IBM has launched the 2024 IBM Quantum Challenge, an annual coding event aimed at teaching how quantum computational scientists use Qiskit, IBM’s software for programming utility-scale quantum computers. The challenge, which runs from June 5 to 14, will focus on the new features of Qiskit 1.0. Participants will learn to conduct utility-scale experiments with 100 or more qubits. The challenge also offers a glimpse into new developments in the quantum stack, including AI integrations. IBM will host a Challenge Party in New York City, with more details to be released closer to the start date.
Introduction to the 2024 IBM Quantum Challenge
The 2024 IBM Quantum Challenge, an annual coding event, is set to commence on June 5th and will run until June 14th. This year’s challenge is centered around the first stable release of the Qiskit Software Development Kit (SDK) 1.0, IBM’s software for programming utility-scale quantum computers. The challenge aims to educate participants on how quantum computational scientists utilize Qiskit, with a particular focus on utility-scale quantum experiments.
Qiskit SDK 1.0 and the Quantum Challenge
The Qiskit SDK 1.0, which was launched earlier this year, is the main focus of the 2024 IBM Quantum Challenge. The challenge is designed to be inclusive, welcoming participants of all experience levels, from beginners to seasoned veterans. The challenge comprises a series of Jupyter notebooks, each referred to as a “lab,” containing tutorial material, code examples, and auto-graded coding challenges. The complexity of the labs increases progressively, with the final labs designed to test participants’ knowledge of Qiskit.
New Features and Developments in Qiskit 1.0
The 2024 IBM Quantum Challenge will highlight the new features of Qiskit 1.0 and demonstrate how it differs from previous versions. The challenge aims to help participants understand what it means to conduct utility-scale experiments with Qiskit, particularly those involving 100 or more qubits. The challenge also provides an opportunity to preview some of the new cutting-edge features and developments in the quantum stack, including new integrations with Artificial Intelligence (AI) such as the Qiskit code assistant powered by IBM WatsonX.
Changes to the Quantum Challenge and the Shift to Utility-Scale Workloads
In response to the growing quantum community, IBM has made some changes to the Quantum Challenge. To avoid long queue times caused by thousands of users running the same circuits multiple times, hardware use will not be a requirement for the challenge. Instead, the focus will be on helping participants build intuition and make progress without waiting to run on real hardware. However, participants are still encouraged to run any of the code on any IBM devices they have access to. This shift in focus aligns with the sunset of IBM Quantum Lab on May 15th, as the focus shifts towards utility-scale workloads.
Community Engagement and the Quantum Challenge
IBM encourages participants to host or attend a Challenge Party, a trend that has seen a significant increase in recent years. IBM will host a Challenge Party in New York City, and some of their partners will also host events. More details about these events will be released closer to the start date. Participants are encouraged to learn about Qiskit 1.0 and quantum computing on the IBM Quantum Learning Platform in preparation for the challenge.
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