IBM's 'Loon' Chip Paves the Way for Practical Quantum Computers by 2029

Published: 13 Nov 2025

Author: Precedence Research

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Quantum computers are a groundbreaking technology that could surpass classical computers in speed and precision, handling vast datasets and complex computations. This advancement is key to unlocking a quantum future, marking a significant milestone in humankind’s technological progress.

By recognizing the power of quantum technology, many leading tech giants are investing heavily in developing it in-house. Among them, IBM claimed that it has built an innovative experimental quantum computing chip named ‘Loon’ that shows it has achieved a key milestone toward developing scalable and useful quantum computers before the end of the decade.

According to experts, quantum computers will eventually take over the classical approach to solving computational problems, as conventional computers based on bits are limited. However, due to the uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics, the chips remain prone to errors if not placed in the proper state. Correction of such mistakes is a major endeavor nowadays, pursued by tech leaders such as Amazon, Google, and IBM.

In such a scenario, IBM has now proposed a new theory and guidance to correct these errors, suggesting adapting algorithms to improve cellphone signals, moving to quantum computing, and running them on a group of quantum and classical computing chips. However, the drawback of IBM’s proposed solution is that quantum chips become harder to build, as they must contain basic building blocks called qubits and new quantum connections between them, according to Mark Horvath, a vice president and analyst at Gartner.

Director of IBM Research and IBM Fellow Jay Gambetta said they aim to tap the Albany NanoTech Complex in New York, which houses tools similar to those in the world's most advanced factories. The company announced another chip named ‘Nighthawk’ that will be available at the end of this year. IBM claims that this chip will outperform classical computers on some tasks by the end of next year.

Gambetta said, “We're confident there'll be many examples of quantum advantage, but let's take it out of headlines and papers and actually make a community where you submit your code, and the community tests things, and they select out which ones are the right ones.”