Intel has agreed to buy Classiq, a young company from Israel. Classiq makes software for writing programs for quantum computers. Bloomberg says the deal is worth about $2.3 billion. Intel announced the deal on Monday but did not give a price.
Quantum computers use special units called qubits. They can solve some problems much faster than ordinary computer chips, such as problems about how molecules behave. But writing programs for these computers is difficult and usually needs special skills. Classiq helps make this work easier.
With Classiq’s software, people describe what they want a program to do. The software then designs the steps for the quantum computer. It works with different kinds of quantum computers. BMW and HSBC are among its customers.
Intel started working on quantum computing in 2015. It builds qubits on silicon with the same equipment it uses for ordinary chips. Buying Classiq would bring together Intel’s computer parts and software to use them. Intel says Classiq’s software will still work with other companies’ quantum computers.
Intel also plans to make Classiq its global development center for quantum computing. It expects to finish the purchase in the first half of 2027. Officials must first approve the deal.
