Intel has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Classiq, an Israeli company that develops software for quantum computing. The chipmaker wants to combine Classiq's synthesis platform with its spin-qubit manufacturing and existing software to build a full-stack quantum platform, from circuit design down to hardware.
A layer of abstraction for quantum computing
Intel draws a parallel with electronic design automation (EDA) and computer-aided design (CAD) software, which forty years ago transformed chip design by separating the designer's work from the complexity of the underlying hardware. Classiq, according to the company, plays a similar role in quantum computing, offering a unifying software platform that does not depend on the specific qubit technology. Such an abstraction layer would allow moving beyond hand-built circuits toward broader use.
Image: inf.news — https://inf.news/en/science/82d60674a5a51cde2900396998ff3398.html
Intel's positioning
The deal fits Intel's strategy to play a bigger role in quantum by pairing its spin-qubit research with a commercial software business. Lo scorso agosto IBM e UChicago hanno completato un calcolo quantistico in circa 15 minuti, un'operazione che i metodi classici richiederebbero molto più tempo. Its value, however, will depend on Classiq staying neutral toward hardware: its software already runs on machines from IBM, IonQ and Quantinuum, and a platform tied only to Intel chips would lose much of its appeal. Intel has not disclosed the financial terms. Some press reports cite about $2.3 billion, a figure the company has not confirmed.
Image: arXiv — https://ar5iv.labs.arxiv.org/html/2302.08884
The deal was announced on Monday, October 26, and still requires regulatory approvals before it closes.
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