Quantum computing is moving steadily toward becoming a practical commercial technology rather than remaining primarily a research endeavor, according to recent comments from IBM’s (NYSE:IBM) top executive. The company’s chief executive indicated that the field is nearing a point where it will begin delivering tangible financial results for the firm and the broader industry.
In a recent CNBC interview, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna outlined a clear near-term outlook.
He expressed confidence that quantum computing would start making a noticeable contribution to the company’s revenue and profitability by 2028 or 2029.
Looking further ahead, he projected that the technology could unlock roughly a trillion dollars in economic value by the close of the 2030s.
These remarks signal growing optimism that long-running investments in the field are approaching a meaningful payoff.
The comments came alongside announcements of new research results. IBM, working with partners including the startup Algorithmiq, reported demonstrations of what the companies describe as quantum advantage.
In these experiments, quantum systems handled certain computational tasks more efficiently than the strongest classical computers available today, while also providing methods to verify the accuracy of the outcomes.
Krishna noted that the machines have already revealed material behaviors that conventional computers could not model effectively.
Such capabilities, he suggested, hold promise for advances in longer-lasting batteries, novel materials, fusion energy research, and pharmaceutical development.
“A quantum computer can do things better, faster, cheaper, in a way that normal classical computers cannot do at this time,” Krishna stated, underscoring the distinct advantages the technology offers for specific classes of problems.
Despite persistent technical hurdles—such as managing error rates, improving hardware reliability, and scaling systems—IBM views the progress as evidence that practical applications are drawing closer.
The company has continued expanding its commitments in the area.
Earlier in the year, it outlined plans for a dedicated quantum chip manufacturing facility supported by a substantial US government commitment under the CHIPS program, matched by IBM’s own investment.
Competitors, including Alphabet and specialized firms like Rigetti Computing, are similarly intensifying efforts to bring quantum systems to market.
Quantum technology differs from the artificial intelligence boom that has driven demand for specialized processors.
Instead of focusing on pattern recognition and large-scale data processing, quantum approaches target complex simulations in chemistry, materials science, optimization challenges, and related scientific domains.
Early results suggest these systems can already explore phenomena beyond the practical reach of classical methods in certain controlled scenarios.
Industry observers note that full-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers remain a work in progress, with IBM targeting larger systems capable of reliable complex calculations later in the decade.
Yet the combination of technical milestones, manufacturing investments, and explicit timelines for revenue contribution marks a shift in tone.
What was once framed largely as a long-horizon scientific pursuit is increasingly discussed in terms of business impact and commercial timelines.
Krishna’s remarks also addressed broader investor sentiment following a recent earnings report that highlighted delayed customer spending decisions.
He characterized those delays as temporary rather than permanent setbacks, noting that a significant portion of the postponed projects had already been completed in the weeks that followed.
As competition accelerates and supporting infrastructure expands, the conversation around quantum computing is evolving. Stakeholders across technology, science, and finance are watching closely to see whether the projected transition from laboratory achievement to revenue-generating capability materializes on the schedule outlined by industry leaders.