Quantum computing is getting there. After years of slow but steady development to create a useful quantum computer that can outperform classical machines, we’re still squarely in the so-called “noisy intermediate-scale quantum era.

It demonstrated progress with quantum error correction, something that will be needed for the technology to move much beyond the interesting demo phase, using hardware from a quantum computing startup called Quantinuum.

The largest number of logical qubits has been linked through quantum entanglement, which is a key step towards quantum computers that can detect and correct errors

Microsoft and Atom Computing have announced what they claim is a significant step forward in reliable quantum computing, unveiling a commercial quantum machine built with 24 entangled logical qubits.

Atom Computing, the startup with which Microsoft has partnered on the new quantum computer, is backed by more than $100 million in funding. It will supply qubits and related technologies for the system. Microsoft, in turn, is supplying a so-called qubit virtualization module that will perform tasks such as correcting data processing errors.