MIT and IBM Renew Their Research Collaboration
IBM Research, Monday, May 11th, 2026
MIT and IBM expand their research lab to include quantum computing alongside AI research.
IBM and MIT have renewed their research collaboration by expanding the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab into the MIT-IBM Computing Research Lab to include quantum computing in addition to AI research. The lab, originally founded in 2017 when generative AI was still nascent, is now pivoting to embrace quantum computing as it matures into a useful tool for scientific research.
David Cox, IBM's director of the lab, discusses how the collaboration's success stems from IBM's on-campus research presence, long-term commitment, and bringing talented researchers who work directly with MIT faculty and students.
The article highlights how the lab has evolved from speculative research to producing technologies directly used by millions, and explores the convergence of AI and quantum computing as both technologies rapidly advance.