sought scientific and engineering milestone that will mark the beginning of an exciting new era of computation. So, when will quantum advantage arrive? What methods are researchers and developers to enable their search for advantage? How will we know when it gets here? In this episode of The Coherence Times, we sit down with IBM Principal Research Scientist Abhinav Kandala to discover how, and when, quantum computers will beat classical computers.  

00:00 - Introduction 

4:37 - What is quantum advantage? 

22:38 - How do we look for quantum advantage 

26:48 - How close are we to quantum advantage? 

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.  

Explore the podcast → www.ibm.com/think/podcast/the-coherence-times 

Check out the IBM Quantum Platform → https://quantum.cloud.ibm.com  

Quantum Advantage Tracker here → http://quantum-advantage-tracker.github.io 

One of the most promising application areas for quantum computers involved their ability to simulate the most fundamental behaviors of the tiny subatomic particles that make up the matter and forces that shape our universe. Because of their tiny size, these particles are subject to the complex and often counter-intuitive laws of quantum mechanics. Even the most powerful classical supercomputers struggle to simulate the behavior of these quantum-scale particles, but quantum computers—with their inherent ability to model quantum phenomena—are well-suited to the task. 

In this Coherence Times episode, we sit down with researchers from IBM and the University of the Basque Country to discuss their recent work using quantum computers to simulate the fundamental forces that glue particles together. This research could one day help physicists conduct sophisticated new kinds of research experiments with particle accelerators to help us understand the universe at its most basic level.  

00:00 – Introduction 

1:53 – Studying the quantum universe 

12:27 – Using quantum for quantum 

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity. 

What are algorithms, and why are they so important to computing? In this episode of The Coherence Times, we dive into the fascinating world of quantum algorithms and explore their complicated relationship with their classical counterparts. From the early “vacuum tube days” of quantum computational theory  to the sophisticated hybrid quantum-classical methods that are paving the way to quantum advantage, discover how researchers design, test, and validate new algorithms—and get a glimpse of what the future of computation could look like as they scale.

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity. 

Check out the IBM Quantum Platform → https://quantum.cloud.ibm.com 

Quantum Advantage Tracker here → https://quantum-advantage-tracker.github.io 

Explore the podcast → www.ibm.com/think/podcast/the-coherence-times

It wasn’t so long ago that quantum computers were obscure, highly experimental devices available only to researchers and students working out of university research labs. That changed in 2016, when IBM put the first superconducting quantum processor in the cloud and made it freely accessible to anyone with an internet connection—kickstarting a new era of quantum computing development. In this Coherence Times episode, we explore the history that led IBM to settle on superconductors as its quantum architecture of choice, and that resulted in the advent of cloud-based quantum computing. Along the way, you’ll learn about the alternative approaches that preceded the IBM shift to superconductors, and discover what’s coming next for superconducting hardware.  

00:00 – Introduction 

3:30 – Starting from the ground state 

9:46 – Building the first qubits 

35:36 – Quantum on the cloud 

42:11 – Pushing forward 

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity. 

Explore the podcast → https://www.ibm.com/think/podcasts/the-coherence-times 

What makes quantum computing different from classical computing? Why can’t we just build bigger supercomputers? In this episode of The Coherence Times, we explore how quantum computers unlock mathematics that classical machines can’t access. From superconductors and extreme cold to noise control and fabrication, we break down how quantum computers are built, why they matter, and what the future might look like when these machines scale. 

00:00 – Introduction  

00:58 – Meet Oliver Dial, CTO, IBM Quantum 

02:32 – Quantum vs. Classical computing 

15:17 – Colder than space  

25:15 – Building a quantum computer 

37:00 – Scaling and looking ahead 

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity. 

Explore the podcast →  www.ibm.com/think/podcast/the-coherence-times  

Learn more about quantum → https://quantum.cloud.ibm.com/learning/en 

Quantum isn’t just weird physics—it’s the foundation of our universe and will soon be key to simulating nature in ways today's computers can’t. In this Coherence Times episode, we cover the basics of quantum mechanics, from uncertainty to entanglement, before diving into why quantum simulations matter. Learn how chemists could one day use quantum computers to simulate molecules with unprecedented accuracy and discover what this means for the future of science.

00:00 – Introduction

05:08 – Basics of Quantum

15:45 – How do we use quantum computers?

24:47 – Quantum vs. Classical computing

39:10 – What could a world with quantum computing look like?

The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of IBM or any other organization or entity.

Explore the podcast → https://www.ibm.com/think/podcasts/the-coherence-times/

Learn more about quantum → https://quantum.cloud.ibm.com/

The Coherence Times podcast breaks the challenging world of quantum computing into foundational lessons exploring the challenges and the breakthroughs of this era-defining technology. In this podcast, our host Ryan Mandelbaum will speak to technologists, researchers, and quantum leaders to discover the fascinating world of quantum computing, gaining a deeper understanding of how this technology works and the tremendous potential quantum computing promises.

New episodes every other Tuesday at 7am EST

Visit The Coherence Times podcast page: https://ibm.biz/Bdb43W

Discover more quantum content: https://www.ibm.com/quantum