Intel CEO Says Quantum Will Work Alongside CPUs and GPUs

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan stated that quantum computers will function as specialized systems for specific tasks alongside traditional CPUs and GPUs, rather than replacing them. Tan made these comments during a keynote conversation at Splunk’s .conf26 conference in Denver on September 21, 2026. This statement from a major chipmaker indicates a future where quantum technology integrates into conventional computing environments, especially as hybrid software and control stacks designed for such integration are already becoming available.

Tan’s Perspective

According to a September 21 report by Seoul Economic Daily, Tan remarked:

“In my view, GPUs, CPUs and quantum computing are all forms of computing, so they will run together in certain application areas, and you will be able to use quantum computing more efficiently.”

Tan emphasized Intel’s focus on error correction, practical applications, and identifying customers willing to invest in the technology. As he stated:

“I am focusing now on error corrections and applications. I also think about who is going to pay for it.”

Tan also highlighted cryogenic cooling as a significant hurdle for the next three to five years. Quantum error correction, which uses numerous physical qubits to secure a smaller number of reliable logical qubits, necessitates substantial hardware and sophisticated control systems. Intel Labs has been exploring silicon spin qubits, and the company has previously introduced its Tunnel Falls research chip and the Horse Ridge II cryogenic control chip.

Existing Hybrid Implementations

The integration Tan described is not merely theoretical. Fujitsu has released OpenQARP, an open-source quantum application package under the Apache 2.0 license on GitHub, featuring over 100 components. This package integrates NVIDIA CUDA-Q as a backend for GPU-accelerated execution. It operates on Fujitsu’s 40-qubit state-vector simulator, which is built from 1,024 PRIMEHPC FX700 systems equipped with A64FX processors.

Advancements are also being made in control hardware. Altera and Riverlane successfully validated Riverlane’s QEC Interface design on Agilex 7 FPGAs. Altera notes that this offers high-speed connectivity and deterministic low latency for real-time error correction data transfer.

These deployments are receiving backing from significant commercial investment. IonQ, for instance, reported record second-quarter revenue of $80.1 million, marking a 287% increase year-over-year, and subsequently raised its full-year guidance to between $280 million and $290 million.

Though the provided information does not detail progress on Intel’s own quantum processors, Tan’s remarks outline his vision for the technology’s role. Importantly, systems that combine quantum with classical computing are already being realized through current software and control layers.