AI compute and energy
2026-04-26
9 minute read
10 sources
Quantum Computing Economics in 2026: Roadmaps, Modalities, and the Post-Quantum Migration
IBM, Google, IonQ, Quantinuum, Atom Computing, PsiQuantum, and Microsoft are converging on fault tolerance from four physical platforms. Quantum equities have repriced sharply, NIST has finalized its post-quantum cryptography standards, and national programs have moved past 20 billion dollars of cumulative public commitment.
Quantum computing in 2026 is four parallel scaling experiments on transmon, trapped-ion, neutral-atom, and photonic platforms, judged against a shared bar set by the surface code. IBM ships Heron R2 at 156 qubits and targets Kookaburra in 2026 and Blue Jay at 4158 qubits. Google's Willow showed below-threshold operation in late 2024. IonQ...