By Jeremy Cook
You’ve heard the hype. Quantum computing will provide the computer to make all previous computers obsolete, cure diseases, and end encryption. Should we be thrilled or terrified? This article will present the basics of this staggering technology, its practical applications, its limitations, and how it could indeed compromise the future of information security.
What is quantum computing?
Quantum computing, as defined by IBM, “is a rapidly emerging technology that harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems too complex for classical computers.” While classic (i.e., transistor-based) computing technology relies on 1s and 0s for decision-making, quantum computers use quantum bits or “qubits” as their basic informational unit instead. Each qubit can handle much more information than the on/off dichotomy of a transistor. Qubits interact with each other via a process known as entanglement, allowing quantum computers to become exponentially more powerful with the addition of each additional qubit.
Per this exponential behavior, consider that a computational device consisting of 20 transistor-based bits (1s/0s) is 20 times as capable as one bit by itself (relatively minuscule computationally), while 20 quantum bits would be 2^20 (or roughly 1 million) times as capable as one qubit. To put things another way, ten entangled qubits are the equivalent of 16,000 traditional bits, while 500 entangled qubits can store more values than there are atoms in the known universe.
Truly understanding this technology is a staggering task. However, with that abbreviated intro, let’s consider the potential applications and implications of quantum computing.
Applications of quantum computing
In the 1980s, physicist Richard Feynman had the idea to use quantum processing to model quantum physics, giving birth to both the quantum computer concept and its first theoretical application. As it turns out, quantum computing, using entangled qubits, is a fantastic tool for rote mathematical calculations, allowing this new computing paradigm to crank out (or perhaps position the crank at all points simultaneously) answers to problems that would have otherwise been unsolvable.
Potential practical applications of quantum computing include cryptography (explored further in the next section) and finding answers to medical dilemmas that have previously been difficult or impossible to solve. Consider the Folding at Home distributed computational setup employed during the height of COVID-19, where massive resources were brought to bear to help develop new treatments. A quantum computer could make short work of such calculations if successfully applied to such a task.
Quantum computers can also be used to analyze massive genomic datasets, helping doctors personalize treatment plans for various diseases.
Of course, as with any new technology, once you have the proverbial hammer, people will soon figure out more things that can be nailed. One of quantum computing’s limitations today is that classic computing has many decades of knowledge and software tools at its disposal to create solutions for problems x, y, and z. Our collective quantum computing knowledge and toolset are much more limited, meaning that while applications may be possible, making them happen (and happen reliably—errors are still a problem) is a challenge.
At the same time, advances in AI—potentially paired with quantum computing—can help us overcome these programming barriers. Quantum computing isn’t a far-off tech like fusion. It is a working technology right now. You can even interact with a quantum computer through IBM’s rent-a-quantum service. Think of it as a quantum cloud computing analog to mainframes of old (i.e., a quantum cloud solution, where your transistor-computer interacts with a central quantum hub, returning results as produced).
Quantum security
Breaking strong (e.g., 256-bit) encryption using today’s most advanced computing technology could take billions of years. Quantum computing, however, if properly set to the task, could break such encryption in a much shorter time, devaluing today’s security procedures. Run an encrypted file through a quantum algorithm, and the secrets inside are cracked and readily available.
This problem is more widespread than, say, cracking a spy’s secret document trove. Consider that web traffic is normally secured through public key encryption, allowing your computer and a server to send information back and forth without others listening in. Break the encryption, and all this information—banking information, health records, your cat pictures—is available for viewing. The underlying infrastructure of the web would become far less secure.
Also consider that data stored today could possibly be decrypted later. This gives rise to a theoretical Harvest Now, Decrypt Later attack, where data is simply intercepted and stored until it can be cracked. State actors cracking such security may receive information on 20-year-old weapons systems and retired spies, or decryption technology could come much sooner, or even be available (and secret) right now.
The (hopefully) good news is that organizations are at work on cryptographic-resistant algorithms that can stand up to quantum computing decryption methodologies. This doesn’t fix the problem with encrypted data that has already been nefariously intercepted and stored for later use, but you can at least mitigate this potential issue going forward. Of course, as we establish quantum cyber security encryption protocols, one must wonder if it’s protected from whatever comes next. Perhaps crypto-agility, and simply never being satisfied with your current level of protection, should be the overarching theme of any secure operation.
The future of quantum computing: a brave new world… that we’ll understand eventually?
Quantum computing can baffle even the most experienced engineers. That’s not to mention quantum teleportation, which allows information to be shared among two entangled qubits over many miles/kilometers (which, disappointingly, doesn’t mean faster-than-light communications). The whole concept can seem mystical.
The learning curve to obtain a fundamental understanding of this technology represents an enormous barrier to the widespread use of quantum computing. On the other hand, as mentioned in an October 2023 Wall Street Journal article, consider that the steam engine was invented long before we understood thermodynamics. It also wasn’t applied to a locomotive until a century after that.
Could quantum computing, or the combination of AI and quantum computing, follow a similar path, perhaps using its computational tools for continuous improvement and even to educate us mere humans? Or maybe such computation will continue to improve itself beyond what we can reasonably fathom. Such a future could be fantastic or dystopian, depending on which sci-fi future you choose to believe.
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