Intel agrees to acquire quantum software firm Classiq

Intel has agreed to acquire quantum-software company Classiq, aiming to combine its software for designing quantum algorithms with Intel’s quantum hardware and manufacturing capabilities. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions, the companies said on October 26. They will operate independently until it closes. Intel said the acquisition would bring Classiq’s automated quantum software together with Intel’s existing quantum software, silicon spin-qubit technology and chip-manufacturing expertise. The company intends to build a broader quantum-computing offering, adding quantum processing units to a portfolio that includes central processors, graphics processors and application-specific integrated circuits. Classiq’s platform is designed to help developers create quantum algorithms and adapt them to different hardware. Intel said it plans to preserve the software’s existing integrations with multiple hardware platforms after closing, rather than limit it to Intel chips. The terms of the agreement, as announced by Intel, did not disclose a purchase price. Reports put the deal’s value at about $2.3 billion...