Microsoft announces Majorana 2 quantum chip targeting 2029 launch; Reid Hoffman to exit board

Microsoft has announced its Majorana 2 quantum chip, targeting a scalable quantum computer by 2029 with improved qubit reliability. Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder, plans to exit Microsoft's board; the company stated the move is not linked to any disagreement.

Majorana 2 positions Microsoft to pursue new computing capabilities that could affect future cloud, AI and security offerings if the technology reaches scale. The quantum initiative sits alongside Microsoft's existing cloud, productivity software and AI services as part of its longer-term computing roadmap.

At US$416.67, Microsoft stock trades about 26% below the US$560.95 consensus analyst target. The shares are flagged as undervalued, trading about 25.3% below the current Fair Value estimate. Significant insider selling over the past 3 months and Hoffman's exit are flagged as items to monitor alongside these high-ambition projects.