IBM Announces 2024 Quantum Challenge Featuring New Qiskit 1.0 Software

Insider Brief

• IBM has launched the 2024 IBM Quantum Challenge, which will run from June 5-14.
• It’s open to participants of all experience levels, from beginners to seasoned quantum computing professionals.
• Participants will start with fundamental concepts and work through more complex applications.
• Image: IBM

IBM has launched the 2024 IBM Quantum Challenge, an annual educational coding contest designed to promote the understanding and application of quantum computational science using the Qiskit software, according to a company blog post. This year’s challenge focuses on the newly released Qiskit 1.0, which aims to further capabilities in utility-scale quantum experiments.

The event is scheduled to run from June 5 to June 14, 2024 — and you can sign up here. It is open to participants of all experience levels, from beginners to seasoned quantum computing professionals. Registration is currently open, with further details available on the official challenge website.

Qiskit 1.0 is one of the leading tools for quantum computer programming and supports experiments with systems of 100 qubits or more. The challenge consists of a series of Jupyter notebooks, each referred to as a “lab.” These labs provide tutorial content, coding examples and auto-graded exercises designed to progressively increase in difficulty. Participants will start with fundamental concepts and work through more complex applications, eventually tackling labs that test their mastery of Qiskit.

This year’s labs are themed around a mystery story involving the birds that inspired the nomenclature of IBM’s quantum hardware, the post states. IBM hopes this adds an element of fun and engagement to the learning process.

The 2024 challenge will focus on software simulation rather than requiring hardware use. This decision was made to accommodate the large number of participants and prevent the long queue times typically associated with running quantum circuits on real hardware. However, participants who have access to IBM’s quantum devices through various subscription plans are still encouraged to run their code on actual quantum systems.

IBM has also introduced new features in Qiskit 1.0, including integrations with artificial intelligence through the Qiskit code assistant powered by IBM WatsonX. These innovations are part of IBM’s broader effort to enhance the functionality and user-friendliness of its quantum computing offerings.

As part of the community-building efforts, IBM encourages participants to organize or attend local “Challenge Parties.” These gatherings have grown in popularity, fostering a sense of community among Qiskit users. IBM will host an official event in New York City, with additional events planned by various partners.

The transition to Qiskit 1.0 coincides with the sunset of the IBM Quantum Lab on May 15, 2024, as the company shifts towards supporting utility-scale quantum computing workloads. Participants are advised to familiarize themselves with the new software and workflow ahead of the challenge by accessing resources available on the IBM Quantum Learning Platform.

For more information and to register for the 2024 IBM Quantum Challenge, visit IBM Quantum Challenge.