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IBM Debuts Next-Generation Quantum Processor & IBM Quantum System Two, Extends Roadmap to Advance Era of Quantum Utility

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University of Tokyo, Argonne National Laboratory, Fundacion Ikerbasque, Qedma, Algorithmiq, University of Washington, University of Cologne, Harvard University, UC Berkeley, Q-CTRL demonstrate new research to explore power of utility-scale quantum computing ‘IBM Quantum Heron’ is released as IBM’s most performant quantum processor in the world, with newly built architecture offering up to five-fold improvement in error reduction over ‘IBM Quantum Eagle’ IBM Quantum System Two begins operation with three IBM Heron processors, designed to bring quantum-centric supercomputing to reality Expansion of IBM Quantum Development Roadmap for next ten years prioritizes improvements in gate operations to scale with quality towards advanced error-corrected systems Qiskit 1.0 announced, the world’s most widely used open-source quantum programming software, with new features to help computational scientists execute quantum circuits with ease and speedIBM showcases generative AI models engineered to automate quantum code development with watsonx and optimize quantum circuits

NEW YORK, Dec. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Today, at the annual IBM Quantum Summit in New York, IBM (NYSE: IBM) debuted ‘IBM Quantum Heron,’ the first in a new series of utility-scale quantum processors with an architecture engineered over the past four years to deliver IBM’s highest performance metrics and lowest error rates of any IBM Quantum processor to date.

IBM also unveiled IBM Quantum System Two, the company’s first modular quantum computer and cornerstone of IBM’s quantum-centric supercomputing architecture. The first IBM Quantum System Two, located in Yorktown Heights, New York, has begun operations with three IBM Heron processors and supporting control electronics. 

With this critical foundation now in place, along with other breakthroughs in quantum hardware, theory, and software, the company is extending its IBM Quantum Development Roadmap to 2033 with new targets to significantly advance the quality of gate operations. Doing so would increase the size of quantum circuits able to be run and help to realize the full potential of quantum computing at scale. 

“We are firmly within the era in which quantum computers are being used as a tool to explore new frontiers of science,” said Dario Gil, IBM SVP and Director of Research. “As we continue to advance how quantum systems can scale and deliver value through modular architectures, we will further increase the quality of a utility-scale quantum technology stack – and put it into the hands of our users and partners who will push the boundaries of more complex problems.”

As demonstrated by IBM earlier this year on a 127-qubit ‘IBM Quantum Eagle’ processor, IBM Quantum systems can now serve as a scientific tool to explore utility-scale classes of problems in chemistry, physics, and materials beyond brute force classical simulation of quantum mechanics.

Since that demonstration, leading researchers, scientists, and engineers from organizations including the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, the University of Tokyo, the University of Washington, the University of Cologne, Harvard University, Qedma, Algorithmiq, UC Berkeley, Q-CTRL, Fundacion Ikerbasque, Donostia International Physics Center, and the University of the Basque Country, as well as IBM, have expanded demonstrations of utility-scale quantum computing to confirm its value in exploring uncharted computational territory.

This includes experiments already running on the new IBM Quantum Heron 133-qubit processor, which IBM is making available for users today via the cloud. IBM Heron is the first in IBM’s new class of performant processors with significantly improved error rates, offering a five-times improvement over the previous best records set by IBM Eagle. Additional IBM Heron processors will join IBM’s industry-leading, utility-scale fleet of systems over the course of the next year.

IBM Quantum System Two and Extended IBM Quantum Development Roadmap

IBM Quantum System Two is the foundation of IBM’s next generation quantum computing system architecture. It combines scalable cryogenic infrastructure and classical runtime servers with modular qubit control electronics. The new system is a building block for IBM’s vision of quantum-centric supercomputing. This architecture combines quantum communication and computation, assisted by classical computing resources, and leverages a middleware layer to appropriately integrate quantum and classical workflows.

As part of the newly expanded ten-year IBM Quantum Development Roadmap, IBM plans for this system to also house IBM’s future generations of quantum processors. Also, as part of this roadmap, these future processors are intended to gradually improve the quality of operations they can run to significantly extend the complexity and size of workloads they are capable of handling.

Qiskit and Generative AI to Increase Ease of Quantum Software Programming 

Today, IBM is also detailing plans for a new generation of its software stack, within which Qiskit 1.0 will be a pivot point defined by stability and speed. Additionally, and with the goal of democratizing quantum computing development, IBM is announcing Qiskit Patterns.

Qiskit Patterns will serve as a mechanism to allow quantum developers to more easily create code. It is based in a collection of tools to simply map classical problems, optimize them to quantum circuits using Qiskit, executing those circuits using Qiskit Runtime, and then postprocess the results. With Qiskit Patterns, combined with Quantum Serverless, users will be able to build, deploy, and execute workflows integrating classical and quantum computation in different environments, such as cloud or on-prem scenarios. All of these tools will provide building blocks for users to build and run quantum algorithms more easily.

Additionally, IBM is pioneering the use of generative AI for quantum code programming through watsonx, IBM’s enterprise AI platform. IBM will integrate generative AI available through watsonx to help automate the development of quantum code for Qiskit. This will be achieved through the finetuning of the IBM Granite model series.

“Generative AI and quantum computing are both reaching an inflection point, presenting us with the opportunity to use the trusted foundation model framework of watsonx to simplify how quantum algorithms can be built for utility-scale exploration,” said Jay Gambetta, Vice President and IBM Fellow at IBM. “This is a significant step towards broadening how quantum computing can be accessed and put in the hands of users as an instrument for scientific exploration.”

With advanced hardware across IBM’s global fleet of 100+ qubit systems, as well as easy-to-use software that IBM is debuting in Qiskit, users and computational scientists can now obtain reliable results from quantum systems as they map increasingly larger and more complex problems to quantum circuits.

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. More than 4,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.

Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Erin Angelini
IBM Communications
edlehr@us.ibm.com 

Hugh Collins
IBM Communications
hughdcollins@ibm.com 

 

 

 

 

SOURCE IBM

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SiriusXM Names Sean Gibbons Chief Product and Technology Officer

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Longtime SiriusXM leader will advance the Company’s product experiences and technology strategy 

NEW YORK, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SiriusXM (NASDAQ: SIRI) today announced that Sean Gibbons has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Chief Product and Technology Officer, reporting to Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Witz and joining the Company’s Executive Leadership Team. In this role, Gibbons will lead product and technology across SiriusXM and Pandora, with responsibility for product strategy and development, technology platforms and engineering, automotive and streaming distribution partnerships, and advertising technology.

“Sean has helped shape SiriusXM through some of our most important product and technology transformations, including the development and successful rollout of SiriusXM with 360L,” said Jennifer Witz, Chief Executive Officer, SiriusXM. “He brings more than two decades of experience, deep knowledge of our business and a strong track record of bringing together teams, technology and partnerships to deliver for consumers. Sean is a highly respected leader and the right person to help us accelerate innovation, improve the customer experience and advance the products, platforms and partnerships that will support our growth.”

Gibbons’ key priorities will include advancing SiriusXM with 360L and the Company’s next generation of in-car experiences; shaping the long-term technology roadmap supporting SiriusXM’s satellite, broadcast and streaming platforms; applying AI to improve personalization, discovery and customer service; and creating more dynamic, connected and participatory experiences across SiriusXM’s in-vehicle and streaming platforms.

“SiriusXM has a unique set of assets and a tremendous opportunity to make them work together even more powerfully for listeners,” said Gibbons. “We can pair the reach and reliability of satellite with the flexibility of streaming and the intelligence of AI to make it easier for people to discover what they love, stay connected wherever they listen and participate more deeply in the content and moments that matter to them. I’m excited to take on this role and help shape the next generation of the SiriusXM experience.”

Gibbons joined Sirius in 2000, before the company’s first satellite launch, and has held leadership roles spanning product management, engineering, automotive, streaming, content technology and strategic partnerships. During his tenure, he established SiriusXM’s first formal Product Management organization and later founded and led its first Streaming organization, expanding the SiriusXM experience across mobile, web and connected-home platforms.

Most recently, Gibbons led SiriusXM’s Automotive organization, bringing together product, user experience, engineering and automotive partnerships to advance the company’s in-vehicle experiences and relationships with leading automakers. Across more than two decades at SiriusXM, he has played a central role in many of the Company’s most significant product and technology transformations, including its evolution toward connected, software-defined vehicle experiences and hybrid satellite-and-IP services.

About Sirius XM Holdings Inc.
SiriusXM is the leading audio entertainment company in North America, with a portfolio of audio businesses including its flagship subscription entertainment service SiriusXM; the ad-supported and premium music streaming services of Pandora; an expansive podcast network; and a complete ecosystem of advertising solutions through SiriusXM Media and AdsWizz. SiriusXM offers live, on-demand, and human-curated programming across music, talk, news, sports, and podcasts, and the company reaches approximately 255 million monthly listeners across its platforms. With deep automotive manufacturer relationships and unique spectrum assets, SiriusXM is built to reach listeners wherever they are. The company connects fans to the voices, creators, and moments they love – creating communities where listeners engage, participate, and belong. For more about SiriusXM, please go to: https://www.siriusxm.com/

Source: SiriusXM

Investor Contact:
Investor.Relations@siriusxm.com

Media Contact: 
Zak Paget
zak.paget@siriusxm.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/siriusxm-names-sean-gibbons-chief-product-and-technology-officer-302872401.html

SOURCE Sirius XM Holdings Inc.

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Bluepeak Names Ken Johnson as Chief Executive Officer

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Rich Fish to Retire After Leading Bluepeak’s Growth into a Multi-State Fiber Provider

DENVER, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bluepeak, a leading provider of fiber internet, today announced that Ken Johnson has been named the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective October 19, 2026. Johnson joins Bluepeak from Cable One, Inc., where he most recently served as Chief Operating Officer. He succeeds Rich Fish, who will be retiring after leading Bluepeak for six years, during which time he guided the company’s growth into a fast-expanding, multi-state fiber internet provider, and will be transitioning to an advisory role with the company.

Johnson brings more than 30 years of telecommunications and broadband industry experience to the role, with a career-long focus on operational excellence, technology-driven growth, and expanding connectivity. At Cable One, he oversaw Residential and Business Services, Technology Services, Field and Call Center Operations, and Digital Evolution and Integration for a company serving more than one million customers across 24 states. He joined Cable One in 2018 following its acquisition of NewWave Communications, where he served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer. Earlier in his career, Johnson held Chief Technology Officer roles at SureWest Communications and Everest Broadband. He was inducted into the Cable TV Pioneers Class of 2025.

“Bluepeak has built a strong foundation and a clear reputation for delivering fast, reliable fiber internet with a local, customer-first approach,” said Johnson. “I am honored to lead this team into its next chapter. I look forward to building on the momentum Rich and the entire Bluepeak organization have created, to completing the fiber transformation of Bluepeak communities, and to continuing to expand access to best-in-class connectivity across the communities we serve.”

“Ken’s deep operational expertise and his track record of scaling broadband businesses make him the right leader for Bluepeak’s next phase of growth,” said Mark Prybutok, Managing Director and Head of Data Infrastructure at GI Partners. “His experience revitalizing and expanding networks, combined with his focus on the customer experience, align closely with what Bluepeak has built under Rich’s leadership. We are confident he will carry that work forward.”

Rich Fish has served as Bluepeak’s Chief Executive Officer since the company’s acquisition by GI Partners in early 2021, leading the company through its rapid buildout across North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Texas, and overseeing its evolution into a whole-home connectivity provider offering speeds up to 5 Gig for residential customers and 10 Gig and beyond for businesses. 

“Leading Bluepeak has been one of the great privileges of my career,” said Fish. “Together, this team built a company defined by speed, reliability, and genuine local service, and we did it while expanding Bluepeak’s operating footprint into twenty-eight new markets across six states and now reach over 515,000 homes passed. I’m proud of what we’ve built and confident that Ken is the right person to lead Bluepeak forward. I want to thank our employees, our customers, and our communities for the trust they’ve placed in us.”

About Bluepeak

Bluepeak is a new kind of internet provider bringing fast, reliable, affordable internet to places that have needed better options for too long. The company has roots serving Great Plains and Midwest communities going back more than 30 years. As the need for internet in the region has evolved, so has Bluepeak, upgrading and expanding service to several markets in Oklahoma, South Dakota, southwest Minnesota, Wyoming, North Dakota and Texas with the newest cutting-edge technology. These expansion efforts include multi-million-dollar infrastructure projects, community involvement, and growth through local hires. Bluepeak is earning the trust of customers and businesses through simple, affordable offerings, responsive, reliable customer service, and transparent pricing. The company’s unique approach to delivering internet service has earned Bluepeak accolades for customer satisfaction, network performance, workplace culture, and meaningful community partnerships.

About GI Partners

Founded in 2001, GI Partners is a private investment firm with over 150 employees and offices in San Francisco, New York, Dallas, Chicago, Greenwich, Scottsdale, and London. The firm has raised more than $50 billion in capital and invests on behalf of leading institutional investors around the world through its private equity, real estate, and data infrastructure strategies. The private equity team invests primarily in companies in the healthcare, services, and software sectors. The real estate strategy focuses primarily on technology and life sciences properties as well as other specialized types of real estate. The data infrastructure team invests primarily in hard asset infrastructure businesses underpinning the digital economy. For more information, please visit www.gipartners.com.

Media Contact:

Jaime Gardner
jgardner@novitascommunications.com
or 970-597-0696

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bluepeak-names-ken-johnson-as-chief-executive-officer-302871666.html

SOURCE Bluepeak

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ValleyStar Credit Union Celebrates Denise Ratliff’s Graduation from Southeastern Regional Credit Union School

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Denise Ratliff, Senior Vice President of Lending, has successfully graduated from the Southeastern Regional Credit Union School

MARTINSVILLE, Va., Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — ValleyStar Credit Union is proud to announce that Denise Ratliff, Senior Vice President of Lending, has successfully graduated from the Southeastern Regional Credit Union School (SRCUS) and earned her Certified Credit Union Executive (CCUE) designation.

The CCUE designation is awarded to graduates who complete the rigorous three-year SRCUS program, an immersive leadership development experience designed to strengthen operational knowledge, strategic thinking, and leadership skills for credit union professionals. Throughout the program, participants engage in weeklong classroom sessions, online coursework, team projects, and examinations while learning from University of Georgia faculty and experienced credit union executives.

“Denise’s achievement is a reflection of her unwavering commitment to professional growth and to serving our members with excellence,” said Woody Windley, Interim President/CFO of ValleyStar Credit Union. “Throughout her career, Denise has demonstrated strong leadership, dedication, and a passion for continuous learning. We are incredibly proud of this accomplishment and know the knowledge and experience she has gained through SRCUS will continue to strengthen our organization, our team, and the exceptional service we provide to our members.”

Reflecting on her experience, Ratliff shared how the program challenged and inspired her throughout the past three years.

“The last three years of SRCUS have been a challenging and wonderful experience. I have gained a wealth of knowledge from incredibly talented professors and instructors while developing relationships with my classmates that will last a lifetime. I am truly grateful for the experience and am excited to put everything I’ve learned into practice.”

ValleyStar Credit Union believes investing in employee development is an investment in its members and communities. By supporting continuing education opportunities like SRCUS, ValleyStar equips its team with the knowledge and leadership skills needed to deliver exceptional service and meet the evolving financial needs of its members.

About ValleyStar Credit Union

Serving businesses and families across Virginia since 1953, ValleyStar Credit Union is committed to making banking simple, convenient, and focused on what matters most to its members. Whether helping members purchase a home, finance a vehicle, grow a business, or achieve long-term financial goals, ValleyStar is dedicated to providing trusted financial solutions with exceptional service.

As a member-owned financial cooperative, ValleyStar returns earnings to its members through competitive loan rates, higher returns on deposits, and fewer fees. The credit union is equally committed to strengthening the communities it serves through financial education, community partnerships, and volunteerism, helping members and neighborhoods thrive together.

Media Contact

Kristen Roberson, ValleyStar Credit Union, 1 800.475.6328, kristenr@valleystar.org, https://www.valleystar.org/

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/valleystar-credit-union-celebrates-denise-ratliffs-graduation-from-southeastern-regional-credit-union-school-302868684.html

SOURCE ValleyStar Credit Union

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