The Evolution of IBM's Quantum Information Software Kit (Qiskit): A Review of its Applications

TL;DR

This paper reviews the evolution and applications of IBM's Qiskit, highlighting its role in advancing quantum computing across various fields and discussing technical challenges and future directions.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of Qiskit's development, applications, and technical structure, serving as a reference for researchers and practitioners in quantum computing.

Findings

Qiskit enables hybrid classical-quantum workflows.

It supports applications in cryptography, climate science, and finance.

Current limitations include scalability and reproducibility issues.

Abstract

Quantum computing is being increasingly adopted for solving classically intractable problems across various domains. However, the availability of accessible and scalable software frameworks remains essential for practical experimentation and adoption. IBM's open-source quantum computing toolkit 'Qiskit' has become a key player in this space by offering tools for circuit design, simulation, hardware execution, and domain-specific applications. This survey provides a systematic review of how Qiskit has evolved and what it has contributed to several critical fields including cryptography and cybersecurity, image and signal processing, climate science and energy applications, and finance. We show how Qiskit facilitates hybrid classical-quantum workflows and enables the deployment of algorithms on physical quantum hardware through error mitigation and modular integration approaches. Our exploration covers several key applications, including quantum key distribution, climate simulation, and quantum-enhanced portfolio optimization, while providing practical insights into their implementation. This work also covers the framework's technical structure and current limitations associated with scalability and reproducibility. By bringing together developments that have been scattered across different areas, this work serves as a reference point for researchers and practitioners who want to understand or contribute to Qiskit-enabled quantum computing.