IBM says key quantum computing algorithm can run on conventional AMD chips

IBM said on Friday it is able to run a key quantum computing algorithm on commonly available chips from Advanced Micro Devices, in a step toward commercialising super-powerful computers.

The U.S. stalwart is racing to develop quantum computing against Microsoft and Alphabet’s Google, which announced a breakthrough algorithm this week.

Quantum computers use what are known as qubits to tackle problems that would take conventional computers thousands of years to crack – problems such as how trillions of atoms react over time. However, qubits are prone to…