IBM Buys HRL Labs for Quantum Tech Edge

IBM has announced plans to acquire HRL Laboratories from General Motors and Boeing for an undisclosed sum, with the deal expected to close by end of quarter. The 80-year-old Malibu-based lab is known for contributions in optics, AI, and satellite propulsion, but IBM is primarily after its spin qubit quantum processor technology. IBM currently uses superconducting qubit architecture and plans a 200,000x performance leap with its Blue Jay system in 2033. HRL's spin qubit approach, which encodes data into electrons and can be miniaturized further than superconducting circuits, could help IBM push beyond that milestone. The deal also brings quantum sensors and a gallium nitride chip fabrication facility.