IBM said it operates ’the world’s largest’ fleet of quantum computer systems and will continue to design, build, and assemble quantum computers in America.
IBM announced plans on Monday to invest $150 billion in the United States over the next five years to expand its role as a global leader in computing.
The company said in a statement that the investment will include more than $30 billion for research and development to advance and continue IBM’s American manufacturing of mainframe and quantum computers.
“Technology doesn’t just build the future—it defines it,” said Arvind Krishna, IBM chairman, president, and chief executive officer. “We have been focused on American jobs and manufacturing since our founding 114 years ago, and with this investment and manufacturing commitment, we are ensuring that IBM remains the epicenter of the world’s most advanced computing and AI capabilities.”
IBM said it operates “the world’s largest” fleet of quantum computer systems and will continue to design, build, and assemble quantum computers in America.
The company defines quantum computing as the use of quantum mechanics to solve problems beyond the ability of even the most powerful classical computers, a technology it estimates will transform American competitiveness, jobs, and national security. IBM’s Quantum Network provides access to nearly 300 Fortune 500 companies, academic institutions, national laboratories, and startups, with over 600,000 active users so far.
IBM competitors such as Google aim to release commercial applications in quantum computing in the next five years, while Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, predicts a 20-year wait for practical uses.
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IBM’s announcement follows similar investment pledges by tech companies such as Nvidia and Apple, which recently committed about $500 billion each to U.S. operations.
Several analysts view the new investments as efforts by tech companies to align with and respond to President Donald Trump’s push for the onshoring of manufacturing amid tariff policy changes.
Last year, IBM announced it would shut down its research and development centers in China, laying off more than 1,000 workers. The company joined a growing list of U.S. technology firms scaling back operations in that country due to regulatory crackdowns and increased trade tensions.
IBM, one of the largest technology employers in the United States, has secured government contracts for projects such as the U.S. Social Security system and the Apollo space program. It has also provided private sector technology support across the economy. However, IBM said last week that 15 of its government contracts had been canceled under cost-cutting measures by the Trump administration.
The company is headquartered in Poughkeepsie, New York, where it also manufactures mainframes that support more than 70 percent of the world’s transactions by value, the company said. Mainframes are large, high-performance computers used by major businesses and governments to process and manage vast amounts of data and transactions.
IBM did not respond to an Epoch Times request for comment on additional information, including how many new jobs would come from the investment and where the investments would be.
Dorothy Li and Reuters contributed to this report.
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