IBM CEO Arvind Krishna on AI, Quantum Computing

IBM CEO Arvind Krishna highlighted quantum computing’s near-term commercial viability, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize industries like finance and drug discovery by 2026. Krishna revealed IBM’s roadmap to achieve fault-tolerant quantum systems within five years, targeting 100,000+ qubits through modular architectures and error correction breakthroughs. AI and quantum integration was a key focus, with Krishna noting hybrid classical-quantum models could accelerate AI training and optimization for complex problems like climate modeling. He addressed quantum workforce shortages, announcing IBM’s expanded partnerships with universities to train 10,000 quantum-ready professionals globally by 2028. The CEO stressed quantum’s geopolitical stakes, warning that nations lagging in R&D risk ceding technological leadership, while IBM prioritizes open-access quantum cloud platforms.