# Quantum Computing "Arms" Race: Global Competition and Developments

## Executive Summary

Quantum computing has transitioned from science fiction to a rapidly advancing field with significant global competition.

This report examines the current landscape of quantum computing development, highlighting leading companies and countries, recent successes, lessons learned, and major investments worldwide.

The quantum computing race is not just about technological advancement but also about establishing geopolitical advantage in this transformative field.

## Leading Companies in Quantum Computing

Several major technology companies and startups are at the forefront of quantum computing development:

1.

**IBM and Microsoft**: These tech giants are actively developing quantum computing technologies and have formed educational alliances, such as their partnership with Trinity College Dublin to develop quantum computing skills.

**Rigetti**: This company has achieved significant milestones, including launching the world's first scalable multi-chip quantum processor in June 2021.

With a proprietary modular architecture, Rigetti collaborates with government entities including NASA and the U.

S.

Department of Energy, as well as industry partners like Palantir Technologies and Keysight Technologies.

**Google, Intel, and D-Wave**: These companies are heavily investing in quantum capabilities and exploring different approaches to quantum computing.

**Cambridge Quantum**: This company developed the world's first toolkit and library for quantum natural language processing, enabling sentences to be converted into quantum circuits.

**Horizon Quantum Computing**: A Singapore-based quantum tech company that has expanded internationally, including into Ireland.

## Leading Countries in Quantum Computing

The global quantum computing race is primarily led by:

1.

**United States**: Considered to maintain an edge in quantum computing, with strong collaboration between government, industry, and academia.

Leading institutions include the University of Chicago and MIT, which are making significant quantum developments.

**China**: A major competitor in the quantum space, with researchers claiming breakthroughs such as using a quantum computer to break RSA encryption (though unproven) and setting a new quantum secure direct communication world record of 102.

2 km.

China is estimated to be investing billions in quantum research.

**Japan**: Recently entered the global quantum computing race with plans to deploy its first domestically produced quantum computer by March 2023.

The government aims to reach 10 million quantum technology users by 2030.

**European Countries**: Including Ireland, which has formed quantum computing alliances with industry players, and the UK, which has provided significant funding for quantum technology development.

## Recent Successes in Quantum Computing

The field has seen several notable achievements:

- **Rigetti's Multi-Chip Quantum Processor**: Launched in June 2021, this represents a significant step toward scalable quantum computing.

- **China's Quantum Communication Record**: Chinese researchers achieved a quantum secure direct communication distance of 102.

2 km, dramatically surpassing the previous record of 18 km.

- **Chicago Quantum Network**: The University of Chicago connected the city and suburban labs with a quantum network, creating one of the nation's first publicly-available testbeds for quantum security technology.

- **Quantum Natural Language Processing**: Cambridge Quantum's development of tools to convert language into quantum circuits opens new applications for the technology.

## Lessons Learned in Quantum Computing Development

Several key insights have emerged from quantum computing development:

1.

**Complexity and Expertise**: Quantum computing requires highly specialized knowledge, typically at postgraduate level.

Even academics in the field face significant challenges.

**National Security Implications**: Quantum computers could potentially break encryption that protects modern communications, raising significant security concerns.

Countries are already engaging in "harvest now, decrypt later" strategies.

**Multiple Approaches**: Various quantum computing approaches exist (superconducting qubits, ion chains, etc.

), each with different advantages and challenges.

This diversity creates both opportunities and complications for regulation and standardization.

**Early Stage Development**: Despite progress, quantum computing is still in its early stages, with current systems having limited processing power and being prone to errors.

**Collaboration Importance**: Partnerships between academia, industry, and government are crucial for advancement, as demonstrated by successful alliances in multiple countries.

## Countries Investing Heavily in Quantum Computing

Significant national investments include:

1.

**China**: Estimated to be investing billions across all areas of quantum research, with clear strategic goals to lead the field.

**United States**: Substantial government and industry investment, with strategic partnerships between federal agencies (NASA, Department of Energy) and private companies.

**Japan**: Government strategy with specific targets, including deploying domestic quantum computers and creating 10 million quantum technology users by 2030.

**United Kingdom**: Provided a £6.

5 million government innovation grant for developing advanced cryogenic semiconductor IP to accelerate quantum computing growth.

**European Union**: Growing investment across member states, with specific initiatives in countries like Ireland.

## Market Outlook

The quantum computing market is projected to grow dramatically, from approximately $412 million in 2020 to more than $8.

5 billion by 2027, representing a compound annual growth rate of about 50%.

Job postings in the field increased by 12% between 2021 and 2022, with $2 billion in equity investments made through 2022.

## Conclusion

The quantum computing "arms race" represents a new frontier of technological competition with significant implications for economic and national security.

While the United States and China are currently leading, countries like Japan and those in Europe are making strategic investments to establish their positions in this critical field.

As the technology continues to develop, collaboration between academia and industry, along with continued government support, will be essential for advancement.

For students at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, this represents both a challenging and exciting field with growing career opportunities across multiple sectors including aerospace, defense, finance, pharmaceuticals, and information technology.

# Quantum Computing "Arms" Race: Global Competition and Developments

## Executive Summary

Quantum computing has transitioned from science fiction to a rapidly advancing field with significant global competition.

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

Quantum Tech Needed To Secure Critical Data From Quantum Decryption

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.
Press play to listen to this article!

In 2021, Booz Allen Hamilton analysts surmised that China will surpass Europe and the US in quantum-related research and development and that Chinese hackers could soon target heavily encrypted datasets such as weapon designs or details of undercover intelligence officers with a view to unlocking them at a later date when quantum computing makes decryption possible.

In the report titled “Chinese threats in the quantum era”, BAH said “encrypted data with intelligence longevity, like biometric markers, covert intelligence officer and source identities, social security numbers, and weapons’ designs, may be increasingly stolen under the expectation that they can eventually be decrypted,” the report says. It says “state-aligned cyber threat actors” will start to steal or intercept previously unusable encrypted data. Chinese could hack data for future quantum decryption, report warns | Hacking | The Guardian

In fact, as reported earlier this month by the Financial Times, Chinese researchers are claiming that they have used a quantum computer to break RSA encryption, which if true, would be years ahead of expectations. Though the Chinese claims have yet to be proven (if ever), it underscores that there is a significant amount of work going on quantum research to achieve that goal and that current estimates of when anyone may break RSA encryption may be more hopeful than reality based. *Financial Times January 4, 2023

Recently, Tim Callan, a chief experience officer at cybersecurity company Sectigo, told DailyMail.com that quantum computers — which already exist could one day 'make the encryption we use today no longer fit for purpose'. He noted that “The evolution of quantum computers creates a significant threat to data security, and their immense processing power is capable of breaking encryption at great speed, leaving important data vulnerable, everything from bank account details to medical records to state secrets.” He said that 'this scenario is so alarming that specialists refer to it as the "Quantum Apocalypse.” The Quantum Apocalypse is 'just YEARS away', experts say | Daily Mail Online

The event has also been referred to as Q-Day by quantum researchers where large-scale quantum computers will be able to use Shor's algorithm to break all public key systems that employ integer factorization-based (and other) cryptography.

The urgency of a Q-Day or Quantum Apocalypse was a subject of a lecture of mine for The Economist conference, “A look into Commercialising Quantum 2022 in London”. There is little doubt that quantum computers will be able to perform faster and more precise computations than classical computers and could pose geo-military threats if in the wrong hands. And that the same computing power that allows complex problems to be solved can, in turn, be applied to undermine cybersecurity. This is because current cybersecurity protocols typically use pseudo-random numbers to encrypt sensitive information such as passwords, personal data, and quantum computers can crack the methods traditional computers use to generate random numbers, posing a significant threat to any organization using standard encryption tools.

FtChinese researchers claim to find way to break encryption using quantum computers

This month, the IBM Institute for Business Value issued report titled Security in the Quantum Era” The report examines the reality of quantum risk and the need for “enterprise adoption of quantum-safe capabilities to safeguard the integrity of critical applications and infrastructure as the risk of decryption increases.”

The IBM report states that quantum computing poses an “existential risk” to classical computer encryption protocols, and notes that cybercriminals are potentially already exfiltrating encrypted data with the intention of decrypting it once quantum computers advance as part of “harvest now, decrypt layer attacks.” IBM: Quantum computing poses an ‘existential threat’ to data encryption | VentureBeat

My personal advice, in view of the recognition of the decryption threat, is to get ready now because quantum computing will be here soon enough, and it is time for businesses, organizations and governments to protect their data for that inevitability. The good news is that we do not have to wait for technological solutions to be developed as quantum tech can battle quantum threats and there are already capabilities on the market for defense. Also, for more on quantum technologies, please see my article in FORBES: “The Quantum Era Is Arriving, And It Will Be Transformational! The Quantum Era Is Arriving, And It Will Be Transformational ! (forbes.com)

One company called Quantum Computing Inc. (QCI) (NASDAQ:QUBT), is ahead of the game and operates a full-stack quantum solutions company that is on a mission to accelerate the delivery quantum information processing hardware systems with both performance and cybersecurity benefits. With their existing quantum photonics technology offerings, it is already feasible for the company to replace classical type computing with entropy quantum computing to strengthen key sources for any cryptographic task. About Us | Quantum Computing Inc.

Quantum Computing Inc uses a Quantum Photonic System (QPS) to leverage pure, non-linear, optical properties to create a core quantum photonics technology that can be deployed at room temperature, in ordinary server room type environments. Their QPS methods and systems already have demonstrated the ability to deliver high precision computations in solving complex business optimization problems, powerful single-photon measurements in remote sensing applications such as Lidar and they have demonstrated 3-D quantum imaging capabilities using visible and near infrared, eye-safe radiation.

QCI’s Entropy Quantum Computer (EQC) system is specifically focused in addressing real-world optimization problems at a scale (11,000 Qubits) with full connectivity between variables (high density). Today, this sits in comparison with the more typical small-scale problems using limited connectivity among qubits that alternative quantum systems use to showcase their technologies. Bottom line is that today, the EQC provides results that will allow industries to scale faster as this new quantum photonic technology continues to advance.

Moreover, their entropy quantum computer operates at low power levels (< 80 Watts) and is a small compact design to fit in rack mounted or table-top configurations – offering very low SWAPc specifications (Size, Weight, Power and Cost). no quantum experts to calibrate and keep it running.

The CEO of Quantum Computing Inc , Robert Liscouski says that this same Quantum Photonic technology “can also be leveraged to provide Quantum Encryption + Quantum Authentication on the same platform and is a full solution to replace public-private key cryptography that is vulnerable to evolving quantum threats.” QCI’s patent on Quantum Private Communication methodology addresses the concerns of key distribution approaches with trusted third-party authentication / validation and provides a pure hardware alternative approach involving no mathematics or algorithms or pseudo random numbers. Patented approaches using entangled photons and correlated true quantum random numbers generated from the quantum entropy source are combined in a methodology that ensures ONLY intended recipients of information are properly authenticated in a trustless system approach.

Mr. Liscouski notes that the threat to public key cryptography, if it is broken by Shor’s algorithm, could leave critical infrastructure, financial & banking systems, healthcare, and transportation all vulnerable to attack. With QPS, that threat is mitigated both on current classical or from near-term quantum systems with the company’s existing technologies such as its quantum random number generator, and a new photonic physically unclonable function chip that provides a unique authentication “quantum fingerprint” for the user.

This quantum photonic platform is welcomed as the West is amid a “Quantum Computing Supremacy Race” especially with China that can exponentially change the geo-political balance of the world.

China has recently announced some eye-opening milestones on their quantum communications capabilities and Chinese researchers announced last year that they set a new quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) world record of 102.2 km (64 miles), smashing the previous mark of 18 km (11 miles). Researchers break world record for quantum-encrypted communications (engadget.com) The Chinese are heavily investing (estimated to be the many $billions) in all areas of quantum research and are demonstrating results.

Investment is also growing in quantum in the US and in Europe and with Asian allies. The Japanese government recently announced that intends to enter the global quantum computing race by putting its first domestically produced quantum computer into service within the current fiscal year ending March 2023. “The government strategy aims to reach 10 million quantum technology users in Japan by 2030 and to create an environment where it can be used in such varied fields as medicine, banking and new materials development.” Tokyo proposes first domestic quantum computer use by March 2023 | The Japan Times

The U.S. Government, including NSA, DOD, DHS, NIST have been preparing for a potential Q-Day by requiring new quantum proof standards for algorithms. “NSA views quantum-resistant (or post-quantum) cryptography as a more cost effective and easily maintained solution than quantum key distribution. For all these reasons, NSA does not support the usage of QKD or QC to protect communications in National Security Systems and does not anticipate certifying or approving any QKD or QC security products for usage by NSS customers. This is a perfect time and opportunity for QCI’s Quantum Private Communication Network and other post quantum technology applications to be to tested and deployed in the Zero-trust environment. National Security Agency/Central Security Service > Cybersecurity > Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Quantum Cryptography QC (nsa.gov)

Stopping the threat of adversaries decrypting valuable data extracted from networks, agencies, data centers, and companies, by adversaries has also become a legislative priority. In December of 2022 Congress, passed the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act into law. The legislation, directs the Office of Management and Budget “to prioritize the migration of federal information technology systems to post-quantum cryptography and come up with guidance for the federal assessment of critical systems based on the standards that the National Institute of Standards and Technology will issue for post-quantum cryptography.” This is a great step as it mandates forward thinking about our quantum era and the security implications of not being prepared.

Governments are not the only players. Industry, including Intel, Google, IBM, D-Wave, and others are very active in investments in quantum capabilities and approaches. Academia is also getting more involved in quantum. In an important development, scientists with the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering announced that they’ve connected the city of Chicago and suburban labs with a quantum network. The Chicago network will be opened to academia and industry as one of the nation’s first publicly-available testbeds for quantum security technology. Chicago expands and activates quantum network, taking steps toward a secure quantum internet | Chicago Quantum Exchange

The University of Chicago and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are two leading universities to follow for more on quantum developments. Also, for researchers, The Quantum Security Alliance and IEEE Quantum are two good resources that bring academia, industry, and US government entities together to identify, define, collaborate on quantum computing technology innovations. Welcome to Quantum Security Alliance About - IEEE Quantum

Certainly, quantum technology, especially quantum computing, has amazing potential that could revolutionize everything from communications, real-time data analytics, bio tech, genomic sequencing, and materials sciences. Quantum computing will also accelerate us into the future by impacting the landscape of artificial intelligence and the Metaverse. But with the good, we have to plan and prevent the bad, most critically data which is the lifeblood of economies and commerce. Starting now, a quantum proof cybersecurity path is an important one to follow.

Chuck Brooks is President of Brooks Consulting International, is a globally recognized thought leader and subject matter expert Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies. Chuck is also an Adjunct Faculty at Georgetown University’s Graduate Applied Intelligence Program and the Graduate Cybersecurity Risk Management Programs. Cyber Express named Chuck “Cybersecurity Person of the Year” for 2022. LinkedIn named Chuck as one of “The Top 5 Tech People to Follow on LinkedIn.” He was named as one of the world’s “10 Best Cyber Security and Technology Experts” by Best Rated. He is also a Cybersecurity Expert for “The Network” at the Washington Post, Visiting Editor at Homeland Security Today, Expert for Executive Mosaic/GovCon, and a Contributor to FORBES.  Chuck has an MA from the University of Chicago, and a BA from DePauw University.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedInCheck out my website

Title:

Content: Computing

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

China Delivers Its First Practical Quantum Computer System to a Customer

China’s Science Ministry on Monday announced that the country’s first practical quantum computer was delivered to a user, which the agency didn’t identify, a year ago.

The 24-qubit Wuyan system based on superconducting technology was built by Origin Quantum Computing Technology, a company founded in 2017 by two of the country’s leading quantum physicists, Guo Guoping and Guo Guangcan. A qubit in the quantum world performs functions akin to bits in the digital world.

With the on-premises installation of the Wuyan system, China became the third country, after Canada and the United States, to deliver a complete quantum computer system to a customer.

Some skeptics questioned the timing of the announcement.

“Quantum technology has a high priority for national security in China. If this were something very important, I doubt it would be disclosed like this in a transparent way by Chinese authorities,” explained Weifeng Zhong, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

“The fact that it was delayed for a year suggests that they realize now that it’s not important to national security, so they’re trying to use it to build China’s image as a technology leader at a time when they’re trying to open up their economy to the rest of the world,” Zhong told TechNewsWorld.

Important Step

However, Hodan Omaar, a senior AI policy analyst at the Center for Data Innovation, a think tank studying the intersection of data, technology, and public policy, in Washington, D.C., maintained the announcement shows that China has made an important step in its quantum development.

“Overcoming technical challenges on the path toward large-scale quantum computers will depend on the ability to scale the number of qubits in quantum systems, much like modern classical computers have depended on the growth in the number of transistors in superconducting chips,” Omaar told TechNewsWorld.

“Investing in near-term quantum computing applications helps bolster the development of longer-term use cases of the technology, thereby helping to improve competitiveness,” she added.

Skip Sanzeri, co-founder and COO of QuSecure, a maker of quantum-safe security solutions in San Mateo, Calif., called the announcement “formidable” because China is stating that they have a fully functional quantum computer, albeit the qubit count is low.

“Nonetheless, error correction and noise reduction are two significant factors in ensuring that a quantum computer can process data and provide applications that we can rely on,” Sanzeri told TechNewsWorld. “By announcing that they have been able to get to this level shows that China is making progress towards larger quantum computers.”

Bucking a Trend

The Wuyan system appears to be on par with other systems in the market, noted Heather West, a senior research analyst at IDC’, an international market research company.

“The fact that they sold a 24 qubit system to someone isn’t that different from what we’re seeing elsewhere around the world,” West told TechNewsWorld.

Delivering a standalone system like the Wuyan is actually bucking the current trend in the market.

“Most quantum computers that people are accessing today are accessed through the cloud,” explained Doug Finke, an analyst with Global Quantum Intelligence, an international market intelligence firm.

“This Wuyan computer is being delivered to a customer in an on-premise situation,” Finke told TechNewsWorld. “On-premise has a lot of disadvantages. You have to worry about maintenance. You have to worry about spare parts. You have to worry about calibration.”

“In addition,” he continued, “quantum computing innovation is so fast that they become obsolete in about two years. So few people want an on-premise quantum computer. They’re much more comfortable with the cloud.”

Superconducting Challenges

The Wuyan system is built using superconducting chip technology, one of the earliest technologies for quantum computers. Since its introduction, other technologies have been explored. They include photonics, trapped ions, and neutral atoms.

“At the moment, no one knows which technology will be the winner or if there’ll be a combination of technologies that will combine for efficacious quantum applications,” Sanzeri said.

“Superconducting is very difficult,” he explained. “It requires near zero Kelvin refrigeration.”

“The electrons used in superconducting quantum computers are very hard to manage due to very short coherence times,” he continued. “That’s why they must be cooled to such a low temperature.”

Other methods are managing longer coherence times and a faster path to the desired goal of 1,000 error-corrected qubits, he added.

“The million-dollar question is what technology will win the race to the fault-tolerant quantum computer,” West said. “There might not be one winner. There might not be one system that comes out on top. It might be that certain kinds of systems are better than others at solving certain kinds of problems.”

Long View

Omaar countered that superconducting chips have a number of advantages over competing technologies.

“First, superconducting qubits are solid-state electrical circuits that are easier to control because they are manipulated using microwaves,” she said. “Scientists can therefore use easily accessible commercial microwave devices and equipment in superconducting quantum computing applications.”

“Second,” she continued, “because preparing superconducting circuits is based on the existing method for fabricating semiconductor chips, the development of high-quality devices can leverage advanced chip-making technologies, which is good for manufacturing and scalability.”

Despite developments like China’s Wuyan system, the arrival of a quantum computer that can tackle problems beyond the capacity of silicon computers appears to be years away.

“What quantum computers are going to be best for is solving complex, intractable problems beyond the scope of classical compute technology,” West said. “Those problems are years away from a quantum computer solving.”

“To get to that, we need at least a million qubits,” she continued. “That’s going to take a lot of work in scaling and stabilizing the qubits. Qubits are very sensitive to outside noise. As a result, the error rates are high in the technology we have.”

Despite the exuberance exhibited by many, we’re still in the early days of quantum computing, added Richard Stiennon, founder and chief research analyst at IT-Harvest, a cybersecurity industry analyst firm in Birmingham, Mich.

“There are many physical constraints on quantum computing that require precision in length of pathways — we are talking microns — and resistance to forces — footsteps can interfere with it. Supercooled chips just add to the complexity,” Stiennon told TechNewsWorld.

“I put it in the same realm as developing usable nuclear fusion as an energy source,” he said. “Hundreds of billions of dollars and decades to show a glimmer of progress.”

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.

More by John P. Mello Jr.
More in Computing

To earn your loyalty as a consumer, how important is it that a brand provides a personalized experience?
 Loading ...

Technewsworld Channels

Title:

Content: Who invented the first quantum computer?

Who invented the first quantum computer?

**The first quantum computer was invented by a group of researchers led by physicist Isaac Chuang and computer scientist Neil Gershenfeld in 1998.**

Quantum computing has undoubtedly revolutionized the world of technology and opened up new possibilities for solving complex problems. As this fascinating field continues to grow, many people wonder who can be credited with the invention of the very first quantum computer. Well, the answer lies with a group of brilliant scientists who pushed the boundaries of computation to a whole new level.

What were the key contributions of Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld?

Isaac Chuang, a physicist, and Neil Gershenfeld, a computer scientist, collaborated in the 1990s to create the first practical quantum computer using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques.

How did their quantum computer work?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s quantum computer utilized the principles of quantum mechanics, including quantum superposition and entanglement, to perform computations.

What breakthroughs did their quantum computer achieve?

Their quantum computer successfully executed Shor’s algorithm, which is capable of factoring large numbers exponentially faster than classical computers.

How did their invention impact the field of quantum computing?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention marked a significant milestone in the development of quantum computers, inspiring subsequent researchers to explore new approaches and technologies for building more scalable and efficient quantum systems.

What limitations did the first quantum computer face?

The first quantum computer faced several limitations, including a high error rate due to the susceptibility of the NMR-based technology to decoherence.

Did Chuang and Gershenfeld receive recognition for their achievement?

Yes, their groundbreaking work gained recognition, and they were awarded the prestigious Richard P. Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology in 2001.

Has quantum computing technology improved since then?

Absolutely! Since Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention, quantum computing has made tremendous strides with advancements in hardware design, quantum algorithms, error correction techniques, and the emergence of various quantum computing platforms.

Are there other researchers who significantly contributed to quantum computing?

Certainly! A multitude of researchers and scientists around the world has made notable contributions to the development of quantum computing, further expanding our understanding and capabilities in this field.

What are the potential applications of quantum computing?

Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including cryptography, drug discovery, optimization problems, material science, and artificial intelligence.

Are quantum computers currently commercially available?

Although quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, there are some commercially available quantum computers offered by companies like IBM, Google, and Honeywell.

How far are we from achieving quantum supremacy?

Quantum supremacy refers to a point where a quantum computer can perform a calculation that is infeasible for any classical computer. While there have been promising demonstrations, achieving true quantum supremacy at scale is still a significant endeavor.

What are the biggest challenges in quantum computing today?

Some of the significant challenges in quantum computing include quantum decoherence, error correction, scaling up the number of qubits, and improving hardware reliability.

In conclusion, Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld can be credited for inventing the first quantum computer in 1998, marking a pivotal moment in the history of computing. Their pioneering work has inspired countless researchers, leading to remarkable advancements in quantum computing technology. As we continue to unravel the potential of this exciting field, it is crucial to acknowledge the many researchers who have contributed to shaping the future of quantum computing.

Scroll to Top

Title:

Content: Alert
It will not be all DPP Lai Ching-te talking about the premier and the head of the ministry: there are already candidates to think about.
Previous articlePrevious post: The 4th Stage of Cancer Planned Funeral: Don ’ t Want to See These People
Taiwan stocks rose 124 points, the band high transaction value but hit a new low this year...
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
1994 was a turning point in quantum computing. The algorithm of the American mathematician Shue showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be an important early application of quantum computers.
According to Reuters, the world may celebrate “Q-day ” as soon as next year, by which time the current encryption methods will be useless before quantum computers.
In view of this, the United States and China are stealing and harvesting each other ’ s data on a large scale to decipher and intercept messages in the quantum future.
According to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report in May last year predicted that enterprises will profit from quantum computing as soon as next year; by about 2035, quantum data may bring users as much as $850 billion (about NT $26.8 trillion) in benefits, quantum technology will mature in that year.
Quantum computers are expected to be able to crack cryptographic codes in minutes, rather than the thousands of years it would take for traditional computers today.
Industry experts claim that North America is the center of quantum computing.
American companies build quantum processors including IBM, Amazon, Intel, Google, Quantinum, IonQ, Microsoft, QCI and Rigetti Computing.
As of the previous year, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada also had the largest number of startups in the industry, according to the McKinsey report.
As for China, Genyuan Quantum announced in January last year that it had delivered a fully homemade 24 qubit quantum computer to customers and expected to develop a 1024 qubit quantum computer next year. In November last year, Alibaba Group donated the quantum computing laboratory and related experimental equipment of its research institute, Damo Institute, to Zhejiang University.
Baidu also followed suit this month by donating a quantum computing lab and equipment to the Beijing Institute of Quantum Information Sciences, which is supported by the Chinese government.
Others include Guodun Quantum, Guoyi Quantum, Turing Quantum, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the country's top scientific and technological academic institution, each developing quantum computing technology.
However, under this 1 quantum trend, the major countries in the United States and China are preparing for the future, lest in the quantum future, far more powerful than the current fastest supercomputer, will be able to crack the password to protect almost all modern communications.
Tilo Kunz, vice president of QD5, a Canadian security company, said that according to the minutes of the meeting released by the US Defense Information Systems Agency, all countries have tried to steal data, that is, to carry out a "harvest now, decipher later" security attack.
The military will discover that its long history of planning and intelligence has caught the eye of the enemy, that corporate intelligence has been stolen, and that people ’ s health records will be revealed.
However, opinions differ on when the quantum day "big limit" will come.
Quantum computing is still in its early days, and only small quantum computers with limited processing power and error-prone capabilities have been built.
Some researchers estimate that Quantum Day may be approaching by the middle of the century.
No one knows who can get there first.
The United States and China are seen as leaders in the field, and many experts believe the United States still prevails.
Researchers believe that more important than breaking the decryption code, quantum computers use the mysterious properties of subatomic particles, which are expected to bring breakthroughs in science, weapons equipment and industry.
Beijing Information Security Quantum Computing Quantum Computer
Extended reading
US, Japan, and Australia air force combat "Against North 24" joint exercise begins in Guam in early February
US B-21 stealth bomber production and China's "big power competition" intensified
Ying / Tsai Ing-wen Visited the Results of the Quantum Computer Project, Hoping to Contribute to the World
Home Made Quantum Computer by Academia Sinica Tsai Ing-wen: Made in Taiwan is the pride of Taiwanese
Related News
The performance is not as expected … Musk named Tesla ’ s share in the Japanese market is too low 1 reason why it is difficult for him to achieve his wish.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that Tesla ’ s market share in Japan is too low, hoping to at least raise it to a level with other companies.
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
In 1994, the turning point of quantum computing, the American mathematician Shue's algorithm showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be a quantum computer.
Japan's Toyota to suspend shipments of 10 cars after diesel engine violations in certification test
Japan ’ s Toyota Motor announced today that it has decided to suspend shipments of 10 affected vehicles because the diesel engine produced by the group ’ s “Toyota Automatic Weaving ” violated the certification test process.
South Korean semiconductor technology leak brothers take over illegal export equipment to earn more than 80 million
A semiconductor cleaning equipment manufacturer in South Korea was prosecuted for illegally leaking related technology to the Chinese side, and one of the suspects even took over the company immediately after his brother was detained and prosecuted for the above reasons.
China 's latest rescue measures boost Asian shares to rise and fall
Asian stocks rose and fell today as the Chinese authorities' latest rescue measures boosted their gains.
International oil prices are rising again in the Middle East, and it is alleged that an attack by a rebel group backed by Iran killed three people.
Semiconductor technology leaks continue! South Korean investigators say technology is flowing to the mainland to reveal secret signals and other methods
South Korean media quoted intelligence agency investigators as saying that the illegal export of semiconductor technology criminals in addition to using code communication to avoid being tracked, their methods are changing day by day, using mergers and acquisitions.
Product recommendation
udn Forum

Title:

Content: Save Your Seat for Crypto Icon’s Insider Summit

On February 8, crypto legend Charlie Shrem will reveal a potential $100 trillion explosion in cryptocurrency — and his #1 way to play it.

Tue, February 8 at 7:00PM ET

7 Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in 2022

Quantum computing offers the potential to harness big data, make intricate predictions and use artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize business operations. Many industries such as automotive, agriculture, finance, healthcare, energy, logistics and space will be affected from the growth in this technology. As a result, Wall Street has been paying significant attention to quantum computing stocks.

Once considered science fiction, quantum computing has made significant progress in recent years to solve complex problems at lightning speed. This advanced technology uses the power of quantum mechanics to represent complex problems. These computers can take seconds to calculate equations that normally take days for machines that use a binary framework.

International Data Corporation forecasts that the global market for quantum computing should grow from about $412 million in 2020 to more than $8.5 billion in 2027. This increase would mean a  compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of an eye-popping 50% between now and 2027. Given such metrics, it’s understandable why investors are thrilled about the future of quantum computing stocks.

While it is currently in its early days, Wall Street has already warmed up to long-term prospects of this technology. Besides several pure-play quantum computing stocks going public in 2021, well-known tech names are pouring significant research dollars to invest in this advanced segment.

With that information, here are the seven best quantum computing stocks to buy in 2022:

  • Analog Devices (NASDAQ:ADI)
  • Defiance Quantum ETF (NYSEARCA:QTUM)
  • International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM)
  • IonQ (NYSE:IONQ)
  • Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)
  • Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA)
  • Supernova Partners Acquisition II (NYSE:SNII)

Quantum Computing Stocks: Analog Devices (ADI)

Source: Shutterstock

52-week range: $142.25 – $191.95

Dividend yield: 1.7%

Semiconductor group Analog Devices manufactures integrated circuits that process analog and digital signals. ADI’s chips are used in data converters, high-performance amplifiers and microwave-integrated circuits.

Analog Devices issued Q4 2021 metrics on Nov. 23. Revenue increased 53% year-over-year (YOY) to $2.34 billion. Adjusted earnings soared from $1.44 per share to $1.73 per share. The company generated a free cash flow of $810 million. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $1.98 billion.

Factory automation has fueled demand for sensors and machine connectivity, which increasingly rely on Analog’s chips. In addition, the automotive industry has also become a key growth driver due to the rising use of advanced electronics in electric vehicles (EVs).

In late August, the chipmaker completed the acquisition of Maxim Integrated. The billion transaction should increase ADI’s market share in automotive and 5G chipmaking.

ADI currently trades just under $160, up 7% over the past 12 months. Shares are trading at 21.5 times forward earnings and 8.9 times trailing sales. The 12-month median price forecast for Analog Devices stock stands at $210.

Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM)

Source: Maxx-Studio/ShutterStock.com

52-Week Range: $42.96 – $57.15

Expense Ratio: 0.40% per year

QTUM is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that focuses on the next generation of computing. It offers exposure to names leading the way in quantum computing, machine learning and cloud computing. The fund tracks the BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index.

QTUM, which started trading in September 2018, has 71 holdings. The top 10 holdings account for less than 20% of net assets of $161.5 million. Put another way, fund managers are not taking major bets on any company.

Among the leading holdings on the roster are the security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), French telecommunications operator Orange (NYSE:ORAN) and IBM.

For most retail investors, QTUM could potentially be a safe and diversified place to start investing in quantum computing. As portfolio companies come from a wide range of technology segments, wide swings in the price of one stock will not affect the ETF significantly.

The fund has gained 8.7% over the past year and saw an all-time high in November 2021. However, the recent selloff in tech stocks led to a 10.7% decline year-to-date (YTD). Interested readers could regard this decline as a good entry point into QTUM.

Quantum Computing Stocks: International Business Machines (IBM)

Source: shutterstock.com/LCV

52-week range: $113.17 – $146.12

Dividend Yield: 4.8%

Technology giant International Business Machines (IBM) needs little introduction. The legacy tech name offers integrated solutions and services, including infrastructure, software, information technology (IT) and hardware.

IBM announced Q4 2021 financials on Jan. 24. The company generated revenues of $16.7 billion, up 6.5% YOY. Net income stood at $2.33 billion, or $2.57 per diluted share, up from $1.36 billion, or $1.51 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $6.65 billion.

After the announcement, CEO Arvind Krishna said, “We increased revenue in the fourth quarter with hybrid cloud adoption driving growth in
software and consulting.”

The company launched its Quantum System One quantum computer in 2019. Around 150 research groups and partner companies currently use IBM’s quantum computing services. These names come from financial services businesses, automakers and energy suppliers.

In June 2021, IBM unveiled Europe’s most powerful quantum computer in Germany. Moreover, the tech giant recently announced a deal with Raytheon Technologies (NYSE:RTX) to provide quantum computing and AI services for the aerospace, defense and intelligence industries.

IBM currently changes hands around $137, up 20% over the past 12 months. Shares are trading at 13.5 times forward earnings and 2.2 times trailing sales. The 12-month median price forecast for IBM stock is $144.50. Interested readers could consider buying IBM shares around these levels.

IonQ (IONQ)

Source: Shutterstock

52-week range: $7.07 – $35.90

IonQ is one of the first publicly traded pure-play quantum computing stocks. It went public via a merger with the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) dMY Technology Group III in late 2021.

The quantum name released Q3 2021 results on Nov. 15. Its net loss was $14.8 million, or 12 cents loss per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $3.6 million a year ago. Cash and equivalents ended the quarter at $587 million. Wall Street was pleased that at the time, YTD contract bookings came in at $15.1 million.

IonQ is currently developing a network of quantum computers accessible from various cloud services. The technology uses ionized atoms that allow IonQ’s machines to perform complex calculations with fewer errors than any other quantum computer available.

The start-up has the financial backing of prominent investors, including Bill Gates and the Japanese telecommunications company Softbank Group (OTCMKTS:SFTBF). In addition, IonQ has been developing strategic partnerships with Microsoft, Amazon’s (NASDAQ:AMZN) Amazon Web Services and Alphabet’s (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google Cloud.

While IonQ is taking steps to become a commercialization-stage name, it is still a speculative investment. With its potential for explosive growth, it could be an attractive quantum computing stock for investors looking to take a risk.

IONQ stock hovers around $12. The recent selloff in tech stocks has led to a 26.7% decline YTD. Yet, the 12-month median price forecast for IONQ stock stands at $23.

Quantum Computing Stocks: Microsoft (MSFT)

Source: rafapress / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $224.26 – $349.67

Dividend Yield: 0.8%

Microsoft is one the largest and most prominent technology firms worldwide. It offers software products and services, including Azure cloud service, the Office 365 productivity suite and the customer relationship management (CRM) platform Dynamics 365.

Meanwhile, the Microsoft Quantum is “the world’s first full-stack, open cloud quantum computing ecosystem” that allows developers to create quantum applications and run them on multiple platforms. The software giant provides quantum computing services via the cloud on Azure.

Management announced robust Q2 FY22 metrics on Jan. 25. Revenue increased 20% YOY to $51.7 billion. Net income surged 21% YOY to $18.8 billion, or $2.48 per diluted share, compared to $15.5 billion, or $2.03 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $20.6 billion.

On Jan. 18, Microsoft announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI), a leading player in game and interactive entertainment development. It will be an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion. Wall Street expects this deal to provide tailwinds for Microsoft’s gaming business and building blocks for the metaverse.

MSFT stock currently trades just under $310, up 27% over the past 12 months. Shares support a valuation of 32.6 times forward earnings and 12.3 times trailing sales. And the 12-month median price forecast for Microsoft stock stands at $370.

Nvidia (NVDA)

Source: Antonio Baccardi / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $115.67 – $346.47

Dividend Yield: 0.06%

Santa Clara, California-based Nvidia has become an important name in advanced semiconductor design and software for next-generation computing development. InvestorPlace readers likely know the chipmaker is a market leader in the gaming and data center markets.

Nvidia announced impressive Q3 FY 2022 numbers on Nov. 17. Revenue soared 50% YOY to a record $7.1 billion, fueled by record sales in the gaming and data center businesses. Net income increased 62% YOY to $2.97 billion, or $1.17 per diluted share. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $1.29 billion.

The chipmaker provides the necessary processing power that drives the development of quantum computing. Additionally, Nvidia recently released cuQuantum, a software development kit designed for building quantum computing workflows. It has partnered with Google, IBM and other quantum computing players that rely on cuQuantum to accelerate their quantum computing work.

Given its growing addressable market in cloud computing, gaming, AI, and more recently the metaverse, NVDA stock deserves your attention. Share are changing hands around $245, up nearly 80% over the past year. However, despite an 18% decline YTD, shares are trading at 46.5 times forward earnings and 25 times trailing sales.

Finally, the 12-month median price forecast for Nvidia stock is $350. As the company gets ready to report earnings soon, investors should expect increased choppiness in price.

Quantum Computing Stocks: Supernova Partners Acquisition II (SNII)

Source: Dmitry Demidovich/ShutterStock.com

52-week range: $9.62 – $12.75

Our final stock is Supernova Partners Acquisition II, a SPAC. It is merging with Rigetti Computing, a start-up focused on quantum computer development. As a result of the merger, Rigetti Computing was valued at about $1.5 billion and received $458 million in gross cash proceeds.

Rigetti designs quantum chips and then integrates those chips with a controlling architecture. It also develops software used to build algorithms for these chips.

Rigetti recently announced business highlights for the nine months ended Oct. 31, 2021. Revenue came in at $6.9 million. Net operating loss declined 3% YOY to $26.2 million.

“We believe the time for quantum computing has arrived,” said founder and CEO Chad Rigetti. “Customer demand is increasing as Rigetti quantum computers begin to address high-impact computational problems.”

The start-up launched the world’s first scalable multi-chip quantum processor in June 2021. This processor boasts a proprietary modular architecture. Now Wall Street expects the company to move toward commercialization.

Rigetti collaborates with government entities and technology to advance its quantum processors. For instance, it boasts strategic partnerships with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. It also works with data analytics firm Palantir Technologies (NYSE:PLTR) and electronics manufacturer Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS).

SNII stock is currently shy of $10, down about 4% YTD. As investors’ interest in quantum computing names grow, shares are likely to become hot.

On the date of publication, Tezcan Gecgil holds both long and short positions in NVDA stock. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

Tezcan Gecgil has worked in investment management for over two decades in the U.S. and U.K. In addition to formal higher education in the field, she has also completed all 3 levels of the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) examination. Her passion is for options trading based on technical analysis of fundamentally strong companies. She especially enjoys setting up weekly covered calls for income generation.

Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2022/02/7-best-quantum-computing-stocks-to-buy-in-2022/.

©2022 InvestorPlace Media, LLC

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

This report examines the current landscape of quantum computing development, highlighting leading companies and countries, recent successes, lessons learned, and major investments worldwide.

Title:

Content: embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT - Embedded.com

embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT

A roundup of this week’s embedded news includes embedded edge with Nitin podcast featuring a brand new GPU, quantum computing developments and IoT for smart buildings, plus usual product news including automotive, tools and software.

In our latest embedded edge with Nitin podcast, we have highlighted a new GPU, developments in quantum computing, and IoT for smart buildings. In the show, Andrew Girdler of Imagination Technologies told us about the company’s new flagship GPU that brings desktop-quality ray tracing to mobile for the first time and is industry’s first Level 4 RTLS ray tracing architecture. He said, “It’s the most advanced ray tracing architecture out there today, giving you the ability to enable advanced ray trace gaming effects, in a low power budget in a mobile phone device.” Listen to the full interview on the podcast.

I also spoke to two companies looking to help democratize quantum computing with the work they are doing. First, Bob Coecke of Cambridge Quantum took us into the background to the company’s launch of the world’s first toolkit and library for quantum natural language processing, which allows sentences to be converted into a quantum circuit. Then I spoke to Pauls Wells of sureCore, who’s leading a seven-member consortium that has received a UK£6.5 million government innovation grant to jointly develop advanced cryogenic semiconductor IP; this is intended to dramatically accelerate the growth of the quantum computing industry by reducing the constrains associated with interconnects thus enabling efficient qubit/system scaling.

Finally, the podcast features an interview with Bruno Johnson of Cascoda, who talks about his company’s module recently certified for the OCF running over Thread network protocol – this is said to be a true internet protocol-based connectivity solution that is extremely low power that provides IP connectivity right down to the end node and with the Open Connectivity Foundation secure PKI X 509 grade security for end-to-end encryption. This gives smart building and building automation “banking grade security” for IoT devices.

We’ve been attending various events in person over recent weeks, and next week you can catch us at the CW International Conference. The agenda for this year’s event is somewhat topical, especially given that we also had the COP26 global UN climate chance conference this week. The CW conference will consider the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximize wireless’ potential to improve the future, including the reduction of wireless’ environmental impact.

News & Products

SensiML Corporation, a developer of AI tools for building intelligent IoT endpoints, has teamed with onsemi to deliver a complete machine learning solution for autonomous sensor data processing and predictive modeling. The collaboration combines SensiML’s analytics toolkit development software with the RSL10 sensor development kit from onsemi to create a platform for edge sensing applications such as industrial process control and monitoring. The ability to support AI functions in a small memory footprint along with advanced sensing and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity enables sophisticated smart sensing without the need for cloud analytics of highly dynamic raw sensor data.

Allegro MicroSystems has expanded its automotive lighting portfolio to include two new offerings for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) applications. The A80803 is a switch-mode, constant-current controller for high-power LED automotive lighting applications that addresses many common pain points for headlight designers to help bring advanced functionality to mainstream vehicles. The A80804 is Allegro’s first four-channel linear driver for high-power LEDs. In addition to targeted applications such as DRL/position and stop/taillights, it gives lighting designers increased design flexibility for popular features such as sequential turn signals, animation effects, and theater-style transitions.

[insert image]

Tata Elxsi and Green Hills Software are working together on a driver monitoring system (DMS) platform that combines advanced DMS software (V.O.E.O.S.Y.S – vehicle operator environment observation system) and AUTOSAR adaptive from Tata Elxsi integrated with the safe and secure INTEGRITY real-time operating system (RTOS) from Green Hills Software, optimized to run on the latest families of automotive-grade microprocessors. This flexible and standards-based DMS platform enables OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to reduce the time, cost, and complexity of developing and deploying their DMS-compliant ADAS systems while meeting mandatory global safety and security requirements.

Infineon Technologies has joined the FiRa Consortium as a contributor member to support the expansion of the UWB ecosystem. The company’s VP digital security & identity, Bjoern Scharfen, said “UWB has a great potential to enhance Infineon’s offering in security, connectivity and computing. With this, the technology fully supports our vision of linking the real and digital world.” With the acquisition of Cypress in 2020, Infineon said it acquired significant expertise in connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) as well as in microcontrollers.

Wireless Telecom Group said that SmartSky Networks has selected the CommAgility high-performance telecommunications systems software and tools for its next-generation air-to-ground (ATG) network. Deployed in SmartSky’s inflight connectivity, CommAgility is providing a full protocol stack and physical layer (PHY) for SmartSky’s aircraft base radio (ABR), which is the user equipment (UE) on board the aircraft. The ABR connects to a ground base station and provides broadband inflight connectivity for the operational needs of the aircraft, passengers, and crew. SmartSky’s patented beamforming and spectrum re-use technologies have been tested and proven, and the network is now rolling out across the USA for aviation operators and passengers.

MicroAI has announced MicroAI Launchpad, a quick start development and deployment tool that helps organizations simplify and accelerate the design, development, testing, and deployment of smart systems that run embedded MicroAI software on MCUs and microprocessors (MPUs) in edge and endpoint devices. Launchpad makes it simple to handle customers with SIMs around the world and manage and reconfigure device profiles. A single pane of glass gives access to customizable dashboards for account creation, authentication, mobile SIM or LoRaWAN connectivity activation, credit card billing for global SIM connectivity, and onboarding of MicroAI’s embedded software libraries. Its embedded software, AtomML, enables OEMs to deploy personalized, edge-native AI models, without needing to develop static edge-AI models first in a cloud or laptop and then port them to the embedded device.

IAR Systems said that its latest version of IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm adds support for the Arm Cortex-M55 processor. In addition, version 9.20 of the toolchain includes support for the latest MCUs from several semiconductor vendors. The toolchain delivers optimization capabilities to assist developers in getting the most out of the performance of the MCU and yet stay as energy efficient as possible. To ensure code quality, code analysis tools are completely integrated with IAR Embedded Workbench.

Teledyne Test Tools has launched the T3DSO3000, a new series of premium economy oscilloscopes, which feature four channel models with analog bandwidth options from 200 MHz to 1 GHz. Each model offers a maximum sample rate of 5 GSa/s, and a maximum memory depth of 250 Mpts in half channel mode. All models incorporate two 5 GSa/s ADCs and two 250 Mpts memory modules. The oscilloscopes employ a new generation of high-speed display technology for excellent signal clarity, fidelity and performance. The series comes with a minimum vertical input range of 500 μV/div, an innovative digital trigger system with high sensitivity, low jitter, and a waveform capture rate of 500,000 waveforms/sec (sequence mode).

Kontron has launched the 3.5-inch SBC-R39, a compact 3.5-inch single-board computer suitable for integration into (open source) embedded systems in entertainment, digital signage, facial recognition, smart retail, smart classroom, smart office and industrial applications. The 3.5-inch SBC-R39 is built on a Rockchip RK3399(K) processor with ARM big.LITTLE microarchitecture. This includes two processors embedded in a single, fully integrated silicon chip. The LITTLE cluster consists of a quad-core Cortex A53 processor, which is typically used to perform routine tasks at low power consumption. The large cluster is a dual-core Cortex-A72 processor, which handles compute-intensive high-performance tasks. This architecture enables the SBC-R39 to dynamically assign tasks to the respective processor according to the performance requirement.

People and Funding

Velodyne Lidar announced the appointment of Theodore “Ted” L. Tewksbury, Ph.D. as chief executive officer, who joins after serving as CEO of Eta Compute. Prior to Eta Compute, Tewksbury, a technology executive with over 30 years’ leadership experience across public and private companies, held several chief executive and board positions, including Entropic Communications and Integrated Device Technology. He is an accomplished engineer, with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from MIT. He has held a variety of engineering and management positions in his career, including introducing over 180 innovative new product families during his time at Maxim Integrated Products.

Events

The CW International Conference (CWIC), one of the key annual events for the wireless industry in the U.K., is back both as a physical live event at IWM Duxford, Europe’s largest air museum, as well being available online. Taking place on 9th November 2021, this year’s theme considers the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximise wireless’ potential to improve the future. Full agenda and details are here.

Nvidia GTC takes place online from 8-11 November 2021, which will include a live-streamed keynote by Jensen Huang, plus talks from AI research and industry leaders on deep learning, data science, high-performance computing, robotics, data center/networking and graphics. Speakers include Fei-Fei Li, professor of computer science, Stanford University, Lindsay Edwards, responsible for AI at in respiratory and immunology, AstraZeneca, and Kay Firth-Butterfield, head of AI and ML, World Economic Forum. Details here.

The 58th DAC (Design Automation Conference) is takes place both physically in San Francisco and virtually between 5-10 December 2021. Keynote speakers include Jeff Dean of Google Research and Google Health, Bill Dally of Nvidia, and Missy Cummings of Duke University. For the first, DAC attendees will also have access to SEMICON West and the RISC-V Summit. Details here.

Title:

Content: NEWS
Investors named the ten most promising areas in DeepTech
NEWS
Anastasia Maryina
Head of RB.ru news department
Anastasia Maryina
The Phystech Ventures Foundation presented an analytical review of Deeptech Outlook 2021, according to which investments in DeepTech showed a fourfold increase between 2016 and 2020.
Over the past year, more than $60 billion has been invested in the industry in the world.
Investors named the ten most promising areas in DeepTech
The fund ’ s investors also identified ten of the most promising technological areas in 2021:
• artificial intelligence and machine learning,
• quantum technologies,
• Cybersecurity,
• genetics and bioinformatics,
• neurobiology,
• energy,
• mobility,
• Space technology,
• foodtech,
• Agrotech.
“A number of deeptech segments are on the verge of big changes.
In 2021, we witnessed the first editing of the human genome, with the result that the capitalization of biotechnology companies Intellia and CRISPR Therapeutics exceeded $10 billion.
PsiQuantum, IonQ and ArQit were the first quantum unicorns.
Starlink, OneWeb and Amazon plan to increase the number of Earth satellites by 20 times.
We believe in science as the main driver of innovation, ” said Peter Lukyanov, partner and founder of Phystech Ventures.
Venture and corporate investments in artificial intelligence and machine learning reached $73 billion in 2020.
And the first quarter of 2021 was a record for the number of investments - for three months, $20.1 billion was invested.
Also in 2021, the first quantum unicorns appeared - PsiQuantum, IonQ and ArQit.
Experts expect the growth of physical implementations of quantum processors, new types of qubits and the development of high-level software.
According to forecasts, the quantum computing market will reach $7.3 billion by 2025.
The drone market reached $50 billion last year.
Startups raised almost $4 billion in the first half of 2021.
In this sector, among the promising areas are unmanned aerial vehicles, systems with autonomous control, systems with several robots and infrastructure development projects.
As the top 3 success stories in this segment in 2021, investors singled out Cruise, Joby Aviation and Plus.
In space technology, investors emphasize areas related to the propulsion systems of spacecraft and the technologies of their input-output from orbit.
Now about 60% of all failures at launch are due to problems in the propulsion systems.
About the study
The analysis and evaluation of investment activity was conducted in June-July 2021 and covered the development of deeptech over the past 10 years.
As part of the study, the team relied on industry reports and databases (Pitchbook, CB Insights, Scopus, Google Patents), as well as insider opinions and internal analytics.
The full study is available at the link.
Subscribe to our TG channel to be aware of all news and events!
Photo: Unsplash
Did you find a typo?
Select text and press Ctrl + Enter
Materials on the topic
1.
Xiaomi introduced a cyber dog of its own design
2.
“Systems will be improved, but … ”: Nissan Russia assessed the prospects for the development of drones in Russia
3.
"Pyaterochka" began to test robots to check the layout of goods and price tags
4.
4 How does the business of growing strawberries on vertical farms
5.
American cinema chain AMC will sell tickets for bitcoins
AgroCode Hub
Latest news, current events and networking in the AgroTech community — AgroCode Hub
Join us!
OPPORTUNITIES
August 13, 2021
August 15, 2021

Title:

Content: Computing

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

China Delivers Its First Practical Quantum Computer System to a Customer

China’s Science Ministry on Monday announced that the country’s first practical quantum computer was delivered to a user, which the agency didn’t identify, a year ago.

The 24-qubit Wuyan system based on superconducting technology was built by Origin Quantum Computing Technology, a company founded in 2017 by two of the country’s leading quantum physicists, Guo Guoping and Guo Guangcan. A qubit in the quantum world performs functions akin to bits in the digital world.

With the on-premises installation of the Wuyan system, China became the third country, after Canada and the United States, to deliver a complete quantum computer system to a customer.

Some skeptics questioned the timing of the announcement.

“Quantum technology has a high priority for national security in China. If this were something very important, I doubt it would be disclosed like this in a transparent way by Chinese authorities,” explained Weifeng Zhong, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

“The fact that it was delayed for a year suggests that they realize now that it’s not important to national security, so they’re trying to use it to build China’s image as a technology leader at a time when they’re trying to open up their economy to the rest of the world,” Zhong told TechNewsWorld.

Important Step

However, Hodan Omaar, a senior AI policy analyst at the Center for Data Innovation, a think tank studying the intersection of data, technology, and public policy, in Washington, D.C., maintained the announcement shows that China has made an important step in its quantum development.

“Overcoming technical challenges on the path toward large-scale quantum computers will depend on the ability to scale the number of qubits in quantum systems, much like modern classical computers have depended on the growth in the number of transistors in superconducting chips,” Omaar told TechNewsWorld.

“Investing in near-term quantum computing applications helps bolster the development of longer-term use cases of the technology, thereby helping to improve competitiveness,” she added.

Skip Sanzeri, co-founder and COO of QuSecure, a maker of quantum-safe security solutions in San Mateo, Calif., called the announcement “formidable” because China is stating that they have a fully functional quantum computer, albeit the qubit count is low.

“Nonetheless, error correction and noise reduction are two significant factors in ensuring that a quantum computer can process data and provide applications that we can rely on,” Sanzeri told TechNewsWorld. “By announcing that they have been able to get to this level shows that China is making progress towards larger quantum computers.”

Bucking a Trend

The Wuyan system appears to be on par with other systems in the market, noted Heather West, a senior research analyst at IDC’, an international market research company.

“The fact that they sold a 24 qubit system to someone isn’t that different from what we’re seeing elsewhere around the world,” West told TechNewsWorld.

Delivering a standalone system like the Wuyan is actually bucking the current trend in the market.

“Most quantum computers that people are accessing today are accessed through the cloud,” explained Doug Finke, an analyst with Global Quantum Intelligence, an international market intelligence firm.

“This Wuyan computer is being delivered to a customer in an on-premise situation,” Finke told TechNewsWorld. “On-premise has a lot of disadvantages. You have to worry about maintenance. You have to worry about spare parts. You have to worry about calibration.”

“In addition,” he continued, “quantum computing innovation is so fast that they become obsolete in about two years. So few people want an on-premise quantum computer. They’re much more comfortable with the cloud.”

Superconducting Challenges

The Wuyan system is built using superconducting chip technology, one of the earliest technologies for quantum computers. Since its introduction, other technologies have been explored. They include photonics, trapped ions, and neutral atoms.

“At the moment, no one knows which technology will be the winner or if there’ll be a combination of technologies that will combine for efficacious quantum applications,” Sanzeri said.

“Superconducting is very difficult,” he explained. “It requires near zero Kelvin refrigeration.”

“The electrons used in superconducting quantum computers are very hard to manage due to very short coherence times,” he continued. “That’s why they must be cooled to such a low temperature.”

Other methods are managing longer coherence times and a faster path to the desired goal of 1,000 error-corrected qubits, he added.

“The million-dollar question is what technology will win the race to the fault-tolerant quantum computer,” West said. “There might not be one winner. There might not be one system that comes out on top. It might be that certain kinds of systems are better than others at solving certain kinds of problems.”

Long View

Omaar countered that superconducting chips have a number of advantages over competing technologies.

“First, superconducting qubits are solid-state electrical circuits that are easier to control because they are manipulated using microwaves,” she said. “Scientists can therefore use easily accessible commercial microwave devices and equipment in superconducting quantum computing applications.”

“Second,” she continued, “because preparing superconducting circuits is based on the existing method for fabricating semiconductor chips, the development of high-quality devices can leverage advanced chip-making technologies, which is good for manufacturing and scalability.”

Despite developments like China’s Wuyan system, the arrival of a quantum computer that can tackle problems beyond the capacity of silicon computers appears to be years away.

“What quantum computers are going to be best for is solving complex, intractable problems beyond the scope of classical compute technology,” West said. “Those problems are years away from a quantum computer solving.”

“To get to that, we need at least a million qubits,” she continued. “That’s going to take a lot of work in scaling and stabilizing the qubits. Qubits are very sensitive to outside noise. As a result, the error rates are high in the technology we have.”

Despite the exuberance exhibited by many, we’re still in the early days of quantum computing, added Richard Stiennon, founder and chief research analyst at IT-Harvest, a cybersecurity industry analyst firm in Birmingham, Mich.

“There are many physical constraints on quantum computing that require precision in length of pathways — we are talking microns — and resistance to forces — footsteps can interfere with it. Supercooled chips just add to the complexity,” Stiennon told TechNewsWorld.

“I put it in the same realm as developing usable nuclear fusion as an energy source,” he said. “Hundreds of billions of dollars and decades to show a glimmer of progress.”

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.

More by John P. Mello Jr.
More in Computing

To earn your loyalty as a consumer, how important is it that a brand provides a personalized experience?
 Loading ...

Technewsworld Channels

Title:

Content: Image: © luchschenF/Stock.adobe.com

What skills do you need to start a career in quantum?

2 hours ago

Quantum combines quantum mechanics with physics, maths and computer science to innovate and solve problems. It’s an exciting area to break into.

Quantum tech is perhaps not as well-known as other areas of tech, but there is no doubt that its influence is growing – and that means it is a good area to look into if you’re an ambitious person with an aptitude for computers and maths.

Lots of Big Tech companies are betting on quantum as a driver of innovation for the future. Currently, much of the quantum knowledge is evolving in the academic world, but businesses are beginning to sit up and take notice of the tech’s potential thanks to industry-academia collaborations.

In Ireland, Trinity College Dublin has recently formed an alliance for quantum computing skills with industry players IBM and Microsoft. Smaller companies have joined the alliance, too, including Horizon Quantum Computing, a Singapore-based quantum tech company headed up by Irishman Dr Joe Fitzsimons. He spoke to SiliconRepublic.com last year when his company expanded into Ireland, announcing several new jobs for Dublin.

So, what kind of skills do you need if you want to break into quantum computing and how difficult is it to establish a career in the sector?

To answer the second question first, you will most likely need a university qualification – possibly to postgraduate level. Quantum is complex and even academics who work on advancing research in the field are sometimes stymied by problems in the field.

That said, Irish universities’ determination to make quantum skills accessible for everyone means there are a lot of postgraduate programmes that have been developed in consultation with the likes of IBM.

If you’re looking to brush up on your skills casually, Google has made its Quantum Virtual Machine available to the public free of charge so everyone can learn quantum programming skills. There is also the option of online courses, available from the likes of Skillnet Ireland, as well as Udemy and edX.

Technical, mathematical and soft skills

Maths is definitely a skill you need for quantum. Specifically, linear algebra, probability theory and statistics. Computer science skills such as algorithms, programming and data structuring are required in combination also.

It goes without saying that you need to know the quantum lingo, too. This means a decent grasp of quantum theory and mechanics. Keep up with developments that are happening in quantum science and know how the industry is using the tech for different purposes. Specialist publications like Quantum Zeitgeist are good for this. If you are able to talk the talk with quantum, you can explain to businesses how they can benefit from the tech but you have to understand it first, so know your stuff – and your qubits.

Because quantum is such a complex area, it can be easy to put all of the focus on technical skills, but like any other career area it demands soft skills, too. Communication is important. Analytical and creative skills are definitely an asset, as are research skills for this fast-growing, young technology.

10 things you need to know direct to your inbox every weekday. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of essential sci-tech news.

By Blathnaid O’Dea

Blathnaid O’Dea joined Silicon Republic in 2021 as Careers reporter, coming from a background in the Humanities. She likes people, pranking, pictures of puffins – and apparently alliteration.

Loading now, one moment please!

Title:

Content: Who invented the first quantum computer?

Who invented the first quantum computer?

**The first quantum computer was invented by a group of researchers led by physicist Isaac Chuang and computer scientist Neil Gershenfeld in 1998.**

Quantum computing has undoubtedly revolutionized the world of technology and opened up new possibilities for solving complex problems. As this fascinating field continues to grow, many people wonder who can be credited with the invention of the very first quantum computer. Well, the answer lies with a group of brilliant scientists who pushed the boundaries of computation to a whole new level.

What were the key contributions of Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld?

Isaac Chuang, a physicist, and Neil Gershenfeld, a computer scientist, collaborated in the 1990s to create the first practical quantum computer using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques.

How did their quantum computer work?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s quantum computer utilized the principles of quantum mechanics, including quantum superposition and entanglement, to perform computations.

What breakthroughs did their quantum computer achieve?

Their quantum computer successfully executed Shor’s algorithm, which is capable of factoring large numbers exponentially faster than classical computers.

How did their invention impact the field of quantum computing?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention marked a significant milestone in the development of quantum computers, inspiring subsequent researchers to explore new approaches and technologies for building more scalable and efficient quantum systems.

What limitations did the first quantum computer face?

The first quantum computer faced several limitations, including a high error rate due to the susceptibility of the NMR-based technology to decoherence.

Did Chuang and Gershenfeld receive recognition for their achievement?

Yes, their groundbreaking work gained recognition, and they were awarded the prestigious Richard P. Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology in 2001.

Has quantum computing technology improved since then?

Absolutely! Since Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention, quantum computing has made tremendous strides with advancements in hardware design, quantum algorithms, error correction techniques, and the emergence of various quantum computing platforms.

Are there other researchers who significantly contributed to quantum computing?

Certainly! A multitude of researchers and scientists around the world has made notable contributions to the development of quantum computing, further expanding our understanding and capabilities in this field.

What are the potential applications of quantum computing?

Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including cryptography, drug discovery, optimization problems, material science, and artificial intelligence.

Are quantum computers currently commercially available?

Although quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, there are some commercially available quantum computers offered by companies like IBM, Google, and Honeywell.

How far are we from achieving quantum supremacy?

Quantum supremacy refers to a point where a quantum computer can perform a calculation that is infeasible for any classical computer. While there have been promising demonstrations, achieving true quantum supremacy at scale is still a significant endeavor.

What are the biggest challenges in quantum computing today?

Some of the significant challenges in quantum computing include quantum decoherence, error correction, scaling up the number of qubits, and improving hardware reliability.

In conclusion, Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld can be credited for inventing the first quantum computer in 1998, marking a pivotal moment in the history of computing. Their pioneering work has inspired countless researchers, leading to remarkable advancements in quantum computing technology. As we continue to unravel the potential of this exciting field, it is crucial to acknowledge the many researchers who have contributed to shaping the future of quantum computing.

Scroll to Top

Title:

Content: Alert
It will not be all DPP Lai Ching-te talking about the premier and the head of the ministry: there are already candidates to think about.
Previous articlePrevious post: The 4th Stage of Cancer Planned Funeral: Don ’ t Want to See These People
Taiwan stocks rose 124 points, the band high transaction value but hit a new low this year...
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
1994 was a turning point in quantum computing. The algorithm of the American mathematician Shue showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be an important early application of quantum computers.
According to Reuters, the world may celebrate “Q-day ” as soon as next year, by which time the current encryption methods will be useless before quantum computers.
In view of this, the United States and China are stealing and harvesting each other ’ s data on a large scale to decipher and intercept messages in the quantum future.
According to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report in May last year predicted that enterprises will profit from quantum computing as soon as next year; by about 2035, quantum data may bring users as much as $850 billion (about NT $26.8 trillion) in benefits, quantum technology will mature in that year.
Quantum computers are expected to be able to crack cryptographic codes in minutes, rather than the thousands of years it would take for traditional computers today.
Industry experts claim that North America is the center of quantum computing.
American companies build quantum processors including IBM, Amazon, Intel, Google, Quantinum, IonQ, Microsoft, QCI and Rigetti Computing.
As of the previous year, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada also had the largest number of startups in the industry, according to the McKinsey report.
As for China, Genyuan Quantum announced in January last year that it had delivered a fully homemade 24 qubit quantum computer to customers and expected to develop a 1024 qubit quantum computer next year. In November last year, Alibaba Group donated the quantum computing laboratory and related experimental equipment of its research institute, Damo Institute, to Zhejiang University.
Baidu also followed suit this month by donating a quantum computing lab and equipment to the Beijing Institute of Quantum Information Sciences, which is supported by the Chinese government.
Others include Guodun Quantum, Guoyi Quantum, Turing Quantum, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the country's top scientific and technological academic institution, each developing quantum computing technology.
However, under this 1 quantum trend, the major countries in the United States and China are preparing for the future, lest in the quantum future, far more powerful than the current fastest supercomputer, will be able to crack the password to protect almost all modern communications.
Tilo Kunz, vice president of QD5, a Canadian security company, said that according to the minutes of the meeting released by the US Defense Information Systems Agency, all countries have tried to steal data, that is, to carry out a "harvest now, decipher later" security attack.
The military will discover that its long history of planning and intelligence has caught the eye of the enemy, that corporate intelligence has been stolen, and that people ’ s health records will be revealed.
However, opinions differ on when the quantum day "big limit" will come.
Quantum computing is still in its early days, and only small quantum computers with limited processing power and error-prone capabilities have been built.
Some researchers estimate that Quantum Day may be approaching by the middle of the century.
No one knows who can get there first.
The United States and China are seen as leaders in the field, and many experts believe the United States still prevails.
Researchers believe that more important than breaking the decryption code, quantum computers use the mysterious properties of subatomic particles, which are expected to bring breakthroughs in science, weapons equipment and industry.
Beijing Information Security Quantum Computing Quantum Computer
Extended reading
US, Japan, and Australia air force combat "Against North 24" joint exercise begins in Guam in early February
US B-21 stealth bomber production and China's "big power competition" intensified
Ying / Tsai Ing-wen Visited the Results of the Quantum Computer Project, Hoping to Contribute to the World
Home Made Quantum Computer by Academia Sinica Tsai Ing-wen: Made in Taiwan is the pride of Taiwanese
Related News
The performance is not as expected … Musk named Tesla ’ s share in the Japanese market is too low 1 reason why it is difficult for him to achieve his wish.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that Tesla ’ s market share in Japan is too low, hoping to at least raise it to a level with other companies.
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
In 1994, the turning point of quantum computing, the American mathematician Shue's algorithm showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be a quantum computer.
Japan's Toyota to suspend shipments of 10 cars after diesel engine violations in certification test
Japan ’ s Toyota Motor announced today that it has decided to suspend shipments of 10 affected vehicles because the diesel engine produced by the group ’ s “Toyota Automatic Weaving ” violated the certification test process.
South Korean semiconductor technology leak brothers take over illegal export equipment to earn more than 80 million
A semiconductor cleaning equipment manufacturer in South Korea was prosecuted for illegally leaking related technology to the Chinese side, and one of the suspects even took over the company immediately after his brother was detained and prosecuted for the above reasons.
China 's latest rescue measures boost Asian shares to rise and fall
Asian stocks rose and fell today as the Chinese authorities' latest rescue measures boosted their gains.
International oil prices are rising again in the Middle East, and it is alleged that an attack by a rebel group backed by Iran killed three people.
Semiconductor technology leaks continue! South Korean investigators say technology is flowing to the mainland to reveal secret signals and other methods
South Korean media quoted intelligence agency investigators as saying that the illegal export of semiconductor technology criminals in addition to using code communication to avoid being tracked, their methods are changing day by day, using mergers and acquisitions.
Product recommendation
udn Forum

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

The quantum computing race is not just about technological advancement but also about establishing geopolitical advantage in this transformative field.

Title:

Content: Computing

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

China Delivers Its First Practical Quantum Computer System to a Customer

China’s Science Ministry on Monday announced that the country’s first practical quantum computer was delivered to a user, which the agency didn’t identify, a year ago.

The 24-qubit Wuyan system based on superconducting technology was built by Origin Quantum Computing Technology, a company founded in 2017 by two of the country’s leading quantum physicists, Guo Guoping and Guo Guangcan. A qubit in the quantum world performs functions akin to bits in the digital world.

With the on-premises installation of the Wuyan system, China became the third country, after Canada and the United States, to deliver a complete quantum computer system to a customer.

Some skeptics questioned the timing of the announcement.

“Quantum technology has a high priority for national security in China. If this were something very important, I doubt it would be disclosed like this in a transparent way by Chinese authorities,” explained Weifeng Zhong, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

“The fact that it was delayed for a year suggests that they realize now that it’s not important to national security, so they’re trying to use it to build China’s image as a technology leader at a time when they’re trying to open up their economy to the rest of the world,” Zhong told TechNewsWorld.

Important Step

However, Hodan Omaar, a senior AI policy analyst at the Center for Data Innovation, a think tank studying the intersection of data, technology, and public policy, in Washington, D.C., maintained the announcement shows that China has made an important step in its quantum development.

“Overcoming technical challenges on the path toward large-scale quantum computers will depend on the ability to scale the number of qubits in quantum systems, much like modern classical computers have depended on the growth in the number of transistors in superconducting chips,” Omaar told TechNewsWorld.

“Investing in near-term quantum computing applications helps bolster the development of longer-term use cases of the technology, thereby helping to improve competitiveness,” she added.

Skip Sanzeri, co-founder and COO of QuSecure, a maker of quantum-safe security solutions in San Mateo, Calif., called the announcement “formidable” because China is stating that they have a fully functional quantum computer, albeit the qubit count is low.

“Nonetheless, error correction and noise reduction are two significant factors in ensuring that a quantum computer can process data and provide applications that we can rely on,” Sanzeri told TechNewsWorld. “By announcing that they have been able to get to this level shows that China is making progress towards larger quantum computers.”

Bucking a Trend

The Wuyan system appears to be on par with other systems in the market, noted Heather West, a senior research analyst at IDC’, an international market research company.

“The fact that they sold a 24 qubit system to someone isn’t that different from what we’re seeing elsewhere around the world,” West told TechNewsWorld.

Delivering a standalone system like the Wuyan is actually bucking the current trend in the market.

“Most quantum computers that people are accessing today are accessed through the cloud,” explained Doug Finke, an analyst with Global Quantum Intelligence, an international market intelligence firm.

“This Wuyan computer is being delivered to a customer in an on-premise situation,” Finke told TechNewsWorld. “On-premise has a lot of disadvantages. You have to worry about maintenance. You have to worry about spare parts. You have to worry about calibration.”

“In addition,” he continued, “quantum computing innovation is so fast that they become obsolete in about two years. So few people want an on-premise quantum computer. They’re much more comfortable with the cloud.”

Superconducting Challenges

The Wuyan system is built using superconducting chip technology, one of the earliest technologies for quantum computers. Since its introduction, other technologies have been explored. They include photonics, trapped ions, and neutral atoms.

“At the moment, no one knows which technology will be the winner or if there’ll be a combination of technologies that will combine for efficacious quantum applications,” Sanzeri said.

“Superconducting is very difficult,” he explained. “It requires near zero Kelvin refrigeration.”

“The electrons used in superconducting quantum computers are very hard to manage due to very short coherence times,” he continued. “That’s why they must be cooled to such a low temperature.”

Other methods are managing longer coherence times and a faster path to the desired goal of 1,000 error-corrected qubits, he added.

“The million-dollar question is what technology will win the race to the fault-tolerant quantum computer,” West said. “There might not be one winner. There might not be one system that comes out on top. It might be that certain kinds of systems are better than others at solving certain kinds of problems.”

Long View

Omaar countered that superconducting chips have a number of advantages over competing technologies.

“First, superconducting qubits are solid-state electrical circuits that are easier to control because they are manipulated using microwaves,” she said. “Scientists can therefore use easily accessible commercial microwave devices and equipment in superconducting quantum computing applications.”

“Second,” she continued, “because preparing superconducting circuits is based on the existing method for fabricating semiconductor chips, the development of high-quality devices can leverage advanced chip-making technologies, which is good for manufacturing and scalability.”

Despite developments like China’s Wuyan system, the arrival of a quantum computer that can tackle problems beyond the capacity of silicon computers appears to be years away.

“What quantum computers are going to be best for is solving complex, intractable problems beyond the scope of classical compute technology,” West said. “Those problems are years away from a quantum computer solving.”

“To get to that, we need at least a million qubits,” she continued. “That’s going to take a lot of work in scaling and stabilizing the qubits. Qubits are very sensitive to outside noise. As a result, the error rates are high in the technology we have.”

Despite the exuberance exhibited by many, we’re still in the early days of quantum computing, added Richard Stiennon, founder and chief research analyst at IT-Harvest, a cybersecurity industry analyst firm in Birmingham, Mich.

“There are many physical constraints on quantum computing that require precision in length of pathways — we are talking microns — and resistance to forces — footsteps can interfere with it. Supercooled chips just add to the complexity,” Stiennon told TechNewsWorld.

“I put it in the same realm as developing usable nuclear fusion as an energy source,” he said. “Hundreds of billions of dollars and decades to show a glimmer of progress.”

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.

More by John P. Mello Jr.
More in Computing

To earn your loyalty as a consumer, how important is it that a brand provides a personalized experience?
 Loading ...

Technewsworld Channels

Title:

Content: Image: © luchschenF/Stock.adobe.com

What skills do you need to start a career in quantum?

2 hours ago

Quantum combines quantum mechanics with physics, maths and computer science to innovate and solve problems. It’s an exciting area to break into.

Quantum tech is perhaps not as well-known as other areas of tech, but there is no doubt that its influence is growing – and that means it is a good area to look into if you’re an ambitious person with an aptitude for computers and maths.

Lots of Big Tech companies are betting on quantum as a driver of innovation for the future. Currently, much of the quantum knowledge is evolving in the academic world, but businesses are beginning to sit up and take notice of the tech’s potential thanks to industry-academia collaborations.

In Ireland, Trinity College Dublin has recently formed an alliance for quantum computing skills with industry players IBM and Microsoft. Smaller companies have joined the alliance, too, including Horizon Quantum Computing, a Singapore-based quantum tech company headed up by Irishman Dr Joe Fitzsimons. He spoke to SiliconRepublic.com last year when his company expanded into Ireland, announcing several new jobs for Dublin.

So, what kind of skills do you need if you want to break into quantum computing and how difficult is it to establish a career in the sector?

To answer the second question first, you will most likely need a university qualification – possibly to postgraduate level. Quantum is complex and even academics who work on advancing research in the field are sometimes stymied by problems in the field.

That said, Irish universities’ determination to make quantum skills accessible for everyone means there are a lot of postgraduate programmes that have been developed in consultation with the likes of IBM.

If you’re looking to brush up on your skills casually, Google has made its Quantum Virtual Machine available to the public free of charge so everyone can learn quantum programming skills. There is also the option of online courses, available from the likes of Skillnet Ireland, as well as Udemy and edX.

Technical, mathematical and soft skills

Maths is definitely a skill you need for quantum. Specifically, linear algebra, probability theory and statistics. Computer science skills such as algorithms, programming and data structuring are required in combination also.

It goes without saying that you need to know the quantum lingo, too. This means a decent grasp of quantum theory and mechanics. Keep up with developments that are happening in quantum science and know how the industry is using the tech for different purposes. Specialist publications like Quantum Zeitgeist are good for this. If you are able to talk the talk with quantum, you can explain to businesses how they can benefit from the tech but you have to understand it first, so know your stuff – and your qubits.

Because quantum is such a complex area, it can be easy to put all of the focus on technical skills, but like any other career area it demands soft skills, too. Communication is important. Analytical and creative skills are definitely an asset, as are research skills for this fast-growing, young technology.

10 things you need to know direct to your inbox every weekday. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of essential sci-tech news.

By Blathnaid O’Dea

Blathnaid O’Dea joined Silicon Republic in 2021 as Careers reporter, coming from a background in the Humanities. She likes people, pranking, pictures of puffins – and apparently alliteration.

Loading now, one moment please!

Title:

Content: Alert
It will not be all DPP Lai Ching-te talking about the premier and the head of the ministry: there are already candidates to think about.
Previous articlePrevious post: The 4th Stage of Cancer Planned Funeral: Don ’ t Want to See These People
Taiwan stocks rose 124 points, the band high transaction value but hit a new low this year...
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
1994 was a turning point in quantum computing. The algorithm of the American mathematician Shue showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be an important early application of quantum computers.
According to Reuters, the world may celebrate “Q-day ” as soon as next year, by which time the current encryption methods will be useless before quantum computers.
In view of this, the United States and China are stealing and harvesting each other ’ s data on a large scale to decipher and intercept messages in the quantum future.
According to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report in May last year predicted that enterprises will profit from quantum computing as soon as next year; by about 2035, quantum data may bring users as much as $850 billion (about NT $26.8 trillion) in benefits, quantum technology will mature in that year.
Quantum computers are expected to be able to crack cryptographic codes in minutes, rather than the thousands of years it would take for traditional computers today.
Industry experts claim that North America is the center of quantum computing.
American companies build quantum processors including IBM, Amazon, Intel, Google, Quantinum, IonQ, Microsoft, QCI and Rigetti Computing.
As of the previous year, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada also had the largest number of startups in the industry, according to the McKinsey report.
As for China, Genyuan Quantum announced in January last year that it had delivered a fully homemade 24 qubit quantum computer to customers and expected to develop a 1024 qubit quantum computer next year. In November last year, Alibaba Group donated the quantum computing laboratory and related experimental equipment of its research institute, Damo Institute, to Zhejiang University.
Baidu also followed suit this month by donating a quantum computing lab and equipment to the Beijing Institute of Quantum Information Sciences, which is supported by the Chinese government.
Others include Guodun Quantum, Guoyi Quantum, Turing Quantum, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the country's top scientific and technological academic institution, each developing quantum computing technology.
However, under this 1 quantum trend, the major countries in the United States and China are preparing for the future, lest in the quantum future, far more powerful than the current fastest supercomputer, will be able to crack the password to protect almost all modern communications.
Tilo Kunz, vice president of QD5, a Canadian security company, said that according to the minutes of the meeting released by the US Defense Information Systems Agency, all countries have tried to steal data, that is, to carry out a "harvest now, decipher later" security attack.
The military will discover that its long history of planning and intelligence has caught the eye of the enemy, that corporate intelligence has been stolen, and that people ’ s health records will be revealed.
However, opinions differ on when the quantum day "big limit" will come.
Quantum computing is still in its early days, and only small quantum computers with limited processing power and error-prone capabilities have been built.
Some researchers estimate that Quantum Day may be approaching by the middle of the century.
No one knows who can get there first.
The United States and China are seen as leaders in the field, and many experts believe the United States still prevails.
Researchers believe that more important than breaking the decryption code, quantum computers use the mysterious properties of subatomic particles, which are expected to bring breakthroughs in science, weapons equipment and industry.
Beijing Information Security Quantum Computing Quantum Computer
Extended reading
US, Japan, and Australia air force combat "Against North 24" joint exercise begins in Guam in early February
US B-21 stealth bomber production and China's "big power competition" intensified
Ying / Tsai Ing-wen Visited the Results of the Quantum Computer Project, Hoping to Contribute to the World
Home Made Quantum Computer by Academia Sinica Tsai Ing-wen: Made in Taiwan is the pride of Taiwanese
Related News
The performance is not as expected … Musk named Tesla ’ s share in the Japanese market is too low 1 reason why it is difficult for him to achieve his wish.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that Tesla ’ s market share in Japan is too low, hoping to at least raise it to a level with other companies.
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
In 1994, the turning point of quantum computing, the American mathematician Shue's algorithm showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be a quantum computer.
Japan's Toyota to suspend shipments of 10 cars after diesel engine violations in certification test
Japan ’ s Toyota Motor announced today that it has decided to suspend shipments of 10 affected vehicles because the diesel engine produced by the group ’ s “Toyota Automatic Weaving ” violated the certification test process.
South Korean semiconductor technology leak brothers take over illegal export equipment to earn more than 80 million
A semiconductor cleaning equipment manufacturer in South Korea was prosecuted for illegally leaking related technology to the Chinese side, and one of the suspects even took over the company immediately after his brother was detained and prosecuted for the above reasons.
China 's latest rescue measures boost Asian shares to rise and fall
Asian stocks rose and fell today as the Chinese authorities' latest rescue measures boosted their gains.
International oil prices are rising again in the Middle East, and it is alleged that an attack by a rebel group backed by Iran killed three people.
Semiconductor technology leaks continue! South Korean investigators say technology is flowing to the mainland to reveal secret signals and other methods
South Korean media quoted intelligence agency investigators as saying that the illegal export of semiconductor technology criminals in addition to using code communication to avoid being tracked, their methods are changing day by day, using mergers and acquisitions.
Product recommendation
udn Forum

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

## Leading Companies in Quantum Computing

Several major technology companies and startups are at the forefront of quantum computing development:

1.

Title:

Content: embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT - Embedded.com

embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT

A roundup of this week’s embedded news includes embedded edge with Nitin podcast featuring a brand new GPU, quantum computing developments and IoT for smart buildings, plus usual product news including automotive, tools and software.

In our latest embedded edge with Nitin podcast, we have highlighted a new GPU, developments in quantum computing, and IoT for smart buildings. In the show, Andrew Girdler of Imagination Technologies told us about the company’s new flagship GPU that brings desktop-quality ray tracing to mobile for the first time and is industry’s first Level 4 RTLS ray tracing architecture. He said, “It’s the most advanced ray tracing architecture out there today, giving you the ability to enable advanced ray trace gaming effects, in a low power budget in a mobile phone device.” Listen to the full interview on the podcast.

I also spoke to two companies looking to help democratize quantum computing with the work they are doing. First, Bob Coecke of Cambridge Quantum took us into the background to the company’s launch of the world’s first toolkit and library for quantum natural language processing, which allows sentences to be converted into a quantum circuit. Then I spoke to Pauls Wells of sureCore, who’s leading a seven-member consortium that has received a UK£6.5 million government innovation grant to jointly develop advanced cryogenic semiconductor IP; this is intended to dramatically accelerate the growth of the quantum computing industry by reducing the constrains associated with interconnects thus enabling efficient qubit/system scaling.

Finally, the podcast features an interview with Bruno Johnson of Cascoda, who talks about his company’s module recently certified for the OCF running over Thread network protocol – this is said to be a true internet protocol-based connectivity solution that is extremely low power that provides IP connectivity right down to the end node and with the Open Connectivity Foundation secure PKI X 509 grade security for end-to-end encryption. This gives smart building and building automation “banking grade security” for IoT devices.

We’ve been attending various events in person over recent weeks, and next week you can catch us at the CW International Conference. The agenda for this year’s event is somewhat topical, especially given that we also had the COP26 global UN climate chance conference this week. The CW conference will consider the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximize wireless’ potential to improve the future, including the reduction of wireless’ environmental impact.

News & Products

SensiML Corporation, a developer of AI tools for building intelligent IoT endpoints, has teamed with onsemi to deliver a complete machine learning solution for autonomous sensor data processing and predictive modeling. The collaboration combines SensiML’s analytics toolkit development software with the RSL10 sensor development kit from onsemi to create a platform for edge sensing applications such as industrial process control and monitoring. The ability to support AI functions in a small memory footprint along with advanced sensing and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity enables sophisticated smart sensing without the need for cloud analytics of highly dynamic raw sensor data.

Allegro MicroSystems has expanded its automotive lighting portfolio to include two new offerings for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) applications. The A80803 is a switch-mode, constant-current controller for high-power LED automotive lighting applications that addresses many common pain points for headlight designers to help bring advanced functionality to mainstream vehicles. The A80804 is Allegro’s first four-channel linear driver for high-power LEDs. In addition to targeted applications such as DRL/position and stop/taillights, it gives lighting designers increased design flexibility for popular features such as sequential turn signals, animation effects, and theater-style transitions.

[insert image]

Tata Elxsi and Green Hills Software are working together on a driver monitoring system (DMS) platform that combines advanced DMS software (V.O.E.O.S.Y.S – vehicle operator environment observation system) and AUTOSAR adaptive from Tata Elxsi integrated with the safe and secure INTEGRITY real-time operating system (RTOS) from Green Hills Software, optimized to run on the latest families of automotive-grade microprocessors. This flexible and standards-based DMS platform enables OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to reduce the time, cost, and complexity of developing and deploying their DMS-compliant ADAS systems while meeting mandatory global safety and security requirements.

Infineon Technologies has joined the FiRa Consortium as a contributor member to support the expansion of the UWB ecosystem. The company’s VP digital security & identity, Bjoern Scharfen, said “UWB has a great potential to enhance Infineon’s offering in security, connectivity and computing. With this, the technology fully supports our vision of linking the real and digital world.” With the acquisition of Cypress in 2020, Infineon said it acquired significant expertise in connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) as well as in microcontrollers.

Wireless Telecom Group said that SmartSky Networks has selected the CommAgility high-performance telecommunications systems software and tools for its next-generation air-to-ground (ATG) network. Deployed in SmartSky’s inflight connectivity, CommAgility is providing a full protocol stack and physical layer (PHY) for SmartSky’s aircraft base radio (ABR), which is the user equipment (UE) on board the aircraft. The ABR connects to a ground base station and provides broadband inflight connectivity for the operational needs of the aircraft, passengers, and crew. SmartSky’s patented beamforming and spectrum re-use technologies have been tested and proven, and the network is now rolling out across the USA for aviation operators and passengers.

MicroAI has announced MicroAI Launchpad, a quick start development and deployment tool that helps organizations simplify and accelerate the design, development, testing, and deployment of smart systems that run embedded MicroAI software on MCUs and microprocessors (MPUs) in edge and endpoint devices. Launchpad makes it simple to handle customers with SIMs around the world and manage and reconfigure device profiles. A single pane of glass gives access to customizable dashboards for account creation, authentication, mobile SIM or LoRaWAN connectivity activation, credit card billing for global SIM connectivity, and onboarding of MicroAI’s embedded software libraries. Its embedded software, AtomML, enables OEMs to deploy personalized, edge-native AI models, without needing to develop static edge-AI models first in a cloud or laptop and then port them to the embedded device.

IAR Systems said that its latest version of IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm adds support for the Arm Cortex-M55 processor. In addition, version 9.20 of the toolchain includes support for the latest MCUs from several semiconductor vendors. The toolchain delivers optimization capabilities to assist developers in getting the most out of the performance of the MCU and yet stay as energy efficient as possible. To ensure code quality, code analysis tools are completely integrated with IAR Embedded Workbench.

Teledyne Test Tools has launched the T3DSO3000, a new series of premium economy oscilloscopes, which feature four channel models with analog bandwidth options from 200 MHz to 1 GHz. Each model offers a maximum sample rate of 5 GSa/s, and a maximum memory depth of 250 Mpts in half channel mode. All models incorporate two 5 GSa/s ADCs and two 250 Mpts memory modules. The oscilloscopes employ a new generation of high-speed display technology for excellent signal clarity, fidelity and performance. The series comes with a minimum vertical input range of 500 μV/div, an innovative digital trigger system with high sensitivity, low jitter, and a waveform capture rate of 500,000 waveforms/sec (sequence mode).

Kontron has launched the 3.5-inch SBC-R39, a compact 3.5-inch single-board computer suitable for integration into (open source) embedded systems in entertainment, digital signage, facial recognition, smart retail, smart classroom, smart office and industrial applications. The 3.5-inch SBC-R39 is built on a Rockchip RK3399(K) processor with ARM big.LITTLE microarchitecture. This includes two processors embedded in a single, fully integrated silicon chip. The LITTLE cluster consists of a quad-core Cortex A53 processor, which is typically used to perform routine tasks at low power consumption. The large cluster is a dual-core Cortex-A72 processor, which handles compute-intensive high-performance tasks. This architecture enables the SBC-R39 to dynamically assign tasks to the respective processor according to the performance requirement.

People and Funding

Velodyne Lidar announced the appointment of Theodore “Ted” L. Tewksbury, Ph.D. as chief executive officer, who joins after serving as CEO of Eta Compute. Prior to Eta Compute, Tewksbury, a technology executive with over 30 years’ leadership experience across public and private companies, held several chief executive and board positions, including Entropic Communications and Integrated Device Technology. He is an accomplished engineer, with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from MIT. He has held a variety of engineering and management positions in his career, including introducing over 180 innovative new product families during his time at Maxim Integrated Products.

Events

The CW International Conference (CWIC), one of the key annual events for the wireless industry in the U.K., is back both as a physical live event at IWM Duxford, Europe’s largest air museum, as well being available online. Taking place on 9th November 2021, this year’s theme considers the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximise wireless’ potential to improve the future. Full agenda and details are here.

Nvidia GTC takes place online from 8-11 November 2021, which will include a live-streamed keynote by Jensen Huang, plus talks from AI research and industry leaders on deep learning, data science, high-performance computing, robotics, data center/networking and graphics. Speakers include Fei-Fei Li, professor of computer science, Stanford University, Lindsay Edwards, responsible for AI at in respiratory and immunology, AstraZeneca, and Kay Firth-Butterfield, head of AI and ML, World Economic Forum. Details here.

The 58th DAC (Design Automation Conference) is takes place both physically in San Francisco and virtually between 5-10 December 2021. Keynote speakers include Jeff Dean of Google Research and Google Health, Bill Dally of Nvidia, and Missy Cummings of Duke University. For the first, DAC attendees will also have access to SEMICON West and the RISC-V Summit. Details here.

Title:

Content: NEWS
Investors named the ten most promising areas in DeepTech
NEWS
Anastasia Maryina
Head of RB.ru news department
Anastasia Maryina
The Phystech Ventures Foundation presented an analytical review of Deeptech Outlook 2021, according to which investments in DeepTech showed a fourfold increase between 2016 and 2020.
Over the past year, more than $60 billion has been invested in the industry in the world.
Investors named the ten most promising areas in DeepTech
The fund ’ s investors also identified ten of the most promising technological areas in 2021:
• artificial intelligence and machine learning,
• quantum technologies,
• Cybersecurity,
• genetics and bioinformatics,
• neurobiology,
• energy,
• mobility,
• Space technology,
• foodtech,
• Agrotech.
“A number of deeptech segments are on the verge of big changes.
In 2021, we witnessed the first editing of the human genome, with the result that the capitalization of biotechnology companies Intellia and CRISPR Therapeutics exceeded $10 billion.
PsiQuantum, IonQ and ArQit were the first quantum unicorns.
Starlink, OneWeb and Amazon plan to increase the number of Earth satellites by 20 times.
We believe in science as the main driver of innovation, ” said Peter Lukyanov, partner and founder of Phystech Ventures.
Venture and corporate investments in artificial intelligence and machine learning reached $73 billion in 2020.
And the first quarter of 2021 was a record for the number of investments - for three months, $20.1 billion was invested.
Also in 2021, the first quantum unicorns appeared - PsiQuantum, IonQ and ArQit.
Experts expect the growth of physical implementations of quantum processors, new types of qubits and the development of high-level software.
According to forecasts, the quantum computing market will reach $7.3 billion by 2025.
The drone market reached $50 billion last year.
Startups raised almost $4 billion in the first half of 2021.
In this sector, among the promising areas are unmanned aerial vehicles, systems with autonomous control, systems with several robots and infrastructure development projects.
As the top 3 success stories in this segment in 2021, investors singled out Cruise, Joby Aviation and Plus.
In space technology, investors emphasize areas related to the propulsion systems of spacecraft and the technologies of their input-output from orbit.
Now about 60% of all failures at launch are due to problems in the propulsion systems.
About the study
The analysis and evaluation of investment activity was conducted in June-July 2021 and covered the development of deeptech over the past 10 years.
As part of the study, the team relied on industry reports and databases (Pitchbook, CB Insights, Scopus, Google Patents), as well as insider opinions and internal analytics.
The full study is available at the link.
Subscribe to our TG channel to be aware of all news and events!
Photo: Unsplash
Did you find a typo?
Select text and press Ctrl + Enter
Materials on the topic
1.
Xiaomi introduced a cyber dog of its own design
2.
“Systems will be improved, but … ”: Nissan Russia assessed the prospects for the development of drones in Russia
3.
"Pyaterochka" began to test robots to check the layout of goods and price tags
4.
4 How does the business of growing strawberries on vertical farms
5.
American cinema chain AMC will sell tickets for bitcoins
AgroCode Hub
Latest news, current events and networking in the AgroTech community — AgroCode Hub
Join us!
OPPORTUNITIES
August 13, 2021
August 15, 2021

Title:

Content: Computing

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

China Delivers Its First Practical Quantum Computer System to a Customer

China’s Science Ministry on Monday announced that the country’s first practical quantum computer was delivered to a user, which the agency didn’t identify, a year ago.

The 24-qubit Wuyan system based on superconducting technology was built by Origin Quantum Computing Technology, a company founded in 2017 by two of the country’s leading quantum physicists, Guo Guoping and Guo Guangcan. A qubit in the quantum world performs functions akin to bits in the digital world.

With the on-premises installation of the Wuyan system, China became the third country, after Canada and the United States, to deliver a complete quantum computer system to a customer.

Some skeptics questioned the timing of the announcement.

“Quantum technology has a high priority for national security in China. If this were something very important, I doubt it would be disclosed like this in a transparent way by Chinese authorities,” explained Weifeng Zhong, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

“The fact that it was delayed for a year suggests that they realize now that it’s not important to national security, so they’re trying to use it to build China’s image as a technology leader at a time when they’re trying to open up their economy to the rest of the world,” Zhong told TechNewsWorld.

Important Step

However, Hodan Omaar, a senior AI policy analyst at the Center for Data Innovation, a think tank studying the intersection of data, technology, and public policy, in Washington, D.C., maintained the announcement shows that China has made an important step in its quantum development.

“Overcoming technical challenges on the path toward large-scale quantum computers will depend on the ability to scale the number of qubits in quantum systems, much like modern classical computers have depended on the growth in the number of transistors in superconducting chips,” Omaar told TechNewsWorld.

“Investing in near-term quantum computing applications helps bolster the development of longer-term use cases of the technology, thereby helping to improve competitiveness,” she added.

Skip Sanzeri, co-founder and COO of QuSecure, a maker of quantum-safe security solutions in San Mateo, Calif., called the announcement “formidable” because China is stating that they have a fully functional quantum computer, albeit the qubit count is low.

“Nonetheless, error correction and noise reduction are two significant factors in ensuring that a quantum computer can process data and provide applications that we can rely on,” Sanzeri told TechNewsWorld. “By announcing that they have been able to get to this level shows that China is making progress towards larger quantum computers.”

Bucking a Trend

The Wuyan system appears to be on par with other systems in the market, noted Heather West, a senior research analyst at IDC’, an international market research company.

“The fact that they sold a 24 qubit system to someone isn’t that different from what we’re seeing elsewhere around the world,” West told TechNewsWorld.

Delivering a standalone system like the Wuyan is actually bucking the current trend in the market.

“Most quantum computers that people are accessing today are accessed through the cloud,” explained Doug Finke, an analyst with Global Quantum Intelligence, an international market intelligence firm.

“This Wuyan computer is being delivered to a customer in an on-premise situation,” Finke told TechNewsWorld. “On-premise has a lot of disadvantages. You have to worry about maintenance. You have to worry about spare parts. You have to worry about calibration.”

“In addition,” he continued, “quantum computing innovation is so fast that they become obsolete in about two years. So few people want an on-premise quantum computer. They’re much more comfortable with the cloud.”

Superconducting Challenges

The Wuyan system is built using superconducting chip technology, one of the earliest technologies for quantum computers. Since its introduction, other technologies have been explored. They include photonics, trapped ions, and neutral atoms.

“At the moment, no one knows which technology will be the winner or if there’ll be a combination of technologies that will combine for efficacious quantum applications,” Sanzeri said.

“Superconducting is very difficult,” he explained. “It requires near zero Kelvin refrigeration.”

“The electrons used in superconducting quantum computers are very hard to manage due to very short coherence times,” he continued. “That’s why they must be cooled to such a low temperature.”

Other methods are managing longer coherence times and a faster path to the desired goal of 1,000 error-corrected qubits, he added.

“The million-dollar question is what technology will win the race to the fault-tolerant quantum computer,” West said. “There might not be one winner. There might not be one system that comes out on top. It might be that certain kinds of systems are better than others at solving certain kinds of problems.”

Long View

Omaar countered that superconducting chips have a number of advantages over competing technologies.

“First, superconducting qubits are solid-state electrical circuits that are easier to control because they are manipulated using microwaves,” she said. “Scientists can therefore use easily accessible commercial microwave devices and equipment in superconducting quantum computing applications.”

“Second,” she continued, “because preparing superconducting circuits is based on the existing method for fabricating semiconductor chips, the development of high-quality devices can leverage advanced chip-making technologies, which is good for manufacturing and scalability.”

Despite developments like China’s Wuyan system, the arrival of a quantum computer that can tackle problems beyond the capacity of silicon computers appears to be years away.

“What quantum computers are going to be best for is solving complex, intractable problems beyond the scope of classical compute technology,” West said. “Those problems are years away from a quantum computer solving.”

“To get to that, we need at least a million qubits,” she continued. “That’s going to take a lot of work in scaling and stabilizing the qubits. Qubits are very sensitive to outside noise. As a result, the error rates are high in the technology we have.”

Despite the exuberance exhibited by many, we’re still in the early days of quantum computing, added Richard Stiennon, founder and chief research analyst at IT-Harvest, a cybersecurity industry analyst firm in Birmingham, Mich.

“There are many physical constraints on quantum computing that require precision in length of pathways — we are talking microns — and resistance to forces — footsteps can interfere with it. Supercooled chips just add to the complexity,” Stiennon told TechNewsWorld.

“I put it in the same realm as developing usable nuclear fusion as an energy source,” he said. “Hundreds of billions of dollars and decades to show a glimmer of progress.”

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.

More by John P. Mello Jr.
More in Computing

To earn your loyalty as a consumer, how important is it that a brand provides a personalized experience?
 Loading ...

Technewsworld Channels

Title:

Content: Image: © luchschenF/Stock.adobe.com

What skills do you need to start a career in quantum?

2 hours ago

Quantum combines quantum mechanics with physics, maths and computer science to innovate and solve problems. It’s an exciting area to break into.

Quantum tech is perhaps not as well-known as other areas of tech, but there is no doubt that its influence is growing – and that means it is a good area to look into if you’re an ambitious person with an aptitude for computers and maths.

Lots of Big Tech companies are betting on quantum as a driver of innovation for the future. Currently, much of the quantum knowledge is evolving in the academic world, but businesses are beginning to sit up and take notice of the tech’s potential thanks to industry-academia collaborations.

In Ireland, Trinity College Dublin has recently formed an alliance for quantum computing skills with industry players IBM and Microsoft. Smaller companies have joined the alliance, too, including Horizon Quantum Computing, a Singapore-based quantum tech company headed up by Irishman Dr Joe Fitzsimons. He spoke to SiliconRepublic.com last year when his company expanded into Ireland, announcing several new jobs for Dublin.

So, what kind of skills do you need if you want to break into quantum computing and how difficult is it to establish a career in the sector?

To answer the second question first, you will most likely need a university qualification – possibly to postgraduate level. Quantum is complex and even academics who work on advancing research in the field are sometimes stymied by problems in the field.

That said, Irish universities’ determination to make quantum skills accessible for everyone means there are a lot of postgraduate programmes that have been developed in consultation with the likes of IBM.

If you’re looking to brush up on your skills casually, Google has made its Quantum Virtual Machine available to the public free of charge so everyone can learn quantum programming skills. There is also the option of online courses, available from the likes of Skillnet Ireland, as well as Udemy and edX.

Technical, mathematical and soft skills

Maths is definitely a skill you need for quantum. Specifically, linear algebra, probability theory and statistics. Computer science skills such as algorithms, programming and data structuring are required in combination also.

It goes without saying that you need to know the quantum lingo, too. This means a decent grasp of quantum theory and mechanics. Keep up with developments that are happening in quantum science and know how the industry is using the tech for different purposes. Specialist publications like Quantum Zeitgeist are good for this. If you are able to talk the talk with quantum, you can explain to businesses how they can benefit from the tech but you have to understand it first, so know your stuff – and your qubits.

Because quantum is such a complex area, it can be easy to put all of the focus on technical skills, but like any other career area it demands soft skills, too. Communication is important. Analytical and creative skills are definitely an asset, as are research skills for this fast-growing, young technology.

10 things you need to know direct to your inbox every weekday. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of essential sci-tech news.

By Blathnaid O’Dea

Blathnaid O’Dea joined Silicon Republic in 2021 as Careers reporter, coming from a background in the Humanities. She likes people, pranking, pictures of puffins – and apparently alliteration.

Loading now, one moment please!

Title:

Content: Who invented the first quantum computer?

Who invented the first quantum computer?

**The first quantum computer was invented by a group of researchers led by physicist Isaac Chuang and computer scientist Neil Gershenfeld in 1998.**

Quantum computing has undoubtedly revolutionized the world of technology and opened up new possibilities for solving complex problems. As this fascinating field continues to grow, many people wonder who can be credited with the invention of the very first quantum computer. Well, the answer lies with a group of brilliant scientists who pushed the boundaries of computation to a whole new level.

What were the key contributions of Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld?

Isaac Chuang, a physicist, and Neil Gershenfeld, a computer scientist, collaborated in the 1990s to create the first practical quantum computer using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques.

How did their quantum computer work?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s quantum computer utilized the principles of quantum mechanics, including quantum superposition and entanglement, to perform computations.

What breakthroughs did their quantum computer achieve?

Their quantum computer successfully executed Shor’s algorithm, which is capable of factoring large numbers exponentially faster than classical computers.

How did their invention impact the field of quantum computing?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention marked a significant milestone in the development of quantum computers, inspiring subsequent researchers to explore new approaches and technologies for building more scalable and efficient quantum systems.

What limitations did the first quantum computer face?

The first quantum computer faced several limitations, including a high error rate due to the susceptibility of the NMR-based technology to decoherence.

Did Chuang and Gershenfeld receive recognition for their achievement?

Yes, their groundbreaking work gained recognition, and they were awarded the prestigious Richard P. Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology in 2001.

Has quantum computing technology improved since then?

Absolutely! Since Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention, quantum computing has made tremendous strides with advancements in hardware design, quantum algorithms, error correction techniques, and the emergence of various quantum computing platforms.

Are there other researchers who significantly contributed to quantum computing?

Certainly! A multitude of researchers and scientists around the world has made notable contributions to the development of quantum computing, further expanding our understanding and capabilities in this field.

What are the potential applications of quantum computing?

Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including cryptography, drug discovery, optimization problems, material science, and artificial intelligence.

Are quantum computers currently commercially available?

Although quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, there are some commercially available quantum computers offered by companies like IBM, Google, and Honeywell.

How far are we from achieving quantum supremacy?

Quantum supremacy refers to a point where a quantum computer can perform a calculation that is infeasible for any classical computer. While there have been promising demonstrations, achieving true quantum supremacy at scale is still a significant endeavor.

What are the biggest challenges in quantum computing today?

Some of the significant challenges in quantum computing include quantum decoherence, error correction, scaling up the number of qubits, and improving hardware reliability.

In conclusion, Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld can be credited for inventing the first quantum computer in 1998, marking a pivotal moment in the history of computing. Their pioneering work has inspired countless researchers, leading to remarkable advancements in quantum computing technology. As we continue to unravel the potential of this exciting field, it is crucial to acknowledge the many researchers who have contributed to shaping the future of quantum computing.

Scroll to Top

Title:

Content: Skip to main content

U.S. May Include AI and Quantum Computing in Chinese Tech Ban

The U.S. may be looking to tighten its technological noose on China beyond semiconductors. According to Bloomberg's sources, the Biden administration has been holding internal and external discussions on further cutting China off from high-tech solutions that might impact national and worldwide security. Foremost are the fields of A.I. software and quantum computing, whose potential for worldwide disruption is still under assessment despite breakneck advances. Further sanctions would add power to existing ones, including China's quantum computing companies (to a degree).

One thing both technological spaces have in common is that they're still nascent: every day greets us with yet another quantum computing or AI-related headline. Efforts to regulate China's access to such rapidly-changing technologies leave the Biden administration between a rock and a hard place. Sanctions targeting China have been shown to have nefarious effects on the world at large and American semiconductor companies in particular, not just on its intending recipient.

Another element any sanctions would have to consider is the technological fields themselves. Essentially, what specific elements for each technology could be sanctioned that would hit China the most and the rest of the world the least? What price - if any - would U.S. companies pay for tightening the noose?

Companies in the quantum computing space might tell you otherwise, but the current approaches to the field showcase the number of potential sanction venues. Should the Biden administration produce sanctions for any kind of quantum computing approach - from superconducting qubits to ion chains? What would it do to the quantum computing research and product market if the sanctions only focussed on certain technologies, disproportionately hitting some companies while leaving others off the hook? What if a new quantum computing (or A.I.) approach surfaces?

Despite the cost and difficulty in perceiving the magnitude of the required U.S. regulatory intervention, China's efforts in the quantum computing space should give the U.S. pause. The number of accusations flying around regarding I.P. and state secret thefts, paired with China's clear interest in leading the space's research and development, open up the doors to immense privacy and national security concerns.

When quantum computing lurches past its current NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum Era), it will enable any actor to field a way to crack currently-applied encryption algorithms. This includes data in motion and data at rest - especially any data that has been already stolen in what is known as a "steal now, decrypt later" attack. Nobody knows the petabytes (?) of intercepted data just lying in wait for the moment that a quantum computer is around to destroy their current encryption schemes. The impact of being the first to crack quantum computing cannot be overstated - especially if it's done by an actor that feels it has a score to settle, even more so when standards for post-quantum encryption are still being discussed.

China has shown incredible resilience despite the ever-tightening sanctions. Even after being cut from the latest manufacturing technologies, the country's OceanLight supercomputer managed to stand side by side with the AMD-made Frontier in disputing the finalist prize for the Gordon Bell award. The award is directly related to A.I. workloads, and China managed to field a supercomputer powered by 14nm-era hardware to perform work deemed relevant enough for prize contention. It's extremely likely that China will continue on this road. As they say: where there's a will, there's a way.

Freelance News Writer

Francisco Pires is a freelance news writer for Tom's Hardware with a soft side for quantum computing.

What companies are leading in developing quantum computing?

What companies are leading in developing quantum computing?

What companies are leading in developing quantum computing?

What companies are leading in developing quantum computing?

What companies are leading in developing quantum computing?

What companies are leading in developing quantum computing?

What companies are leading in developing quantum computing?

What companies are leading in developing quantum computing?

**IBM and Microsoft**: These tech giants are actively developing quantum computing technologies and have formed educational alliances, such as their partnership with Trinity College Dublin to develop quantum computing skills.

Title:

Content: Image: © luchschenF/Stock.adobe.com

What skills do you need to start a career in quantum?

2 hours ago

Quantum combines quantum mechanics with physics, maths and computer science to innovate and solve problems. It’s an exciting area to break into.

Quantum tech is perhaps not as well-known as other areas of tech, but there is no doubt that its influence is growing – and that means it is a good area to look into if you’re an ambitious person with an aptitude for computers and maths.

Lots of Big Tech companies are betting on quantum as a driver of innovation for the future. Currently, much of the quantum knowledge is evolving in the academic world, but businesses are beginning to sit up and take notice of the tech’s potential thanks to industry-academia collaborations.

In Ireland, Trinity College Dublin has recently formed an alliance for quantum computing skills with industry players IBM and Microsoft. Smaller companies have joined the alliance, too, including Horizon Quantum Computing, a Singapore-based quantum tech company headed up by Irishman Dr Joe Fitzsimons. He spoke to SiliconRepublic.com last year when his company expanded into Ireland, announcing several new jobs for Dublin.

So, what kind of skills do you need if you want to break into quantum computing and how difficult is it to establish a career in the sector?

To answer the second question first, you will most likely need a university qualification – possibly to postgraduate level. Quantum is complex and even academics who work on advancing research in the field are sometimes stymied by problems in the field.

That said, Irish universities’ determination to make quantum skills accessible for everyone means there are a lot of postgraduate programmes that have been developed in consultation with the likes of IBM.

If you’re looking to brush up on your skills casually, Google has made its Quantum Virtual Machine available to the public free of charge so everyone can learn quantum programming skills. There is also the option of online courses, available from the likes of Skillnet Ireland, as well as Udemy and edX.

Technical, mathematical and soft skills

Maths is definitely a skill you need for quantum. Specifically, linear algebra, probability theory and statistics. Computer science skills such as algorithms, programming and data structuring are required in combination also.

It goes without saying that you need to know the quantum lingo, too. This means a decent grasp of quantum theory and mechanics. Keep up with developments that are happening in quantum science and know how the industry is using the tech for different purposes. Specialist publications like Quantum Zeitgeist are good for this. If you are able to talk the talk with quantum, you can explain to businesses how they can benefit from the tech but you have to understand it first, so know your stuff – and your qubits.

Because quantum is such a complex area, it can be easy to put all of the focus on technical skills, but like any other career area it demands soft skills, too. Communication is important. Analytical and creative skills are definitely an asset, as are research skills for this fast-growing, young technology.

10 things you need to know direct to your inbox every weekday. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of essential sci-tech news.

By Blathnaid O’Dea

Blathnaid O’Dea joined Silicon Republic in 2021 as Careers reporter, coming from a background in the Humanities. She likes people, pranking, pictures of puffins – and apparently alliteration.

Loading now, one moment please!

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

**Rigetti**: This company has achieved significant milestones, including launching the world's first scalable multi-chip quantum processor in June 2021.

What are important areas in quantum research?

What companies are leading in developing quantum computing?

With a proprietary modular architecture, Rigetti collaborates with government entities including NASA and the U.

What companies are leading in developing quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

S.

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

Department of Energy, as well as industry partners like Palantir Technologies and Keysight Technologies.

**Google, Intel, and D-Wave**: These companies are heavily investing in quantum capabilities and exploring different approaches to quantum computing.

Title:

Content: McKinsey's Technology Trends for 2023

According to McKinsey Technology Council, “Generative AI is poised to add as much as $4.4 trillion in economic value.” The report also mentions that trust architectures and digital identity grew the most out of last year’s 14 trends, increasing by nearly 50 percent. Investments in other trends such as applied AI, advanced connectivity, and cloud and edge have declined. Since these technologies have applications in most industries their mainstream adoption will continue to grow.

  • Updated On Jul 30, 2023 at 04:01 PM IST
NEW DELHI: Lately, in 2023, there has been a resurgence of enthusiasm in people around the development of technology and its potential to uplift businesses and catalyze processes. In this process, generative AI is occupying center stage currently and is primarily responsible for this technological renaissance. This can further develop sustainable and inclusive growth which can then solve global complex challenges.

Advt
Amongst the new and notable trends, Generative AI is a trend that has made a loud entrance and has already proven how transformative it can be for businesses. It represents the frontier of AI and builds upon technologies such as applied AI and machine learning. According to McKinsey Technology Council, “Generative AI is poised to add as much as $4.4 trillion in economic value.” The report also mentions that trust architectures and digital identity grew the most out of last year’s 14 trends, increasing by nearly 50 percent. Investments in other trends such as applied AI, advanced connectivity, and cloud and edge have declined. Since these technologies have applications in most industries their mainstream adoption will continue to grow.

continued below
According to the report, cloud and edge computing are the future of bioengineering and have shown steady increases and have expanded use cases across industries. Currently, edge computing has over 500 use cases across industries and is expected to show further growth. Quantum technology is also growing but it is a nascent technology. The four industries that will see the earliest impacts of quantum computing as per the report are automotive, chemicals, financial services, and life sciences. These industries can stand to see a growth of $1.3 trillion by 2035 by strategically investing in quantum computing as per the report.

Advt
Over the years the talent dynamics in tech have changed considerably. There is a gap between available talent and the demand for talent with a particular skill set. According to a survey conducted by McKinsey, 3.5 million job postings in these tech trends of the skills in greatest demand have less than half as many qualified practitioners, for each posting as the global average. According to the report, “In the coming decade, 20 to 30 percent of the time that workers spend on the job could be transformed by automation technologies, leading to significant shifts in the skills required to be successful.” Job postings in fields related to tech trends grew 15% between 2021 and 2022 even though overall global postings decreased by 13%. Applied AI and next-gen software development collectively posted over one million jobs between 2018 and 2022.

The silver lining, however, for practitioners is that employers are still facing challenges to find enough talent to keep up with their demands. There is a shortage of qualified professionals in fields such as AI, quantum technologies, space technologies, and electrification and renewables. Further, the talent crunch is particularly, pronounced for cloud computing and industrialized machine learning.

These are the 15 tech trends as identified by the McKinsey Technology Council for 2023:

Applied AI: Models trained in machine learning can solve classification, prediction, and control problems and automate activities, add or augment capabilities and offerings, and make better decisions. Applied AI has proven useful for several non-tech users and will continue to do so. The report suggests that there has been an increase of 6% in job postings in the field of applied AI from 2021 to 2022. There has also been an equity investment of $104 billion and the industries that are affected by this are aerospace and defense, agriculture, automotive and assembly, aviation, travel and logistics, chemicals, construction and building materials, consumer packaged goods, education, electric power, natural gas and utilities, financial services, healthcare systems, and services, information technology and electronics, media and entertainment, metals and mining, oil and gas, pharmaceutical and medical products, public and social sectors, real estate, retail, and telecommunications. The adoption rate of this trend has been rated a 4 out of 5.

Industrializing machine learning: An ecosystem of software and hardware solutions has enabled practices that accelerate and derisk the development, deployment, and maintenance of machine learning solutions. This is primarily used for performance monitoring, stability, and ongoing improvements. There has been an increase of 23% in job postings in this field from 2021 to 2022. Further, there has also been a $3 billion equity investment. The industries that are affected by this trend are aerospace and defense, automotive and assembly, electric power, natural gas and utilities, financial services, information technology and electronics, media and entertainment, metals and mining, oil and gas, pharmaceutical and medical products, and telecommunications .T he adoption rate of this trend has been rated a 2 out of 5.

Generative AI: Generative AI is used for automating, augmenting, and accelerating work by tapping into unstructured mixed-modality data sets to enable the creation of new content in various forms, such as text, video, code, and even protein sequences. There has been a 44% increase in job postings in the field between 2021 to 2022. There has also been a $5 billion equity investment in generative AI and the industries affected by this trend are consumer packaged goods, financial services, healthcare systems and services, information technology and electronics, media and entertainment, oil and gas, pharmaceutical and medical products, retail and telecommunications. The adoption rate of this trend has been rated a 1 out of 5.

Next-generation software development: New software tools that enable modern code-deployment pipelines and automated code generation, testing, refactoring, and translation, can improve application quality and development processes. There has been a 25% increase in job postings in this field between 2021 to 2022. There has also been a $2 billion equity investment in this field and the industries affected by this trend are financial services and information technology. The adoption rate of this trend is rated a 2 out of 5.

Trust architectures and digital identity: Organizations can build, scale, and maintain the trust of stakeholders in the use of their data and digital-enabled products and services because of digital trust technologies. This allows users to exchange information and data through trusted service systems. There has been a 16% increase in job postings in this field between 2021 and 2022 and there has also been a $47 billion equity investment. The industries that are affected by this trend are aerospace and defense, consumer packaged goods, education, financial services, healthcare systems, and services, information technology and electronics, media and entertainment, pharmaceutical and medical products, public and social sectors, retail and telecommunications. The adoption rate of this trend is rated a 2 out of 5.

Web3: Web3 includes platforms and applications that enable shifts toward a future, decentralized internet with open standards and protocols while protecting digital-ownership rights. It’s not just cryptocurrency investments. It’s a transformative way to design software for specific purposes. This gives users greater ownership of their data and inspires new business models. The third generation of the web is a network of meaningfully linked data that is meant to be decentralized. There has been a 40% increase in job postings in this field and a $62 billion equity investment. The industries that are affected by this trend are financial services, information technology and electronics, media and entertainment, and retail. The adoption rate for this trend is rated 1 out of 5.

Advanced connectivity:
Wireless low-power networks, 5G/6G cellular, Wi-Fi 6 and 7, low-Earth-orbit satellites, and other technologies support a host of digital solutions that can drive growth and productivity across industries today and tomorrow. There has been a 7% increase in job postings in this field and a 118 trillion dollar equity investment in this trend. The industries that are affected by this trend are aerospace and defense, automotive and assembly, aviation, travel and logistics, construction and building materials, electric power, natural gas, and utilities, healthcare systems and services, information technology and electronics, media and entertainment, metals and mining, oil and gas, retail and telecommunications. The adoption rate of this trend is rated at a 4 out of 5.

Immersive reality technologies: Sensing technologies and spatial computing are used to help users “see the world differently” through mixed or augmented reality or “see a different world” through virtual reality as part of immersive-reality technologies. This technology stimulates reality and creates a distinct experience for the users. There has been a 10% increase in job postings and a $16 billion equity investment in the field. This trend will affect industries like aerospace and defense, automotive and assembly, aviation, travel and logistics, construction and building materials, consumer packaged goods, education, electric power, natural gas and utilities, healthcare systems and services, information technology and electronics, media and entertainment, real estate and retail. The adoption rate for this trend is rated 1 out of 5.

Cloud and edge computing: Cloud and edge computing allow users to distribute workloads across locations, such as hyper-scale remote data centers, regional centers, and local nodes, to improve latency, data-transfer costs, adherence to data sovereignty regulations, autonomy over data, and security. There has been a 12% increase in job postings in this field between 2021 and 2022 and a $84 billion equity investment. The industries that are affected by this are aerospace and defense, automotive and assembly, chemicals, electric power, natural gas and utilities, financial services, healthcare systems, and services, information technology and electronics, manufacturing, media and entertainment, pharmaceuticals and medical products, retail, and telecommunications. The adoption rate of this trend is rated at a 4 out of 5.

Quantum technologies: Quantum technologies provide a springboard in computational performance for certain problems and transform communication networks by making them more secure. There has been an increase in job postings in this field by 12% between 2021 to 2022 and a $2 billion equity investment has also been made towards this up until 2022. The industries that are affected by this trend are aerospace and defense, automotive and assembly, chemicals, financial services, information technology and electronics, metals and mining, oils and gas, and pharmaceuticals and medical products. The adoption rate of this trend is rated at 0 out of 5.

Future of mobility: Mobility aims to improve the efficiency and sustainability of land and air transportation of people and goods using autonomous, connected, electric, and shared solutions. There has been a 15% increase in job postings in this field between 2021 to 2022 and there has also been a $194 billion equity investment. The industries affected by this trend are automotive and assembly, aviation, travel and logistics, electric power, natural gas and utilities, financial services, oil and gas, public and social sectors, and retail. The adoption of this trend is rated at a 2 out of 5.

Future of bioengineering: Converging biological and information technologies to improve health and human performance, transform food value chains, and create innovative products and services. There has been a 19% decline in job postings in this field and a $43 billion equity investment as well. The industries that are affected by this trend are agriculture, chemicals, consumer packaged goods, healthcare systems and services, and pharmaceuticals and medical products. The adoption rate for this trend is rated a 3 out of 5.

Future of space technologies: Advances and cost reductions across satellites, launchers, and habitation technologies enable innovative space operations and services. There has been a 16% increase in job postings in this field from 2021 to 2022 and a $6 billion equity investment in this trend. The industries affected by it are aerospace and defense and telecommunications. The adoption rate of this trend is rated at 2 out of 5.

Electrification and renewables: Electrification and renewable energy drive towards net-zero commitments. These include solar-, wind-, and hydro-powered renewables and other renewables; nuclear energy; hydrogen; sustainable fuels; and electric-vehicle charging. There has been a 27% increase in job postings in this field from 2021 to 2022 and there has also been an equity investment of $288 billion in this trend. The industries affected by this trend are agriculture, automotive and assembly, aviation, travel and logistics, chemicals, construction and building materials, electric power, natural gas and utilities, metals and mining, oil and gas, and real estate.

Climate technologies beyond electrification and renewables:
Climate technologies include carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS); carbon removals; natural climate solutions; circular technologies; alternative proteins and agriculture; water and biodiversity solutions and adaptation; and technologies to track net-zero progress. There has been an 8% increase in job postings in this field from 2021 to 2022 and a $86 billion equity investment in this field up until 2022. The industries affected by this trend are agriculture, automotive and assembly, aviation, travel and logistics, chemicals, construction and building materials, electric power, natural gas and utilities, metals and mining, oil and gas, and real estate.
  • Published On Jul 30, 2023 at 04:01 PM IST

Most Read in Enterprise Services

Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals

Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis.

Download ETTelecom App

  • Get Realtime updates
  • Save your favourite articles

What are important areas in quantum research?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What are important areas in quantum research?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

**Cambridge Quantum**: This company developed the world's first toolkit and library for quantum natural language processing, enabling sentences to be converted into quantum circuits.

Title:

Content: embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT - Embedded.com

embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT

A roundup of this week’s embedded news includes embedded edge with Nitin podcast featuring a brand new GPU, quantum computing developments and IoT for smart buildings, plus usual product news including automotive, tools and software.

In our latest embedded edge with Nitin podcast, we have highlighted a new GPU, developments in quantum computing, and IoT for smart buildings. In the show, Andrew Girdler of Imagination Technologies told us about the company’s new flagship GPU that brings desktop-quality ray tracing to mobile for the first time and is industry’s first Level 4 RTLS ray tracing architecture. He said, “It’s the most advanced ray tracing architecture out there today, giving you the ability to enable advanced ray trace gaming effects, in a low power budget in a mobile phone device.” Listen to the full interview on the podcast.

I also spoke to two companies looking to help democratize quantum computing with the work they are doing. First, Bob Coecke of Cambridge Quantum took us into the background to the company’s launch of the world’s first toolkit and library for quantum natural language processing, which allows sentences to be converted into a quantum circuit. Then I spoke to Pauls Wells of sureCore, who’s leading a seven-member consortium that has received a UK£6.5 million government innovation grant to jointly develop advanced cryogenic semiconductor IP; this is intended to dramatically accelerate the growth of the quantum computing industry by reducing the constrains associated with interconnects thus enabling efficient qubit/system scaling.

Finally, the podcast features an interview with Bruno Johnson of Cascoda, who talks about his company’s module recently certified for the OCF running over Thread network protocol – this is said to be a true internet protocol-based connectivity solution that is extremely low power that provides IP connectivity right down to the end node and with the Open Connectivity Foundation secure PKI X 509 grade security for end-to-end encryption. This gives smart building and building automation “banking grade security” for IoT devices.

We’ve been attending various events in person over recent weeks, and next week you can catch us at the CW International Conference. The agenda for this year’s event is somewhat topical, especially given that we also had the COP26 global UN climate chance conference this week. The CW conference will consider the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximize wireless’ potential to improve the future, including the reduction of wireless’ environmental impact.

News & Products

SensiML Corporation, a developer of AI tools for building intelligent IoT endpoints, has teamed with onsemi to deliver a complete machine learning solution for autonomous sensor data processing and predictive modeling. The collaboration combines SensiML’s analytics toolkit development software with the RSL10 sensor development kit from onsemi to create a platform for edge sensing applications such as industrial process control and monitoring. The ability to support AI functions in a small memory footprint along with advanced sensing and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity enables sophisticated smart sensing without the need for cloud analytics of highly dynamic raw sensor data.

Allegro MicroSystems has expanded its automotive lighting portfolio to include two new offerings for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) applications. The A80803 is a switch-mode, constant-current controller for high-power LED automotive lighting applications that addresses many common pain points for headlight designers to help bring advanced functionality to mainstream vehicles. The A80804 is Allegro’s first four-channel linear driver for high-power LEDs. In addition to targeted applications such as DRL/position and stop/taillights, it gives lighting designers increased design flexibility for popular features such as sequential turn signals, animation effects, and theater-style transitions.

[insert image]

Tata Elxsi and Green Hills Software are working together on a driver monitoring system (DMS) platform that combines advanced DMS software (V.O.E.O.S.Y.S – vehicle operator environment observation system) and AUTOSAR adaptive from Tata Elxsi integrated with the safe and secure INTEGRITY real-time operating system (RTOS) from Green Hills Software, optimized to run on the latest families of automotive-grade microprocessors. This flexible and standards-based DMS platform enables OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to reduce the time, cost, and complexity of developing and deploying their DMS-compliant ADAS systems while meeting mandatory global safety and security requirements.

Infineon Technologies has joined the FiRa Consortium as a contributor member to support the expansion of the UWB ecosystem. The company’s VP digital security & identity, Bjoern Scharfen, said “UWB has a great potential to enhance Infineon’s offering in security, connectivity and computing. With this, the technology fully supports our vision of linking the real and digital world.” With the acquisition of Cypress in 2020, Infineon said it acquired significant expertise in connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) as well as in microcontrollers.

Wireless Telecom Group said that SmartSky Networks has selected the CommAgility high-performance telecommunications systems software and tools for its next-generation air-to-ground (ATG) network. Deployed in SmartSky’s inflight connectivity, CommAgility is providing a full protocol stack and physical layer (PHY) for SmartSky’s aircraft base radio (ABR), which is the user equipment (UE) on board the aircraft. The ABR connects to a ground base station and provides broadband inflight connectivity for the operational needs of the aircraft, passengers, and crew. SmartSky’s patented beamforming and spectrum re-use technologies have been tested and proven, and the network is now rolling out across the USA for aviation operators and passengers.

MicroAI has announced MicroAI Launchpad, a quick start development and deployment tool that helps organizations simplify and accelerate the design, development, testing, and deployment of smart systems that run embedded MicroAI software on MCUs and microprocessors (MPUs) in edge and endpoint devices. Launchpad makes it simple to handle customers with SIMs around the world and manage and reconfigure device profiles. A single pane of glass gives access to customizable dashboards for account creation, authentication, mobile SIM or LoRaWAN connectivity activation, credit card billing for global SIM connectivity, and onboarding of MicroAI’s embedded software libraries. Its embedded software, AtomML, enables OEMs to deploy personalized, edge-native AI models, without needing to develop static edge-AI models first in a cloud or laptop and then port them to the embedded device.

IAR Systems said that its latest version of IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm adds support for the Arm Cortex-M55 processor. In addition, version 9.20 of the toolchain includes support for the latest MCUs from several semiconductor vendors. The toolchain delivers optimization capabilities to assist developers in getting the most out of the performance of the MCU and yet stay as energy efficient as possible. To ensure code quality, code analysis tools are completely integrated with IAR Embedded Workbench.

Teledyne Test Tools has launched the T3DSO3000, a new series of premium economy oscilloscopes, which feature four channel models with analog bandwidth options from 200 MHz to 1 GHz. Each model offers a maximum sample rate of 5 GSa/s, and a maximum memory depth of 250 Mpts in half channel mode. All models incorporate two 5 GSa/s ADCs and two 250 Mpts memory modules. The oscilloscopes employ a new generation of high-speed display technology for excellent signal clarity, fidelity and performance. The series comes with a minimum vertical input range of 500 μV/div, an innovative digital trigger system with high sensitivity, low jitter, and a waveform capture rate of 500,000 waveforms/sec (sequence mode).

Kontron has launched the 3.5-inch SBC-R39, a compact 3.5-inch single-board computer suitable for integration into (open source) embedded systems in entertainment, digital signage, facial recognition, smart retail, smart classroom, smart office and industrial applications. The 3.5-inch SBC-R39 is built on a Rockchip RK3399(K) processor with ARM big.LITTLE microarchitecture. This includes two processors embedded in a single, fully integrated silicon chip. The LITTLE cluster consists of a quad-core Cortex A53 processor, which is typically used to perform routine tasks at low power consumption. The large cluster is a dual-core Cortex-A72 processor, which handles compute-intensive high-performance tasks. This architecture enables the SBC-R39 to dynamically assign tasks to the respective processor according to the performance requirement.

People and Funding

Velodyne Lidar announced the appointment of Theodore “Ted” L. Tewksbury, Ph.D. as chief executive officer, who joins after serving as CEO of Eta Compute. Prior to Eta Compute, Tewksbury, a technology executive with over 30 years’ leadership experience across public and private companies, held several chief executive and board positions, including Entropic Communications and Integrated Device Technology. He is an accomplished engineer, with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from MIT. He has held a variety of engineering and management positions in his career, including introducing over 180 innovative new product families during his time at Maxim Integrated Products.

Events

The CW International Conference (CWIC), one of the key annual events for the wireless industry in the U.K., is back both as a physical live event at IWM Duxford, Europe’s largest air museum, as well being available online. Taking place on 9th November 2021, this year’s theme considers the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximise wireless’ potential to improve the future. Full agenda and details are here.

Nvidia GTC takes place online from 8-11 November 2021, which will include a live-streamed keynote by Jensen Huang, plus talks from AI research and industry leaders on deep learning, data science, high-performance computing, robotics, data center/networking and graphics. Speakers include Fei-Fei Li, professor of computer science, Stanford University, Lindsay Edwards, responsible for AI at in respiratory and immunology, AstraZeneca, and Kay Firth-Butterfield, head of AI and ML, World Economic Forum. Details here.

The 58th DAC (Design Automation Conference) is takes place both physically in San Francisco and virtually between 5-10 December 2021. Keynote speakers include Jeff Dean of Google Research and Google Health, Bill Dally of Nvidia, and Missy Cummings of Duke University. For the first, DAC attendees will also have access to SEMICON West and the RISC-V Summit. Details here.

What are important areas in quantum research?

development of high-level software
implementations of quantum processors

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What fields can quantum computers advance?

**Horizon Quantum Computing**: A Singapore-based quantum tech company that has expanded internationally, including into Ireland.

Title:

Content: Image: © luchschenF/Stock.adobe.com

What skills do you need to start a career in quantum?

2 hours ago

Quantum combines quantum mechanics with physics, maths and computer science to innovate and solve problems. It’s an exciting area to break into.

Quantum tech is perhaps not as well-known as other areas of tech, but there is no doubt that its influence is growing – and that means it is a good area to look into if you’re an ambitious person with an aptitude for computers and maths.

Lots of Big Tech companies are betting on quantum as a driver of innovation for the future. Currently, much of the quantum knowledge is evolving in the academic world, but businesses are beginning to sit up and take notice of the tech’s potential thanks to industry-academia collaborations.

In Ireland, Trinity College Dublin has recently formed an alliance for quantum computing skills with industry players IBM and Microsoft. Smaller companies have joined the alliance, too, including Horizon Quantum Computing, a Singapore-based quantum tech company headed up by Irishman Dr Joe Fitzsimons. He spoke to SiliconRepublic.com last year when his company expanded into Ireland, announcing several new jobs for Dublin.

So, what kind of skills do you need if you want to break into quantum computing and how difficult is it to establish a career in the sector?

To answer the second question first, you will most likely need a university qualification – possibly to postgraduate level. Quantum is complex and even academics who work on advancing research in the field are sometimes stymied by problems in the field.

That said, Irish universities’ determination to make quantum skills accessible for everyone means there are a lot of postgraduate programmes that have been developed in consultation with the likes of IBM.

If you’re looking to brush up on your skills casually, Google has made its Quantum Virtual Machine available to the public free of charge so everyone can learn quantum programming skills. There is also the option of online courses, available from the likes of Skillnet Ireland, as well as Udemy and edX.

Technical, mathematical and soft skills

Maths is definitely a skill you need for quantum. Specifically, linear algebra, probability theory and statistics. Computer science skills such as algorithms, programming and data structuring are required in combination also.

It goes without saying that you need to know the quantum lingo, too. This means a decent grasp of quantum theory and mechanics. Keep up with developments that are happening in quantum science and know how the industry is using the tech for different purposes. Specialist publications like Quantum Zeitgeist are good for this. If you are able to talk the talk with quantum, you can explain to businesses how they can benefit from the tech but you have to understand it first, so know your stuff – and your qubits.

Because quantum is such a complex area, it can be easy to put all of the focus on technical skills, but like any other career area it demands soft skills, too. Communication is important. Analytical and creative skills are definitely an asset, as are research skills for this fast-growing, young technology.

10 things you need to know direct to your inbox every weekday. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of essential sci-tech news.

By Blathnaid O’Dea

Blathnaid O’Dea joined Silicon Republic in 2021 as Careers reporter, coming from a background in the Humanities. She likes people, pranking, pictures of puffins – and apparently alliteration.

Loading now, one moment please!

Title:

Content: Who invented the first quantum computer?

Who invented the first quantum computer?

**The first quantum computer was invented by a group of researchers led by physicist Isaac Chuang and computer scientist Neil Gershenfeld in 1998.**

Quantum computing has undoubtedly revolutionized the world of technology and opened up new possibilities for solving complex problems. As this fascinating field continues to grow, many people wonder who can be credited with the invention of the very first quantum computer. Well, the answer lies with a group of brilliant scientists who pushed the boundaries of computation to a whole new level.

What were the key contributions of Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld?

Isaac Chuang, a physicist, and Neil Gershenfeld, a computer scientist, collaborated in the 1990s to create the first practical quantum computer using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques.

How did their quantum computer work?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s quantum computer utilized the principles of quantum mechanics, including quantum superposition and entanglement, to perform computations.

What breakthroughs did their quantum computer achieve?

Their quantum computer successfully executed Shor’s algorithm, which is capable of factoring large numbers exponentially faster than classical computers.

How did their invention impact the field of quantum computing?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention marked a significant milestone in the development of quantum computers, inspiring subsequent researchers to explore new approaches and technologies for building more scalable and efficient quantum systems.

What limitations did the first quantum computer face?

The first quantum computer faced several limitations, including a high error rate due to the susceptibility of the NMR-based technology to decoherence.

Did Chuang and Gershenfeld receive recognition for their achievement?

Yes, their groundbreaking work gained recognition, and they were awarded the prestigious Richard P. Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology in 2001.

Has quantum computing technology improved since then?

Absolutely! Since Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention, quantum computing has made tremendous strides with advancements in hardware design, quantum algorithms, error correction techniques, and the emergence of various quantum computing platforms.

Are there other researchers who significantly contributed to quantum computing?

Certainly! A multitude of researchers and scientists around the world has made notable contributions to the development of quantum computing, further expanding our understanding and capabilities in this field.

What are the potential applications of quantum computing?

Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including cryptography, drug discovery, optimization problems, material science, and artificial intelligence.

Are quantum computers currently commercially available?

Although quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, there are some commercially available quantum computers offered by companies like IBM, Google, and Honeywell.

How far are we from achieving quantum supremacy?

Quantum supremacy refers to a point where a quantum computer can perform a calculation that is infeasible for any classical computer. While there have been promising demonstrations, achieving true quantum supremacy at scale is still a significant endeavor.

What are the biggest challenges in quantum computing today?

Some of the significant challenges in quantum computing include quantum decoherence, error correction, scaling up the number of qubits, and improving hardware reliability.

In conclusion, Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld can be credited for inventing the first quantum computer in 1998, marking a pivotal moment in the history of computing. Their pioneering work has inspired countless researchers, leading to remarkable advancements in quantum computing technology. As we continue to unravel the potential of this exciting field, it is crucial to acknowledge the many researchers who have contributed to shaping the future of quantum computing.

Scroll to Top

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

## Leading Countries in Quantum Computing

The global quantum computing race is primarily led by:

1.

Title:

Content: Computing

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

China Delivers Its First Practical Quantum Computer System to a Customer

China’s Science Ministry on Monday announced that the country’s first practical quantum computer was delivered to a user, which the agency didn’t identify, a year ago.

The 24-qubit Wuyan system based on superconducting technology was built by Origin Quantum Computing Technology, a company founded in 2017 by two of the country’s leading quantum physicists, Guo Guoping and Guo Guangcan. A qubit in the quantum world performs functions akin to bits in the digital world.

With the on-premises installation of the Wuyan system, China became the third country, after Canada and the United States, to deliver a complete quantum computer system to a customer.

Some skeptics questioned the timing of the announcement.

“Quantum technology has a high priority for national security in China. If this were something very important, I doubt it would be disclosed like this in a transparent way by Chinese authorities,” explained Weifeng Zhong, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

“The fact that it was delayed for a year suggests that they realize now that it’s not important to national security, so they’re trying to use it to build China’s image as a technology leader at a time when they’re trying to open up their economy to the rest of the world,” Zhong told TechNewsWorld.

Important Step

However, Hodan Omaar, a senior AI policy analyst at the Center for Data Innovation, a think tank studying the intersection of data, technology, and public policy, in Washington, D.C., maintained the announcement shows that China has made an important step in its quantum development.

“Overcoming technical challenges on the path toward large-scale quantum computers will depend on the ability to scale the number of qubits in quantum systems, much like modern classical computers have depended on the growth in the number of transistors in superconducting chips,” Omaar told TechNewsWorld.

“Investing in near-term quantum computing applications helps bolster the development of longer-term use cases of the technology, thereby helping to improve competitiveness,” she added.

Skip Sanzeri, co-founder and COO of QuSecure, a maker of quantum-safe security solutions in San Mateo, Calif., called the announcement “formidable” because China is stating that they have a fully functional quantum computer, albeit the qubit count is low.

“Nonetheless, error correction and noise reduction are two significant factors in ensuring that a quantum computer can process data and provide applications that we can rely on,” Sanzeri told TechNewsWorld. “By announcing that they have been able to get to this level shows that China is making progress towards larger quantum computers.”

Bucking a Trend

The Wuyan system appears to be on par with other systems in the market, noted Heather West, a senior research analyst at IDC’, an international market research company.

“The fact that they sold a 24 qubit system to someone isn’t that different from what we’re seeing elsewhere around the world,” West told TechNewsWorld.

Delivering a standalone system like the Wuyan is actually bucking the current trend in the market.

“Most quantum computers that people are accessing today are accessed through the cloud,” explained Doug Finke, an analyst with Global Quantum Intelligence, an international market intelligence firm.

“This Wuyan computer is being delivered to a customer in an on-premise situation,” Finke told TechNewsWorld. “On-premise has a lot of disadvantages. You have to worry about maintenance. You have to worry about spare parts. You have to worry about calibration.”

“In addition,” he continued, “quantum computing innovation is so fast that they become obsolete in about two years. So few people want an on-premise quantum computer. They’re much more comfortable with the cloud.”

Superconducting Challenges

The Wuyan system is built using superconducting chip technology, one of the earliest technologies for quantum computers. Since its introduction, other technologies have been explored. They include photonics, trapped ions, and neutral atoms.

“At the moment, no one knows which technology will be the winner or if there’ll be a combination of technologies that will combine for efficacious quantum applications,” Sanzeri said.

“Superconducting is very difficult,” he explained. “It requires near zero Kelvin refrigeration.”

“The electrons used in superconducting quantum computers are very hard to manage due to very short coherence times,” he continued. “That’s why they must be cooled to such a low temperature.”

Other methods are managing longer coherence times and a faster path to the desired goal of 1,000 error-corrected qubits, he added.

“The million-dollar question is what technology will win the race to the fault-tolerant quantum computer,” West said. “There might not be one winner. There might not be one system that comes out on top. It might be that certain kinds of systems are better than others at solving certain kinds of problems.”

Long View

Omaar countered that superconducting chips have a number of advantages over competing technologies.

“First, superconducting qubits are solid-state electrical circuits that are easier to control because they are manipulated using microwaves,” she said. “Scientists can therefore use easily accessible commercial microwave devices and equipment in superconducting quantum computing applications.”

“Second,” she continued, “because preparing superconducting circuits is based on the existing method for fabricating semiconductor chips, the development of high-quality devices can leverage advanced chip-making technologies, which is good for manufacturing and scalability.”

Despite developments like China’s Wuyan system, the arrival of a quantum computer that can tackle problems beyond the capacity of silicon computers appears to be years away.

“What quantum computers are going to be best for is solving complex, intractable problems beyond the scope of classical compute technology,” West said. “Those problems are years away from a quantum computer solving.”

“To get to that, we need at least a million qubits,” she continued. “That’s going to take a lot of work in scaling and stabilizing the qubits. Qubits are very sensitive to outside noise. As a result, the error rates are high in the technology we have.”

Despite the exuberance exhibited by many, we’re still in the early days of quantum computing, added Richard Stiennon, founder and chief research analyst at IT-Harvest, a cybersecurity industry analyst firm in Birmingham, Mich.

“There are many physical constraints on quantum computing that require precision in length of pathways — we are talking microns — and resistance to forces — footsteps can interfere with it. Supercooled chips just add to the complexity,” Stiennon told TechNewsWorld.

“I put it in the same realm as developing usable nuclear fusion as an energy source,” he said. “Hundreds of billions of dollars and decades to show a glimmer of progress.”

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.

More by John P. Mello Jr.
More in Computing

To earn your loyalty as a consumer, how important is it that a brand provides a personalized experience?
 Loading ...

Technewsworld Channels

Title:

Content: Who invented the first quantum computer?

Who invented the first quantum computer?

**The first quantum computer was invented by a group of researchers led by physicist Isaac Chuang and computer scientist Neil Gershenfeld in 1998.**

Quantum computing has undoubtedly revolutionized the world of technology and opened up new possibilities for solving complex problems. As this fascinating field continues to grow, many people wonder who can be credited with the invention of the very first quantum computer. Well, the answer lies with a group of brilliant scientists who pushed the boundaries of computation to a whole new level.

What were the key contributions of Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld?

Isaac Chuang, a physicist, and Neil Gershenfeld, a computer scientist, collaborated in the 1990s to create the first practical quantum computer using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques.

How did their quantum computer work?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s quantum computer utilized the principles of quantum mechanics, including quantum superposition and entanglement, to perform computations.

What breakthroughs did their quantum computer achieve?

Their quantum computer successfully executed Shor’s algorithm, which is capable of factoring large numbers exponentially faster than classical computers.

How did their invention impact the field of quantum computing?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention marked a significant milestone in the development of quantum computers, inspiring subsequent researchers to explore new approaches and technologies for building more scalable and efficient quantum systems.

What limitations did the first quantum computer face?

The first quantum computer faced several limitations, including a high error rate due to the susceptibility of the NMR-based technology to decoherence.

Did Chuang and Gershenfeld receive recognition for their achievement?

Yes, their groundbreaking work gained recognition, and they were awarded the prestigious Richard P. Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology in 2001.

Has quantum computing technology improved since then?

Absolutely! Since Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention, quantum computing has made tremendous strides with advancements in hardware design, quantum algorithms, error correction techniques, and the emergence of various quantum computing platforms.

Are there other researchers who significantly contributed to quantum computing?

Certainly! A multitude of researchers and scientists around the world has made notable contributions to the development of quantum computing, further expanding our understanding and capabilities in this field.

What are the potential applications of quantum computing?

Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including cryptography, drug discovery, optimization problems, material science, and artificial intelligence.

Are quantum computers currently commercially available?

Although quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, there are some commercially available quantum computers offered by companies like IBM, Google, and Honeywell.

How far are we from achieving quantum supremacy?

Quantum supremacy refers to a point where a quantum computer can perform a calculation that is infeasible for any classical computer. While there have been promising demonstrations, achieving true quantum supremacy at scale is still a significant endeavor.

What are the biggest challenges in quantum computing today?

Some of the significant challenges in quantum computing include quantum decoherence, error correction, scaling up the number of qubits, and improving hardware reliability.

In conclusion, Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld can be credited for inventing the first quantum computer in 1998, marking a pivotal moment in the history of computing. Their pioneering work has inspired countless researchers, leading to remarkable advancements in quantum computing technology. As we continue to unravel the potential of this exciting field, it is crucial to acknowledge the many researchers who have contributed to shaping the future of quantum computing.

Scroll to Top

Title:

Content: Alert
It will not be all DPP Lai Ching-te talking about the premier and the head of the ministry: there are already candidates to think about.
Previous articlePrevious post: The 4th Stage of Cancer Planned Funeral: Don ’ t Want to See These People
Taiwan stocks rose 124 points, the band high transaction value but hit a new low this year...
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
1994 was a turning point in quantum computing. The algorithm of the American mathematician Shue showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be an important early application of quantum computers.
According to Reuters, the world may celebrate “Q-day ” as soon as next year, by which time the current encryption methods will be useless before quantum computers.
In view of this, the United States and China are stealing and harvesting each other ’ s data on a large scale to decipher and intercept messages in the quantum future.
According to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report in May last year predicted that enterprises will profit from quantum computing as soon as next year; by about 2035, quantum data may bring users as much as $850 billion (about NT $26.8 trillion) in benefits, quantum technology will mature in that year.
Quantum computers are expected to be able to crack cryptographic codes in minutes, rather than the thousands of years it would take for traditional computers today.
Industry experts claim that North America is the center of quantum computing.
American companies build quantum processors including IBM, Amazon, Intel, Google, Quantinum, IonQ, Microsoft, QCI and Rigetti Computing.
As of the previous year, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada also had the largest number of startups in the industry, according to the McKinsey report.
As for China, Genyuan Quantum announced in January last year that it had delivered a fully homemade 24 qubit quantum computer to customers and expected to develop a 1024 qubit quantum computer next year. In November last year, Alibaba Group donated the quantum computing laboratory and related experimental equipment of its research institute, Damo Institute, to Zhejiang University.
Baidu also followed suit this month by donating a quantum computing lab and equipment to the Beijing Institute of Quantum Information Sciences, which is supported by the Chinese government.
Others include Guodun Quantum, Guoyi Quantum, Turing Quantum, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the country's top scientific and technological academic institution, each developing quantum computing technology.
However, under this 1 quantum trend, the major countries in the United States and China are preparing for the future, lest in the quantum future, far more powerful than the current fastest supercomputer, will be able to crack the password to protect almost all modern communications.
Tilo Kunz, vice president of QD5, a Canadian security company, said that according to the minutes of the meeting released by the US Defense Information Systems Agency, all countries have tried to steal data, that is, to carry out a "harvest now, decipher later" security attack.
The military will discover that its long history of planning and intelligence has caught the eye of the enemy, that corporate intelligence has been stolen, and that people ’ s health records will be revealed.
However, opinions differ on when the quantum day "big limit" will come.
Quantum computing is still in its early days, and only small quantum computers with limited processing power and error-prone capabilities have been built.
Some researchers estimate that Quantum Day may be approaching by the middle of the century.
No one knows who can get there first.
The United States and China are seen as leaders in the field, and many experts believe the United States still prevails.
Researchers believe that more important than breaking the decryption code, quantum computers use the mysterious properties of subatomic particles, which are expected to bring breakthroughs in science, weapons equipment and industry.
Beijing Information Security Quantum Computing Quantum Computer
Extended reading
US, Japan, and Australia air force combat "Against North 24" joint exercise begins in Guam in early February
US B-21 stealth bomber production and China's "big power competition" intensified
Ying / Tsai Ing-wen Visited the Results of the Quantum Computer Project, Hoping to Contribute to the World
Home Made Quantum Computer by Academia Sinica Tsai Ing-wen: Made in Taiwan is the pride of Taiwanese
Related News
The performance is not as expected … Musk named Tesla ’ s share in the Japanese market is too low 1 reason why it is difficult for him to achieve his wish.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that Tesla ’ s market share in Japan is too low, hoping to at least raise it to a level with other companies.
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
In 1994, the turning point of quantum computing, the American mathematician Shue's algorithm showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be a quantum computer.
Japan's Toyota to suspend shipments of 10 cars after diesel engine violations in certification test
Japan ’ s Toyota Motor announced today that it has decided to suspend shipments of 10 affected vehicles because the diesel engine produced by the group ’ s “Toyota Automatic Weaving ” violated the certification test process.
South Korean semiconductor technology leak brothers take over illegal export equipment to earn more than 80 million
A semiconductor cleaning equipment manufacturer in South Korea was prosecuted for illegally leaking related technology to the Chinese side, and one of the suspects even took over the company immediately after his brother was detained and prosecuted for the above reasons.
China 's latest rescue measures boost Asian shares to rise and fall
Asian stocks rose and fell today as the Chinese authorities' latest rescue measures boosted their gains.
International oil prices are rising again in the Middle East, and it is alleged that an attack by a rebel group backed by Iran killed three people.
Semiconductor technology leaks continue! South Korean investigators say technology is flowing to the mainland to reveal secret signals and other methods
South Korean media quoted intelligence agency investigators as saying that the illegal export of semiconductor technology criminals in addition to using code communication to avoid being tracked, their methods are changing day by day, using mergers and acquisitions.
Product recommendation
udn Forum

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

**United States**: Considered to maintain an edge in quantum computing, with strong collaboration between government, industry, and academia.

Title:

Content: embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT - Embedded.com

embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT

A roundup of this week’s embedded news includes embedded edge with Nitin podcast featuring a brand new GPU, quantum computing developments and IoT for smart buildings, plus usual product news including automotive, tools and software.

In our latest embedded edge with Nitin podcast, we have highlighted a new GPU, developments in quantum computing, and IoT for smart buildings. In the show, Andrew Girdler of Imagination Technologies told us about the company’s new flagship GPU that brings desktop-quality ray tracing to mobile for the first time and is industry’s first Level 4 RTLS ray tracing architecture. He said, “It’s the most advanced ray tracing architecture out there today, giving you the ability to enable advanced ray trace gaming effects, in a low power budget in a mobile phone device.” Listen to the full interview on the podcast.

I also spoke to two companies looking to help democratize quantum computing with the work they are doing. First, Bob Coecke of Cambridge Quantum took us into the background to the company’s launch of the world’s first toolkit and library for quantum natural language processing, which allows sentences to be converted into a quantum circuit. Then I spoke to Pauls Wells of sureCore, who’s leading a seven-member consortium that has received a UK£6.5 million government innovation grant to jointly develop advanced cryogenic semiconductor IP; this is intended to dramatically accelerate the growth of the quantum computing industry by reducing the constrains associated with interconnects thus enabling efficient qubit/system scaling.

Finally, the podcast features an interview with Bruno Johnson of Cascoda, who talks about his company’s module recently certified for the OCF running over Thread network protocol – this is said to be a true internet protocol-based connectivity solution that is extremely low power that provides IP connectivity right down to the end node and with the Open Connectivity Foundation secure PKI X 509 grade security for end-to-end encryption. This gives smart building and building automation “banking grade security” for IoT devices.

We’ve been attending various events in person over recent weeks, and next week you can catch us at the CW International Conference. The agenda for this year’s event is somewhat topical, especially given that we also had the COP26 global UN climate chance conference this week. The CW conference will consider the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximize wireless’ potential to improve the future, including the reduction of wireless’ environmental impact.

News & Products

SensiML Corporation, a developer of AI tools for building intelligent IoT endpoints, has teamed with onsemi to deliver a complete machine learning solution for autonomous sensor data processing and predictive modeling. The collaboration combines SensiML’s analytics toolkit development software with the RSL10 sensor development kit from onsemi to create a platform for edge sensing applications such as industrial process control and monitoring. The ability to support AI functions in a small memory footprint along with advanced sensing and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity enables sophisticated smart sensing without the need for cloud analytics of highly dynamic raw sensor data.

Allegro MicroSystems has expanded its automotive lighting portfolio to include two new offerings for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) applications. The A80803 is a switch-mode, constant-current controller for high-power LED automotive lighting applications that addresses many common pain points for headlight designers to help bring advanced functionality to mainstream vehicles. The A80804 is Allegro’s first four-channel linear driver for high-power LEDs. In addition to targeted applications such as DRL/position and stop/taillights, it gives lighting designers increased design flexibility for popular features such as sequential turn signals, animation effects, and theater-style transitions.

[insert image]

Tata Elxsi and Green Hills Software are working together on a driver monitoring system (DMS) platform that combines advanced DMS software (V.O.E.O.S.Y.S – vehicle operator environment observation system) and AUTOSAR adaptive from Tata Elxsi integrated with the safe and secure INTEGRITY real-time operating system (RTOS) from Green Hills Software, optimized to run on the latest families of automotive-grade microprocessors. This flexible and standards-based DMS platform enables OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to reduce the time, cost, and complexity of developing and deploying their DMS-compliant ADAS systems while meeting mandatory global safety and security requirements.

Infineon Technologies has joined the FiRa Consortium as a contributor member to support the expansion of the UWB ecosystem. The company’s VP digital security & identity, Bjoern Scharfen, said “UWB has a great potential to enhance Infineon’s offering in security, connectivity and computing. With this, the technology fully supports our vision of linking the real and digital world.” With the acquisition of Cypress in 2020, Infineon said it acquired significant expertise in connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) as well as in microcontrollers.

Wireless Telecom Group said that SmartSky Networks has selected the CommAgility high-performance telecommunications systems software and tools for its next-generation air-to-ground (ATG) network. Deployed in SmartSky’s inflight connectivity, CommAgility is providing a full protocol stack and physical layer (PHY) for SmartSky’s aircraft base radio (ABR), which is the user equipment (UE) on board the aircraft. The ABR connects to a ground base station and provides broadband inflight connectivity for the operational needs of the aircraft, passengers, and crew. SmartSky’s patented beamforming and spectrum re-use technologies have been tested and proven, and the network is now rolling out across the USA for aviation operators and passengers.

MicroAI has announced MicroAI Launchpad, a quick start development and deployment tool that helps organizations simplify and accelerate the design, development, testing, and deployment of smart systems that run embedded MicroAI software on MCUs and microprocessors (MPUs) in edge and endpoint devices. Launchpad makes it simple to handle customers with SIMs around the world and manage and reconfigure device profiles. A single pane of glass gives access to customizable dashboards for account creation, authentication, mobile SIM or LoRaWAN connectivity activation, credit card billing for global SIM connectivity, and onboarding of MicroAI’s embedded software libraries. Its embedded software, AtomML, enables OEMs to deploy personalized, edge-native AI models, without needing to develop static edge-AI models first in a cloud or laptop and then port them to the embedded device.

IAR Systems said that its latest version of IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm adds support for the Arm Cortex-M55 processor. In addition, version 9.20 of the toolchain includes support for the latest MCUs from several semiconductor vendors. The toolchain delivers optimization capabilities to assist developers in getting the most out of the performance of the MCU and yet stay as energy efficient as possible. To ensure code quality, code analysis tools are completely integrated with IAR Embedded Workbench.

Teledyne Test Tools has launched the T3DSO3000, a new series of premium economy oscilloscopes, which feature four channel models with analog bandwidth options from 200 MHz to 1 GHz. Each model offers a maximum sample rate of 5 GSa/s, and a maximum memory depth of 250 Mpts in half channel mode. All models incorporate two 5 GSa/s ADCs and two 250 Mpts memory modules. The oscilloscopes employ a new generation of high-speed display technology for excellent signal clarity, fidelity and performance. The series comes with a minimum vertical input range of 500 μV/div, an innovative digital trigger system with high sensitivity, low jitter, and a waveform capture rate of 500,000 waveforms/sec (sequence mode).

Kontron has launched the 3.5-inch SBC-R39, a compact 3.5-inch single-board computer suitable for integration into (open source) embedded systems in entertainment, digital signage, facial recognition, smart retail, smart classroom, smart office and industrial applications. The 3.5-inch SBC-R39 is built on a Rockchip RK3399(K) processor with ARM big.LITTLE microarchitecture. This includes two processors embedded in a single, fully integrated silicon chip. The LITTLE cluster consists of a quad-core Cortex A53 processor, which is typically used to perform routine tasks at low power consumption. The large cluster is a dual-core Cortex-A72 processor, which handles compute-intensive high-performance tasks. This architecture enables the SBC-R39 to dynamically assign tasks to the respective processor according to the performance requirement.

People and Funding

Velodyne Lidar announced the appointment of Theodore “Ted” L. Tewksbury, Ph.D. as chief executive officer, who joins after serving as CEO of Eta Compute. Prior to Eta Compute, Tewksbury, a technology executive with over 30 years’ leadership experience across public and private companies, held several chief executive and board positions, including Entropic Communications and Integrated Device Technology. He is an accomplished engineer, with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from MIT. He has held a variety of engineering and management positions in his career, including introducing over 180 innovative new product families during his time at Maxim Integrated Products.

Events

The CW International Conference (CWIC), one of the key annual events for the wireless industry in the U.K., is back both as a physical live event at IWM Duxford, Europe’s largest air museum, as well being available online. Taking place on 9th November 2021, this year’s theme considers the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximise wireless’ potential to improve the future. Full agenda and details are here.

Nvidia GTC takes place online from 8-11 November 2021, which will include a live-streamed keynote by Jensen Huang, plus talks from AI research and industry leaders on deep learning, data science, high-performance computing, robotics, data center/networking and graphics. Speakers include Fei-Fei Li, professor of computer science, Stanford University, Lindsay Edwards, responsible for AI at in respiratory and immunology, AstraZeneca, and Kay Firth-Butterfield, head of AI and ML, World Economic Forum. Details here.

The 58th DAC (Design Automation Conference) is takes place both physically in San Francisco and virtually between 5-10 December 2021. Keynote speakers include Jeff Dean of Google Research and Google Health, Bill Dally of Nvidia, and Missy Cummings of Duke University. For the first, DAC attendees will also have access to SEMICON West and the RISC-V Summit. Details here.

Title:

Content: Image: © luchschenF/Stock.adobe.com

What skills do you need to start a career in quantum?

2 hours ago

Quantum combines quantum mechanics with physics, maths and computer science to innovate and solve problems. It’s an exciting area to break into.

Quantum tech is perhaps not as well-known as other areas of tech, but there is no doubt that its influence is growing – and that means it is a good area to look into if you’re an ambitious person with an aptitude for computers and maths.

Lots of Big Tech companies are betting on quantum as a driver of innovation for the future. Currently, much of the quantum knowledge is evolving in the academic world, but businesses are beginning to sit up and take notice of the tech’s potential thanks to industry-academia collaborations.

In Ireland, Trinity College Dublin has recently formed an alliance for quantum computing skills with industry players IBM and Microsoft. Smaller companies have joined the alliance, too, including Horizon Quantum Computing, a Singapore-based quantum tech company headed up by Irishman Dr Joe Fitzsimons. He spoke to SiliconRepublic.com last year when his company expanded into Ireland, announcing several new jobs for Dublin.

So, what kind of skills do you need if you want to break into quantum computing and how difficult is it to establish a career in the sector?

To answer the second question first, you will most likely need a university qualification – possibly to postgraduate level. Quantum is complex and even academics who work on advancing research in the field are sometimes stymied by problems in the field.

That said, Irish universities’ determination to make quantum skills accessible for everyone means there are a lot of postgraduate programmes that have been developed in consultation with the likes of IBM.

If you’re looking to brush up on your skills casually, Google has made its Quantum Virtual Machine available to the public free of charge so everyone can learn quantum programming skills. There is also the option of online courses, available from the likes of Skillnet Ireland, as well as Udemy and edX.

Technical, mathematical and soft skills

Maths is definitely a skill you need for quantum. Specifically, linear algebra, probability theory and statistics. Computer science skills such as algorithms, programming and data structuring are required in combination also.

It goes without saying that you need to know the quantum lingo, too. This means a decent grasp of quantum theory and mechanics. Keep up with developments that are happening in quantum science and know how the industry is using the tech for different purposes. Specialist publications like Quantum Zeitgeist are good for this. If you are able to talk the talk with quantum, you can explain to businesses how they can benefit from the tech but you have to understand it first, so know your stuff – and your qubits.

Because quantum is such a complex area, it can be easy to put all of the focus on technical skills, but like any other career area it demands soft skills, too. Communication is important. Analytical and creative skills are definitely an asset, as are research skills for this fast-growing, young technology.

10 things you need to know direct to your inbox every weekday. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of essential sci-tech news.

By Blathnaid O’Dea

Blathnaid O’Dea joined Silicon Republic in 2021 as Careers reporter, coming from a background in the Humanities. She likes people, pranking, pictures of puffins – and apparently alliteration.

Loading now, one moment please!

Title:

Content: Who invented the first quantum computer?

Who invented the first quantum computer?

**The first quantum computer was invented by a group of researchers led by physicist Isaac Chuang and computer scientist Neil Gershenfeld in 1998.**

Quantum computing has undoubtedly revolutionized the world of technology and opened up new possibilities for solving complex problems. As this fascinating field continues to grow, many people wonder who can be credited with the invention of the very first quantum computer. Well, the answer lies with a group of brilliant scientists who pushed the boundaries of computation to a whole new level.

What were the key contributions of Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld?

Isaac Chuang, a physicist, and Neil Gershenfeld, a computer scientist, collaborated in the 1990s to create the first practical quantum computer using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques.

How did their quantum computer work?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s quantum computer utilized the principles of quantum mechanics, including quantum superposition and entanglement, to perform computations.

What breakthroughs did their quantum computer achieve?

Their quantum computer successfully executed Shor’s algorithm, which is capable of factoring large numbers exponentially faster than classical computers.

How did their invention impact the field of quantum computing?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention marked a significant milestone in the development of quantum computers, inspiring subsequent researchers to explore new approaches and technologies for building more scalable and efficient quantum systems.

What limitations did the first quantum computer face?

The first quantum computer faced several limitations, including a high error rate due to the susceptibility of the NMR-based technology to decoherence.

Did Chuang and Gershenfeld receive recognition for their achievement?

Yes, their groundbreaking work gained recognition, and they were awarded the prestigious Richard P. Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology in 2001.

Has quantum computing technology improved since then?

Absolutely! Since Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention, quantum computing has made tremendous strides with advancements in hardware design, quantum algorithms, error correction techniques, and the emergence of various quantum computing platforms.

Are there other researchers who significantly contributed to quantum computing?

Certainly! A multitude of researchers and scientists around the world has made notable contributions to the development of quantum computing, further expanding our understanding and capabilities in this field.

What are the potential applications of quantum computing?

Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including cryptography, drug discovery, optimization problems, material science, and artificial intelligence.

Are quantum computers currently commercially available?

Although quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, there are some commercially available quantum computers offered by companies like IBM, Google, and Honeywell.

How far are we from achieving quantum supremacy?

Quantum supremacy refers to a point where a quantum computer can perform a calculation that is infeasible for any classical computer. While there have been promising demonstrations, achieving true quantum supremacy at scale is still a significant endeavor.

What are the biggest challenges in quantum computing today?

Some of the significant challenges in quantum computing include quantum decoherence, error correction, scaling up the number of qubits, and improving hardware reliability.

In conclusion, Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld can be credited for inventing the first quantum computer in 1998, marking a pivotal moment in the history of computing. Their pioneering work has inspired countless researchers, leading to remarkable advancements in quantum computing technology. As we continue to unravel the potential of this exciting field, it is crucial to acknowledge the many researchers who have contributed to shaping the future of quantum computing.

Scroll to Top

Title:

Content: Skip to main content

U.S. May Include AI and Quantum Computing in Chinese Tech Ban

The U.S. may be looking to tighten its technological noose on China beyond semiconductors. According to Bloomberg's sources, the Biden administration has been holding internal and external discussions on further cutting China off from high-tech solutions that might impact national and worldwide security. Foremost are the fields of A.I. software and quantum computing, whose potential for worldwide disruption is still under assessment despite breakneck advances. Further sanctions would add power to existing ones, including China's quantum computing companies (to a degree).

One thing both technological spaces have in common is that they're still nascent: every day greets us with yet another quantum computing or AI-related headline. Efforts to regulate China's access to such rapidly-changing technologies leave the Biden administration between a rock and a hard place. Sanctions targeting China have been shown to have nefarious effects on the world at large and American semiconductor companies in particular, not just on its intending recipient.

Another element any sanctions would have to consider is the technological fields themselves. Essentially, what specific elements for each technology could be sanctioned that would hit China the most and the rest of the world the least? What price - if any - would U.S. companies pay for tightening the noose?

Companies in the quantum computing space might tell you otherwise, but the current approaches to the field showcase the number of potential sanction venues. Should the Biden administration produce sanctions for any kind of quantum computing approach - from superconducting qubits to ion chains? What would it do to the quantum computing research and product market if the sanctions only focussed on certain technologies, disproportionately hitting some companies while leaving others off the hook? What if a new quantum computing (or A.I.) approach surfaces?

Despite the cost and difficulty in perceiving the magnitude of the required U.S. regulatory intervention, China's efforts in the quantum computing space should give the U.S. pause. The number of accusations flying around regarding I.P. and state secret thefts, paired with China's clear interest in leading the space's research and development, open up the doors to immense privacy and national security concerns.

When quantum computing lurches past its current NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum Era), it will enable any actor to field a way to crack currently-applied encryption algorithms. This includes data in motion and data at rest - especially any data that has been already stolen in what is known as a "steal now, decrypt later" attack. Nobody knows the petabytes (?) of intercepted data just lying in wait for the moment that a quantum computer is around to destroy their current encryption schemes. The impact of being the first to crack quantum computing cannot be overstated - especially if it's done by an actor that feels it has a score to settle, even more so when standards for post-quantum encryption are still being discussed.

China has shown incredible resilience despite the ever-tightening sanctions. Even after being cut from the latest manufacturing technologies, the country's OceanLight supercomputer managed to stand side by side with the AMD-made Frontier in disputing the finalist prize for the Gordon Bell award. The award is directly related to A.I. workloads, and China managed to field a supercomputer powered by 14nm-era hardware to perform work deemed relevant enough for prize contention. It's extremely likely that China will continue on this road. As they say: where there's a will, there's a way.

Freelance News Writer

Francisco Pires is a freelance news writer for Tom's Hardware with a soft side for quantum computing.

Title:

Content: Alert
It will not be all DPP Lai Ching-te talking about the premier and the head of the ministry: there are already candidates to think about.
Previous articlePrevious post: The 4th Stage of Cancer Planned Funeral: Don ’ t Want to See These People
Taiwan stocks rose 124 points, the band high transaction value but hit a new low this year...
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
1994 was a turning point in quantum computing. The algorithm of the American mathematician Shue showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be an important early application of quantum computers.
According to Reuters, the world may celebrate “Q-day ” as soon as next year, by which time the current encryption methods will be useless before quantum computers.
In view of this, the United States and China are stealing and harvesting each other ’ s data on a large scale to decipher and intercept messages in the quantum future.
According to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report in May last year predicted that enterprises will profit from quantum computing as soon as next year; by about 2035, quantum data may bring users as much as $850 billion (about NT $26.8 trillion) in benefits, quantum technology will mature in that year.
Quantum computers are expected to be able to crack cryptographic codes in minutes, rather than the thousands of years it would take for traditional computers today.
Industry experts claim that North America is the center of quantum computing.
American companies build quantum processors including IBM, Amazon, Intel, Google, Quantinum, IonQ, Microsoft, QCI and Rigetti Computing.
As of the previous year, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada also had the largest number of startups in the industry, according to the McKinsey report.
As for China, Genyuan Quantum announced in January last year that it had delivered a fully homemade 24 qubit quantum computer to customers and expected to develop a 1024 qubit quantum computer next year. In November last year, Alibaba Group donated the quantum computing laboratory and related experimental equipment of its research institute, Damo Institute, to Zhejiang University.
Baidu also followed suit this month by donating a quantum computing lab and equipment to the Beijing Institute of Quantum Information Sciences, which is supported by the Chinese government.
Others include Guodun Quantum, Guoyi Quantum, Turing Quantum, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the country's top scientific and technological academic institution, each developing quantum computing technology.
However, under this 1 quantum trend, the major countries in the United States and China are preparing for the future, lest in the quantum future, far more powerful than the current fastest supercomputer, will be able to crack the password to protect almost all modern communications.
Tilo Kunz, vice president of QD5, a Canadian security company, said that according to the minutes of the meeting released by the US Defense Information Systems Agency, all countries have tried to steal data, that is, to carry out a "harvest now, decipher later" security attack.
The military will discover that its long history of planning and intelligence has caught the eye of the enemy, that corporate intelligence has been stolen, and that people ’ s health records will be revealed.
However, opinions differ on when the quantum day "big limit" will come.
Quantum computing is still in its early days, and only small quantum computers with limited processing power and error-prone capabilities have been built.
Some researchers estimate that Quantum Day may be approaching by the middle of the century.
No one knows who can get there first.
The United States and China are seen as leaders in the field, and many experts believe the United States still prevails.
Researchers believe that more important than breaking the decryption code, quantum computers use the mysterious properties of subatomic particles, which are expected to bring breakthroughs in science, weapons equipment and industry.
Beijing Information Security Quantum Computing Quantum Computer
Extended reading
US, Japan, and Australia air force combat "Against North 24" joint exercise begins in Guam in early February
US B-21 stealth bomber production and China's "big power competition" intensified
Ying / Tsai Ing-wen Visited the Results of the Quantum Computer Project, Hoping to Contribute to the World
Home Made Quantum Computer by Academia Sinica Tsai Ing-wen: Made in Taiwan is the pride of Taiwanese
Related News
The performance is not as expected … Musk named Tesla ’ s share in the Japanese market is too low 1 reason why it is difficult for him to achieve his wish.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that Tesla ’ s market share in Japan is too low, hoping to at least raise it to a level with other companies.
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
In 1994, the turning point of quantum computing, the American mathematician Shue's algorithm showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be a quantum computer.
Japan's Toyota to suspend shipments of 10 cars after diesel engine violations in certification test
Japan ’ s Toyota Motor announced today that it has decided to suspend shipments of 10 affected vehicles because the diesel engine produced by the group ’ s “Toyota Automatic Weaving ” violated the certification test process.
South Korean semiconductor technology leak brothers take over illegal export equipment to earn more than 80 million
A semiconductor cleaning equipment manufacturer in South Korea was prosecuted for illegally leaking related technology to the Chinese side, and one of the suspects even took over the company immediately after his brother was detained and prosecuted for the above reasons.
China 's latest rescue measures boost Asian shares to rise and fall
Asian stocks rose and fell today as the Chinese authorities' latest rescue measures boosted their gains.
International oil prices are rising again in the Middle East, and it is alleged that an attack by a rebel group backed by Iran killed three people.
Semiconductor technology leaks continue! South Korean investigators say technology is flowing to the mainland to reveal secret signals and other methods
South Korean media quoted intelligence agency investigators as saying that the illegal export of semiconductor technology criminals in addition to using code communication to avoid being tracked, their methods are changing day by day, using mergers and acquisitions.
Product recommendation
udn Forum

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

Leading institutions include the University of Chicago and MIT, which are making significant quantum developments.

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

**China**: A major competitor in the quantum space, with researchers claiming breakthroughs such as using a quantum computer to break RSA encryption (though unproven) and setting a new quantum secure direct communication world record of 102.

Title:

Content: Computing

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

China Delivers Its First Practical Quantum Computer System to a Customer

China’s Science Ministry on Monday announced that the country’s first practical quantum computer was delivered to a user, which the agency didn’t identify, a year ago.

The 24-qubit Wuyan system based on superconducting technology was built by Origin Quantum Computing Technology, a company founded in 2017 by two of the country’s leading quantum physicists, Guo Guoping and Guo Guangcan. A qubit in the quantum world performs functions akin to bits in the digital world.

With the on-premises installation of the Wuyan system, China became the third country, after Canada and the United States, to deliver a complete quantum computer system to a customer.

Some skeptics questioned the timing of the announcement.

“Quantum technology has a high priority for national security in China. If this were something very important, I doubt it would be disclosed like this in a transparent way by Chinese authorities,” explained Weifeng Zhong, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

“The fact that it was delayed for a year suggests that they realize now that it’s not important to national security, so they’re trying to use it to build China’s image as a technology leader at a time when they’re trying to open up their economy to the rest of the world,” Zhong told TechNewsWorld.

Important Step

However, Hodan Omaar, a senior AI policy analyst at the Center for Data Innovation, a think tank studying the intersection of data, technology, and public policy, in Washington, D.C., maintained the announcement shows that China has made an important step in its quantum development.

“Overcoming technical challenges on the path toward large-scale quantum computers will depend on the ability to scale the number of qubits in quantum systems, much like modern classical computers have depended on the growth in the number of transistors in superconducting chips,” Omaar told TechNewsWorld.

“Investing in near-term quantum computing applications helps bolster the development of longer-term use cases of the technology, thereby helping to improve competitiveness,” she added.

Skip Sanzeri, co-founder and COO of QuSecure, a maker of quantum-safe security solutions in San Mateo, Calif., called the announcement “formidable” because China is stating that they have a fully functional quantum computer, albeit the qubit count is low.

“Nonetheless, error correction and noise reduction are two significant factors in ensuring that a quantum computer can process data and provide applications that we can rely on,” Sanzeri told TechNewsWorld. “By announcing that they have been able to get to this level shows that China is making progress towards larger quantum computers.”

Bucking a Trend

The Wuyan system appears to be on par with other systems in the market, noted Heather West, a senior research analyst at IDC’, an international market research company.

“The fact that they sold a 24 qubit system to someone isn’t that different from what we’re seeing elsewhere around the world,” West told TechNewsWorld.

Delivering a standalone system like the Wuyan is actually bucking the current trend in the market.

“Most quantum computers that people are accessing today are accessed through the cloud,” explained Doug Finke, an analyst with Global Quantum Intelligence, an international market intelligence firm.

“This Wuyan computer is being delivered to a customer in an on-premise situation,” Finke told TechNewsWorld. “On-premise has a lot of disadvantages. You have to worry about maintenance. You have to worry about spare parts. You have to worry about calibration.”

“In addition,” he continued, “quantum computing innovation is so fast that they become obsolete in about two years. So few people want an on-premise quantum computer. They’re much more comfortable with the cloud.”

Superconducting Challenges

The Wuyan system is built using superconducting chip technology, one of the earliest technologies for quantum computers. Since its introduction, other technologies have been explored. They include photonics, trapped ions, and neutral atoms.

“At the moment, no one knows which technology will be the winner or if there’ll be a combination of technologies that will combine for efficacious quantum applications,” Sanzeri said.

“Superconducting is very difficult,” he explained. “It requires near zero Kelvin refrigeration.”

“The electrons used in superconducting quantum computers are very hard to manage due to very short coherence times,” he continued. “That’s why they must be cooled to such a low temperature.”

Other methods are managing longer coherence times and a faster path to the desired goal of 1,000 error-corrected qubits, he added.

“The million-dollar question is what technology will win the race to the fault-tolerant quantum computer,” West said. “There might not be one winner. There might not be one system that comes out on top. It might be that certain kinds of systems are better than others at solving certain kinds of problems.”

Long View

Omaar countered that superconducting chips have a number of advantages over competing technologies.

“First, superconducting qubits are solid-state electrical circuits that are easier to control because they are manipulated using microwaves,” she said. “Scientists can therefore use easily accessible commercial microwave devices and equipment in superconducting quantum computing applications.”

“Second,” she continued, “because preparing superconducting circuits is based on the existing method for fabricating semiconductor chips, the development of high-quality devices can leverage advanced chip-making technologies, which is good for manufacturing and scalability.”

Despite developments like China’s Wuyan system, the arrival of a quantum computer that can tackle problems beyond the capacity of silicon computers appears to be years away.

“What quantum computers are going to be best for is solving complex, intractable problems beyond the scope of classical compute technology,” West said. “Those problems are years away from a quantum computer solving.”

“To get to that, we need at least a million qubits,” she continued. “That’s going to take a lot of work in scaling and stabilizing the qubits. Qubits are very sensitive to outside noise. As a result, the error rates are high in the technology we have.”

Despite the exuberance exhibited by many, we’re still in the early days of quantum computing, added Richard Stiennon, founder and chief research analyst at IT-Harvest, a cybersecurity industry analyst firm in Birmingham, Mich.

“There are many physical constraints on quantum computing that require precision in length of pathways — we are talking microns — and resistance to forces — footsteps can interfere with it. Supercooled chips just add to the complexity,” Stiennon told TechNewsWorld.

“I put it in the same realm as developing usable nuclear fusion as an energy source,” he said. “Hundreds of billions of dollars and decades to show a glimmer of progress.”

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.

More by John P. Mello Jr.
More in Computing

To earn your loyalty as a consumer, how important is it that a brand provides a personalized experience?
 Loading ...

Technewsworld Channels

Title:

Content: Alert
It will not be all DPP Lai Ching-te talking about the premier and the head of the ministry: there are already candidates to think about.
Previous articlePrevious post: The 4th Stage of Cancer Planned Funeral: Don ’ t Want to See These People
Taiwan stocks rose 124 points, the band high transaction value but hit a new low this year...
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
1994 was a turning point in quantum computing. The algorithm of the American mathematician Shue showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be an important early application of quantum computers.
According to Reuters, the world may celebrate “Q-day ” as soon as next year, by which time the current encryption methods will be useless before quantum computers.
In view of this, the United States and China are stealing and harvesting each other ’ s data on a large scale to decipher and intercept messages in the quantum future.
According to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report in May last year predicted that enterprises will profit from quantum computing as soon as next year; by about 2035, quantum data may bring users as much as $850 billion (about NT $26.8 trillion) in benefits, quantum technology will mature in that year.
Quantum computers are expected to be able to crack cryptographic codes in minutes, rather than the thousands of years it would take for traditional computers today.
Industry experts claim that North America is the center of quantum computing.
American companies build quantum processors including IBM, Amazon, Intel, Google, Quantinum, IonQ, Microsoft, QCI and Rigetti Computing.
As of the previous year, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada also had the largest number of startups in the industry, according to the McKinsey report.
As for China, Genyuan Quantum announced in January last year that it had delivered a fully homemade 24 qubit quantum computer to customers and expected to develop a 1024 qubit quantum computer next year. In November last year, Alibaba Group donated the quantum computing laboratory and related experimental equipment of its research institute, Damo Institute, to Zhejiang University.
Baidu also followed suit this month by donating a quantum computing lab and equipment to the Beijing Institute of Quantum Information Sciences, which is supported by the Chinese government.
Others include Guodun Quantum, Guoyi Quantum, Turing Quantum, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the country's top scientific and technological academic institution, each developing quantum computing technology.
However, under this 1 quantum trend, the major countries in the United States and China are preparing for the future, lest in the quantum future, far more powerful than the current fastest supercomputer, will be able to crack the password to protect almost all modern communications.
Tilo Kunz, vice president of QD5, a Canadian security company, said that according to the minutes of the meeting released by the US Defense Information Systems Agency, all countries have tried to steal data, that is, to carry out a "harvest now, decipher later" security attack.
The military will discover that its long history of planning and intelligence has caught the eye of the enemy, that corporate intelligence has been stolen, and that people ’ s health records will be revealed.
However, opinions differ on when the quantum day "big limit" will come.
Quantum computing is still in its early days, and only small quantum computers with limited processing power and error-prone capabilities have been built.
Some researchers estimate that Quantum Day may be approaching by the middle of the century.
No one knows who can get there first.
The United States and China are seen as leaders in the field, and many experts believe the United States still prevails.
Researchers believe that more important than breaking the decryption code, quantum computers use the mysterious properties of subatomic particles, which are expected to bring breakthroughs in science, weapons equipment and industry.
Beijing Information Security Quantum Computing Quantum Computer
Extended reading
US, Japan, and Australia air force combat "Against North 24" joint exercise begins in Guam in early February
US B-21 stealth bomber production and China's "big power competition" intensified
Ying / Tsai Ing-wen Visited the Results of the Quantum Computer Project, Hoping to Contribute to the World
Home Made Quantum Computer by Academia Sinica Tsai Ing-wen: Made in Taiwan is the pride of Taiwanese
Related News
The performance is not as expected … Musk named Tesla ’ s share in the Japanese market is too low 1 reason why it is difficult for him to achieve his wish.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that Tesla ’ s market share in Japan is too low, hoping to at least raise it to a level with other companies.
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
In 1994, the turning point of quantum computing, the American mathematician Shue's algorithm showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be a quantum computer.
Japan's Toyota to suspend shipments of 10 cars after diesel engine violations in certification test
Japan ’ s Toyota Motor announced today that it has decided to suspend shipments of 10 affected vehicles because the diesel engine produced by the group ’ s “Toyota Automatic Weaving ” violated the certification test process.
South Korean semiconductor technology leak brothers take over illegal export equipment to earn more than 80 million
A semiconductor cleaning equipment manufacturer in South Korea was prosecuted for illegally leaking related technology to the Chinese side, and one of the suspects even took over the company immediately after his brother was detained and prosecuted for the above reasons.
China 's latest rescue measures boost Asian shares to rise and fall
Asian stocks rose and fell today as the Chinese authorities' latest rescue measures boosted their gains.
International oil prices are rising again in the Middle East, and it is alleged that an attack by a rebel group backed by Iran killed three people.
Semiconductor technology leaks continue! South Korean investigators say technology is flowing to the mainland to reveal secret signals and other methods
South Korean media quoted intelligence agency investigators as saying that the illegal export of semiconductor technology criminals in addition to using code communication to avoid being tracked, their methods are changing day by day, using mergers and acquisitions.
Product recommendation
udn Forum

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

What are the potential threats of quantum computers?

threatening national security through breaking encryption

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What fields can quantum computers advance?

What are the potential threats of quantum computers?

threatening national security through breaking encryption

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What fields can quantum computers advance?

What are the potential threats of quantum computers?

threatening national security through breaking encryption

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What fields can quantum computers advance?

What are the potential threats of quantum computers?

threatening national security through breaking encryption

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What fields can quantum computers advance?

2 km.

China is estimated to be investing billions in quantum research.

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

How much have countries and blocs invested in quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

How much have countries and blocs invested in quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

How much have countries and blocs invested in quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

**Japan**: Recently entered the global quantum computing race with plans to deploy its first domestically produced quantum computer by March 2023.

What are important areas in quantum research?

The government aims to reach 10 million quantum technology users by 2030.

**European Countries**: Including Ireland, which has formed quantum computing alliances with industry players, and the UK, which has provided significant funding for quantum technology development.

Title:

Content: embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT - Embedded.com

embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT

A roundup of this week’s embedded news includes embedded edge with Nitin podcast featuring a brand new GPU, quantum computing developments and IoT for smart buildings, plus usual product news including automotive, tools and software.

In our latest embedded edge with Nitin podcast, we have highlighted a new GPU, developments in quantum computing, and IoT for smart buildings. In the show, Andrew Girdler of Imagination Technologies told us about the company’s new flagship GPU that brings desktop-quality ray tracing to mobile for the first time and is industry’s first Level 4 RTLS ray tracing architecture. He said, “It’s the most advanced ray tracing architecture out there today, giving you the ability to enable advanced ray trace gaming effects, in a low power budget in a mobile phone device.” Listen to the full interview on the podcast.

I also spoke to two companies looking to help democratize quantum computing with the work they are doing. First, Bob Coecke of Cambridge Quantum took us into the background to the company’s launch of the world’s first toolkit and library for quantum natural language processing, which allows sentences to be converted into a quantum circuit. Then I spoke to Pauls Wells of sureCore, who’s leading a seven-member consortium that has received a UK£6.5 million government innovation grant to jointly develop advanced cryogenic semiconductor IP; this is intended to dramatically accelerate the growth of the quantum computing industry by reducing the constrains associated with interconnects thus enabling efficient qubit/system scaling.

Finally, the podcast features an interview with Bruno Johnson of Cascoda, who talks about his company’s module recently certified for the OCF running over Thread network protocol – this is said to be a true internet protocol-based connectivity solution that is extremely low power that provides IP connectivity right down to the end node and with the Open Connectivity Foundation secure PKI X 509 grade security for end-to-end encryption. This gives smart building and building automation “banking grade security” for IoT devices.

We’ve been attending various events in person over recent weeks, and next week you can catch us at the CW International Conference. The agenda for this year’s event is somewhat topical, especially given that we also had the COP26 global UN climate chance conference this week. The CW conference will consider the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximize wireless’ potential to improve the future, including the reduction of wireless’ environmental impact.

News & Products

SensiML Corporation, a developer of AI tools for building intelligent IoT endpoints, has teamed with onsemi to deliver a complete machine learning solution for autonomous sensor data processing and predictive modeling. The collaboration combines SensiML’s analytics toolkit development software with the RSL10 sensor development kit from onsemi to create a platform for edge sensing applications such as industrial process control and monitoring. The ability to support AI functions in a small memory footprint along with advanced sensing and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity enables sophisticated smart sensing without the need for cloud analytics of highly dynamic raw sensor data.

Allegro MicroSystems has expanded its automotive lighting portfolio to include two new offerings for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) applications. The A80803 is a switch-mode, constant-current controller for high-power LED automotive lighting applications that addresses many common pain points for headlight designers to help bring advanced functionality to mainstream vehicles. The A80804 is Allegro’s first four-channel linear driver for high-power LEDs. In addition to targeted applications such as DRL/position and stop/taillights, it gives lighting designers increased design flexibility for popular features such as sequential turn signals, animation effects, and theater-style transitions.

[insert image]

Tata Elxsi and Green Hills Software are working together on a driver monitoring system (DMS) platform that combines advanced DMS software (V.O.E.O.S.Y.S – vehicle operator environment observation system) and AUTOSAR adaptive from Tata Elxsi integrated with the safe and secure INTEGRITY real-time operating system (RTOS) from Green Hills Software, optimized to run on the latest families of automotive-grade microprocessors. This flexible and standards-based DMS platform enables OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to reduce the time, cost, and complexity of developing and deploying their DMS-compliant ADAS systems while meeting mandatory global safety and security requirements.

Infineon Technologies has joined the FiRa Consortium as a contributor member to support the expansion of the UWB ecosystem. The company’s VP digital security & identity, Bjoern Scharfen, said “UWB has a great potential to enhance Infineon’s offering in security, connectivity and computing. With this, the technology fully supports our vision of linking the real and digital world.” With the acquisition of Cypress in 2020, Infineon said it acquired significant expertise in connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) as well as in microcontrollers.

Wireless Telecom Group said that SmartSky Networks has selected the CommAgility high-performance telecommunications systems software and tools for its next-generation air-to-ground (ATG) network. Deployed in SmartSky’s inflight connectivity, CommAgility is providing a full protocol stack and physical layer (PHY) for SmartSky’s aircraft base radio (ABR), which is the user equipment (UE) on board the aircraft. The ABR connects to a ground base station and provides broadband inflight connectivity for the operational needs of the aircraft, passengers, and crew. SmartSky’s patented beamforming and spectrum re-use technologies have been tested and proven, and the network is now rolling out across the USA for aviation operators and passengers.

MicroAI has announced MicroAI Launchpad, a quick start development and deployment tool that helps organizations simplify and accelerate the design, development, testing, and deployment of smart systems that run embedded MicroAI software on MCUs and microprocessors (MPUs) in edge and endpoint devices. Launchpad makes it simple to handle customers with SIMs around the world and manage and reconfigure device profiles. A single pane of glass gives access to customizable dashboards for account creation, authentication, mobile SIM or LoRaWAN connectivity activation, credit card billing for global SIM connectivity, and onboarding of MicroAI’s embedded software libraries. Its embedded software, AtomML, enables OEMs to deploy personalized, edge-native AI models, without needing to develop static edge-AI models first in a cloud or laptop and then port them to the embedded device.

IAR Systems said that its latest version of IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm adds support for the Arm Cortex-M55 processor. In addition, version 9.20 of the toolchain includes support for the latest MCUs from several semiconductor vendors. The toolchain delivers optimization capabilities to assist developers in getting the most out of the performance of the MCU and yet stay as energy efficient as possible. To ensure code quality, code analysis tools are completely integrated with IAR Embedded Workbench.

Teledyne Test Tools has launched the T3DSO3000, a new series of premium economy oscilloscopes, which feature four channel models with analog bandwidth options from 200 MHz to 1 GHz. Each model offers a maximum sample rate of 5 GSa/s, and a maximum memory depth of 250 Mpts in half channel mode. All models incorporate two 5 GSa/s ADCs and two 250 Mpts memory modules. The oscilloscopes employ a new generation of high-speed display technology for excellent signal clarity, fidelity and performance. The series comes with a minimum vertical input range of 500 μV/div, an innovative digital trigger system with high sensitivity, low jitter, and a waveform capture rate of 500,000 waveforms/sec (sequence mode).

Kontron has launched the 3.5-inch SBC-R39, a compact 3.5-inch single-board computer suitable for integration into (open source) embedded systems in entertainment, digital signage, facial recognition, smart retail, smart classroom, smart office and industrial applications. The 3.5-inch SBC-R39 is built on a Rockchip RK3399(K) processor with ARM big.LITTLE microarchitecture. This includes two processors embedded in a single, fully integrated silicon chip. The LITTLE cluster consists of a quad-core Cortex A53 processor, which is typically used to perform routine tasks at low power consumption. The large cluster is a dual-core Cortex-A72 processor, which handles compute-intensive high-performance tasks. This architecture enables the SBC-R39 to dynamically assign tasks to the respective processor according to the performance requirement.

People and Funding

Velodyne Lidar announced the appointment of Theodore “Ted” L. Tewksbury, Ph.D. as chief executive officer, who joins after serving as CEO of Eta Compute. Prior to Eta Compute, Tewksbury, a technology executive with over 30 years’ leadership experience across public and private companies, held several chief executive and board positions, including Entropic Communications and Integrated Device Technology. He is an accomplished engineer, with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from MIT. He has held a variety of engineering and management positions in his career, including introducing over 180 innovative new product families during his time at Maxim Integrated Products.

Events

The CW International Conference (CWIC), one of the key annual events for the wireless industry in the U.K., is back both as a physical live event at IWM Duxford, Europe’s largest air museum, as well being available online. Taking place on 9th November 2021, this year’s theme considers the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximise wireless’ potential to improve the future. Full agenda and details are here.

Nvidia GTC takes place online from 8-11 November 2021, which will include a live-streamed keynote by Jensen Huang, plus talks from AI research and industry leaders on deep learning, data science, high-performance computing, robotics, data center/networking and graphics. Speakers include Fei-Fei Li, professor of computer science, Stanford University, Lindsay Edwards, responsible for AI at in respiratory and immunology, AstraZeneca, and Kay Firth-Butterfield, head of AI and ML, World Economic Forum. Details here.

The 58th DAC (Design Automation Conference) is takes place both physically in San Francisco and virtually between 5-10 December 2021. Keynote speakers include Jeff Dean of Google Research and Google Health, Bill Dally of Nvidia, and Missy Cummings of Duke University. For the first, DAC attendees will also have access to SEMICON West and the RISC-V Summit. Details here.

Title:

Content: Image: © luchschenF/Stock.adobe.com

What skills do you need to start a career in quantum?

2 hours ago

Quantum combines quantum mechanics with physics, maths and computer science to innovate and solve problems. It’s an exciting area to break into.

Quantum tech is perhaps not as well-known as other areas of tech, but there is no doubt that its influence is growing – and that means it is a good area to look into if you’re an ambitious person with an aptitude for computers and maths.

Lots of Big Tech companies are betting on quantum as a driver of innovation for the future. Currently, much of the quantum knowledge is evolving in the academic world, but businesses are beginning to sit up and take notice of the tech’s potential thanks to industry-academia collaborations.

In Ireland, Trinity College Dublin has recently formed an alliance for quantum computing skills with industry players IBM and Microsoft. Smaller companies have joined the alliance, too, including Horizon Quantum Computing, a Singapore-based quantum tech company headed up by Irishman Dr Joe Fitzsimons. He spoke to SiliconRepublic.com last year when his company expanded into Ireland, announcing several new jobs for Dublin.

So, what kind of skills do you need if you want to break into quantum computing and how difficult is it to establish a career in the sector?

To answer the second question first, you will most likely need a university qualification – possibly to postgraduate level. Quantum is complex and even academics who work on advancing research in the field are sometimes stymied by problems in the field.

That said, Irish universities’ determination to make quantum skills accessible for everyone means there are a lot of postgraduate programmes that have been developed in consultation with the likes of IBM.

If you’re looking to brush up on your skills casually, Google has made its Quantum Virtual Machine available to the public free of charge so everyone can learn quantum programming skills. There is also the option of online courses, available from the likes of Skillnet Ireland, as well as Udemy and edX.

Technical, mathematical and soft skills

Maths is definitely a skill you need for quantum. Specifically, linear algebra, probability theory and statistics. Computer science skills such as algorithms, programming and data structuring are required in combination also.

It goes without saying that you need to know the quantum lingo, too. This means a decent grasp of quantum theory and mechanics. Keep up with developments that are happening in quantum science and know how the industry is using the tech for different purposes. Specialist publications like Quantum Zeitgeist are good for this. If you are able to talk the talk with quantum, you can explain to businesses how they can benefit from the tech but you have to understand it first, so know your stuff – and your qubits.

Because quantum is such a complex area, it can be easy to put all of the focus on technical skills, but like any other career area it demands soft skills, too. Communication is important. Analytical and creative skills are definitely an asset, as are research skills for this fast-growing, young technology.

10 things you need to know direct to your inbox every weekday. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of essential sci-tech news.

By Blathnaid O’Dea

Blathnaid O’Dea joined Silicon Republic in 2021 as Careers reporter, coming from a background in the Humanities. She likes people, pranking, pictures of puffins – and apparently alliteration.

Loading now, one moment please!

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

## Recent Successes in Quantum Computing

The field has seen several notable achievements:

- **Rigetti's Multi-Chip Quantum Processor**: Launched in June 2021, this represents a significant step toward scalable quantum computing.

Title:

Content: Who invented the first quantum computer?

Who invented the first quantum computer?

**The first quantum computer was invented by a group of researchers led by physicist Isaac Chuang and computer scientist Neil Gershenfeld in 1998.**

Quantum computing has undoubtedly revolutionized the world of technology and opened up new possibilities for solving complex problems. As this fascinating field continues to grow, many people wonder who can be credited with the invention of the very first quantum computer. Well, the answer lies with a group of brilliant scientists who pushed the boundaries of computation to a whole new level.

What were the key contributions of Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld?

Isaac Chuang, a physicist, and Neil Gershenfeld, a computer scientist, collaborated in the 1990s to create the first practical quantum computer using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques.

How did their quantum computer work?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s quantum computer utilized the principles of quantum mechanics, including quantum superposition and entanglement, to perform computations.

What breakthroughs did their quantum computer achieve?

Their quantum computer successfully executed Shor’s algorithm, which is capable of factoring large numbers exponentially faster than classical computers.

How did their invention impact the field of quantum computing?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention marked a significant milestone in the development of quantum computers, inspiring subsequent researchers to explore new approaches and technologies for building more scalable and efficient quantum systems.

What limitations did the first quantum computer face?

The first quantum computer faced several limitations, including a high error rate due to the susceptibility of the NMR-based technology to decoherence.

Did Chuang and Gershenfeld receive recognition for their achievement?

Yes, their groundbreaking work gained recognition, and they were awarded the prestigious Richard P. Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology in 2001.

Has quantum computing technology improved since then?

Absolutely! Since Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention, quantum computing has made tremendous strides with advancements in hardware design, quantum algorithms, error correction techniques, and the emergence of various quantum computing platforms.

Are there other researchers who significantly contributed to quantum computing?

Certainly! A multitude of researchers and scientists around the world has made notable contributions to the development of quantum computing, further expanding our understanding and capabilities in this field.

What are the potential applications of quantum computing?

Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including cryptography, drug discovery, optimization problems, material science, and artificial intelligence.

Are quantum computers currently commercially available?

Although quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, there are some commercially available quantum computers offered by companies like IBM, Google, and Honeywell.

How far are we from achieving quantum supremacy?

Quantum supremacy refers to a point where a quantum computer can perform a calculation that is infeasible for any classical computer. While there have been promising demonstrations, achieving true quantum supremacy at scale is still a significant endeavor.

What are the biggest challenges in quantum computing today?

Some of the significant challenges in quantum computing include quantum decoherence, error correction, scaling up the number of qubits, and improving hardware reliability.

In conclusion, Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld can be credited for inventing the first quantum computer in 1998, marking a pivotal moment in the history of computing. Their pioneering work has inspired countless researchers, leading to remarkable advancements in quantum computing technology. As we continue to unravel the potential of this exciting field, it is crucial to acknowledge the many researchers who have contributed to shaping the future of quantum computing.

Scroll to Top

What are important areas in quantum research?

What companies are leading in developing quantum computing?

What are important areas in quantum research?

What companies are leading in developing quantum computing?

- **China's Quantum Communication Record**: Chinese researchers achieved a quantum secure direct communication distance of 102.

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What fields can quantum computers advance?

2 km, dramatically surpassing the previous record of 18 km.

- **Chicago Quantum Network**: The University of Chicago connected the city and suburban labs with a quantum network, creating one of the nation's first publicly-available testbeds for quantum security technology.

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What fields can quantum computers advance?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What fields can quantum computers advance?

- **Quantum Natural Language Processing**: Cambridge Quantum's development of tools to convert language into quantum circuits opens new applications for the technology.

Title:

Content: embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT - Embedded.com

embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT

A roundup of this week’s embedded news includes embedded edge with Nitin podcast featuring a brand new GPU, quantum computing developments and IoT for smart buildings, plus usual product news including automotive, tools and software.

In our latest embedded edge with Nitin podcast, we have highlighted a new GPU, developments in quantum computing, and IoT for smart buildings. In the show, Andrew Girdler of Imagination Technologies told us about the company’s new flagship GPU that brings desktop-quality ray tracing to mobile for the first time and is industry’s first Level 4 RTLS ray tracing architecture. He said, “It’s the most advanced ray tracing architecture out there today, giving you the ability to enable advanced ray trace gaming effects, in a low power budget in a mobile phone device.” Listen to the full interview on the podcast.

I also spoke to two companies looking to help democratize quantum computing with the work they are doing. First, Bob Coecke of Cambridge Quantum took us into the background to the company’s launch of the world’s first toolkit and library for quantum natural language processing, which allows sentences to be converted into a quantum circuit. Then I spoke to Pauls Wells of sureCore, who’s leading a seven-member consortium that has received a UK£6.5 million government innovation grant to jointly develop advanced cryogenic semiconductor IP; this is intended to dramatically accelerate the growth of the quantum computing industry by reducing the constrains associated with interconnects thus enabling efficient qubit/system scaling.

Finally, the podcast features an interview with Bruno Johnson of Cascoda, who talks about his company’s module recently certified for the OCF running over Thread network protocol – this is said to be a true internet protocol-based connectivity solution that is extremely low power that provides IP connectivity right down to the end node and with the Open Connectivity Foundation secure PKI X 509 grade security for end-to-end encryption. This gives smart building and building automation “banking grade security” for IoT devices.

We’ve been attending various events in person over recent weeks, and next week you can catch us at the CW International Conference. The agenda for this year’s event is somewhat topical, especially given that we also had the COP26 global UN climate chance conference this week. The CW conference will consider the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximize wireless’ potential to improve the future, including the reduction of wireless’ environmental impact.

News & Products

SensiML Corporation, a developer of AI tools for building intelligent IoT endpoints, has teamed with onsemi to deliver a complete machine learning solution for autonomous sensor data processing and predictive modeling. The collaboration combines SensiML’s analytics toolkit development software with the RSL10 sensor development kit from onsemi to create a platform for edge sensing applications such as industrial process control and monitoring. The ability to support AI functions in a small memory footprint along with advanced sensing and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity enables sophisticated smart sensing without the need for cloud analytics of highly dynamic raw sensor data.

Allegro MicroSystems has expanded its automotive lighting portfolio to include two new offerings for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) applications. The A80803 is a switch-mode, constant-current controller for high-power LED automotive lighting applications that addresses many common pain points for headlight designers to help bring advanced functionality to mainstream vehicles. The A80804 is Allegro’s first four-channel linear driver for high-power LEDs. In addition to targeted applications such as DRL/position and stop/taillights, it gives lighting designers increased design flexibility for popular features such as sequential turn signals, animation effects, and theater-style transitions.

[insert image]

Tata Elxsi and Green Hills Software are working together on a driver monitoring system (DMS) platform that combines advanced DMS software (V.O.E.O.S.Y.S – vehicle operator environment observation system) and AUTOSAR adaptive from Tata Elxsi integrated with the safe and secure INTEGRITY real-time operating system (RTOS) from Green Hills Software, optimized to run on the latest families of automotive-grade microprocessors. This flexible and standards-based DMS platform enables OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to reduce the time, cost, and complexity of developing and deploying their DMS-compliant ADAS systems while meeting mandatory global safety and security requirements.

Infineon Technologies has joined the FiRa Consortium as a contributor member to support the expansion of the UWB ecosystem. The company’s VP digital security & identity, Bjoern Scharfen, said “UWB has a great potential to enhance Infineon’s offering in security, connectivity and computing. With this, the technology fully supports our vision of linking the real and digital world.” With the acquisition of Cypress in 2020, Infineon said it acquired significant expertise in connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) as well as in microcontrollers.

Wireless Telecom Group said that SmartSky Networks has selected the CommAgility high-performance telecommunications systems software and tools for its next-generation air-to-ground (ATG) network. Deployed in SmartSky’s inflight connectivity, CommAgility is providing a full protocol stack and physical layer (PHY) for SmartSky’s aircraft base radio (ABR), which is the user equipment (UE) on board the aircraft. The ABR connects to a ground base station and provides broadband inflight connectivity for the operational needs of the aircraft, passengers, and crew. SmartSky’s patented beamforming and spectrum re-use technologies have been tested and proven, and the network is now rolling out across the USA for aviation operators and passengers.

MicroAI has announced MicroAI Launchpad, a quick start development and deployment tool that helps organizations simplify and accelerate the design, development, testing, and deployment of smart systems that run embedded MicroAI software on MCUs and microprocessors (MPUs) in edge and endpoint devices. Launchpad makes it simple to handle customers with SIMs around the world and manage and reconfigure device profiles. A single pane of glass gives access to customizable dashboards for account creation, authentication, mobile SIM or LoRaWAN connectivity activation, credit card billing for global SIM connectivity, and onboarding of MicroAI’s embedded software libraries. Its embedded software, AtomML, enables OEMs to deploy personalized, edge-native AI models, without needing to develop static edge-AI models first in a cloud or laptop and then port them to the embedded device.

IAR Systems said that its latest version of IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm adds support for the Arm Cortex-M55 processor. In addition, version 9.20 of the toolchain includes support for the latest MCUs from several semiconductor vendors. The toolchain delivers optimization capabilities to assist developers in getting the most out of the performance of the MCU and yet stay as energy efficient as possible. To ensure code quality, code analysis tools are completely integrated with IAR Embedded Workbench.

Teledyne Test Tools has launched the T3DSO3000, a new series of premium economy oscilloscopes, which feature four channel models with analog bandwidth options from 200 MHz to 1 GHz. Each model offers a maximum sample rate of 5 GSa/s, and a maximum memory depth of 250 Mpts in half channel mode. All models incorporate two 5 GSa/s ADCs and two 250 Mpts memory modules. The oscilloscopes employ a new generation of high-speed display technology for excellent signal clarity, fidelity and performance. The series comes with a minimum vertical input range of 500 μV/div, an innovative digital trigger system with high sensitivity, low jitter, and a waveform capture rate of 500,000 waveforms/sec (sequence mode).

Kontron has launched the 3.5-inch SBC-R39, a compact 3.5-inch single-board computer suitable for integration into (open source) embedded systems in entertainment, digital signage, facial recognition, smart retail, smart classroom, smart office and industrial applications. The 3.5-inch SBC-R39 is built on a Rockchip RK3399(K) processor with ARM big.LITTLE microarchitecture. This includes two processors embedded in a single, fully integrated silicon chip. The LITTLE cluster consists of a quad-core Cortex A53 processor, which is typically used to perform routine tasks at low power consumption. The large cluster is a dual-core Cortex-A72 processor, which handles compute-intensive high-performance tasks. This architecture enables the SBC-R39 to dynamically assign tasks to the respective processor according to the performance requirement.

People and Funding

Velodyne Lidar announced the appointment of Theodore “Ted” L. Tewksbury, Ph.D. as chief executive officer, who joins after serving as CEO of Eta Compute. Prior to Eta Compute, Tewksbury, a technology executive with over 30 years’ leadership experience across public and private companies, held several chief executive and board positions, including Entropic Communications and Integrated Device Technology. He is an accomplished engineer, with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from MIT. He has held a variety of engineering and management positions in his career, including introducing over 180 innovative new product families during his time at Maxim Integrated Products.

Events

The CW International Conference (CWIC), one of the key annual events for the wireless industry in the U.K., is back both as a physical live event at IWM Duxford, Europe’s largest air museum, as well being available online. Taking place on 9th November 2021, this year’s theme considers the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximise wireless’ potential to improve the future. Full agenda and details are here.

Nvidia GTC takes place online from 8-11 November 2021, which will include a live-streamed keynote by Jensen Huang, plus talks from AI research and industry leaders on deep learning, data science, high-performance computing, robotics, data center/networking and graphics. Speakers include Fei-Fei Li, professor of computer science, Stanford University, Lindsay Edwards, responsible for AI at in respiratory and immunology, AstraZeneca, and Kay Firth-Butterfield, head of AI and ML, World Economic Forum. Details here.

The 58th DAC (Design Automation Conference) is takes place both physically in San Francisco and virtually between 5-10 December 2021. Keynote speakers include Jeff Dean of Google Research and Google Health, Bill Dally of Nvidia, and Missy Cummings of Duke University. For the first, DAC attendees will also have access to SEMICON West and the RISC-V Summit. Details here.

What are important areas in quantum research?

development of high-level software
implementations of quantum processors

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What fields can quantum computers advance?

## Lessons Learned in Quantum Computing Development

Several key insights have emerged from quantum computing development:

1.

Title:

Content: embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT - Embedded.com

embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT

A roundup of this week’s embedded news includes embedded edge with Nitin podcast featuring a brand new GPU, quantum computing developments and IoT for smart buildings, plus usual product news including automotive, tools and software.

In our latest embedded edge with Nitin podcast, we have highlighted a new GPU, developments in quantum computing, and IoT for smart buildings. In the show, Andrew Girdler of Imagination Technologies told us about the company’s new flagship GPU that brings desktop-quality ray tracing to mobile for the first time and is industry’s first Level 4 RTLS ray tracing architecture. He said, “It’s the most advanced ray tracing architecture out there today, giving you the ability to enable advanced ray trace gaming effects, in a low power budget in a mobile phone device.” Listen to the full interview on the podcast.

I also spoke to two companies looking to help democratize quantum computing with the work they are doing. First, Bob Coecke of Cambridge Quantum took us into the background to the company’s launch of the world’s first toolkit and library for quantum natural language processing, which allows sentences to be converted into a quantum circuit. Then I spoke to Pauls Wells of sureCore, who’s leading a seven-member consortium that has received a UK£6.5 million government innovation grant to jointly develop advanced cryogenic semiconductor IP; this is intended to dramatically accelerate the growth of the quantum computing industry by reducing the constrains associated with interconnects thus enabling efficient qubit/system scaling.

Finally, the podcast features an interview with Bruno Johnson of Cascoda, who talks about his company’s module recently certified for the OCF running over Thread network protocol – this is said to be a true internet protocol-based connectivity solution that is extremely low power that provides IP connectivity right down to the end node and with the Open Connectivity Foundation secure PKI X 509 grade security for end-to-end encryption. This gives smart building and building automation “banking grade security” for IoT devices.

We’ve been attending various events in person over recent weeks, and next week you can catch us at the CW International Conference. The agenda for this year’s event is somewhat topical, especially given that we also had the COP26 global UN climate chance conference this week. The CW conference will consider the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximize wireless’ potential to improve the future, including the reduction of wireless’ environmental impact.

News & Products

SensiML Corporation, a developer of AI tools for building intelligent IoT endpoints, has teamed with onsemi to deliver a complete machine learning solution for autonomous sensor data processing and predictive modeling. The collaboration combines SensiML’s analytics toolkit development software with the RSL10 sensor development kit from onsemi to create a platform for edge sensing applications such as industrial process control and monitoring. The ability to support AI functions in a small memory footprint along with advanced sensing and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity enables sophisticated smart sensing without the need for cloud analytics of highly dynamic raw sensor data.

Allegro MicroSystems has expanded its automotive lighting portfolio to include two new offerings for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) applications. The A80803 is a switch-mode, constant-current controller for high-power LED automotive lighting applications that addresses many common pain points for headlight designers to help bring advanced functionality to mainstream vehicles. The A80804 is Allegro’s first four-channel linear driver for high-power LEDs. In addition to targeted applications such as DRL/position and stop/taillights, it gives lighting designers increased design flexibility for popular features such as sequential turn signals, animation effects, and theater-style transitions.

[insert image]

Tata Elxsi and Green Hills Software are working together on a driver monitoring system (DMS) platform that combines advanced DMS software (V.O.E.O.S.Y.S – vehicle operator environment observation system) and AUTOSAR adaptive from Tata Elxsi integrated with the safe and secure INTEGRITY real-time operating system (RTOS) from Green Hills Software, optimized to run on the latest families of automotive-grade microprocessors. This flexible and standards-based DMS platform enables OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to reduce the time, cost, and complexity of developing and deploying their DMS-compliant ADAS systems while meeting mandatory global safety and security requirements.

Infineon Technologies has joined the FiRa Consortium as a contributor member to support the expansion of the UWB ecosystem. The company’s VP digital security & identity, Bjoern Scharfen, said “UWB has a great potential to enhance Infineon’s offering in security, connectivity and computing. With this, the technology fully supports our vision of linking the real and digital world.” With the acquisition of Cypress in 2020, Infineon said it acquired significant expertise in connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) as well as in microcontrollers.

Wireless Telecom Group said that SmartSky Networks has selected the CommAgility high-performance telecommunications systems software and tools for its next-generation air-to-ground (ATG) network. Deployed in SmartSky’s inflight connectivity, CommAgility is providing a full protocol stack and physical layer (PHY) for SmartSky’s aircraft base radio (ABR), which is the user equipment (UE) on board the aircraft. The ABR connects to a ground base station and provides broadband inflight connectivity for the operational needs of the aircraft, passengers, and crew. SmartSky’s patented beamforming and spectrum re-use technologies have been tested and proven, and the network is now rolling out across the USA for aviation operators and passengers.

MicroAI has announced MicroAI Launchpad, a quick start development and deployment tool that helps organizations simplify and accelerate the design, development, testing, and deployment of smart systems that run embedded MicroAI software on MCUs and microprocessors (MPUs) in edge and endpoint devices. Launchpad makes it simple to handle customers with SIMs around the world and manage and reconfigure device profiles. A single pane of glass gives access to customizable dashboards for account creation, authentication, mobile SIM or LoRaWAN connectivity activation, credit card billing for global SIM connectivity, and onboarding of MicroAI’s embedded software libraries. Its embedded software, AtomML, enables OEMs to deploy personalized, edge-native AI models, without needing to develop static edge-AI models first in a cloud or laptop and then port them to the embedded device.

IAR Systems said that its latest version of IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm adds support for the Arm Cortex-M55 processor. In addition, version 9.20 of the toolchain includes support for the latest MCUs from several semiconductor vendors. The toolchain delivers optimization capabilities to assist developers in getting the most out of the performance of the MCU and yet stay as energy efficient as possible. To ensure code quality, code analysis tools are completely integrated with IAR Embedded Workbench.

Teledyne Test Tools has launched the T3DSO3000, a new series of premium economy oscilloscopes, which feature four channel models with analog bandwidth options from 200 MHz to 1 GHz. Each model offers a maximum sample rate of 5 GSa/s, and a maximum memory depth of 250 Mpts in half channel mode. All models incorporate two 5 GSa/s ADCs and two 250 Mpts memory modules. The oscilloscopes employ a new generation of high-speed display technology for excellent signal clarity, fidelity and performance. The series comes with a minimum vertical input range of 500 μV/div, an innovative digital trigger system with high sensitivity, low jitter, and a waveform capture rate of 500,000 waveforms/sec (sequence mode).

Kontron has launched the 3.5-inch SBC-R39, a compact 3.5-inch single-board computer suitable for integration into (open source) embedded systems in entertainment, digital signage, facial recognition, smart retail, smart classroom, smart office and industrial applications. The 3.5-inch SBC-R39 is built on a Rockchip RK3399(K) processor with ARM big.LITTLE microarchitecture. This includes two processors embedded in a single, fully integrated silicon chip. The LITTLE cluster consists of a quad-core Cortex A53 processor, which is typically used to perform routine tasks at low power consumption. The large cluster is a dual-core Cortex-A72 processor, which handles compute-intensive high-performance tasks. This architecture enables the SBC-R39 to dynamically assign tasks to the respective processor according to the performance requirement.

People and Funding

Velodyne Lidar announced the appointment of Theodore “Ted” L. Tewksbury, Ph.D. as chief executive officer, who joins after serving as CEO of Eta Compute. Prior to Eta Compute, Tewksbury, a technology executive with over 30 years’ leadership experience across public and private companies, held several chief executive and board positions, including Entropic Communications and Integrated Device Technology. He is an accomplished engineer, with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from MIT. He has held a variety of engineering and management positions in his career, including introducing over 180 innovative new product families during his time at Maxim Integrated Products.

Events

The CW International Conference (CWIC), one of the key annual events for the wireless industry in the U.K., is back both as a physical live event at IWM Duxford, Europe’s largest air museum, as well being available online. Taking place on 9th November 2021, this year’s theme considers the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximise wireless’ potential to improve the future. Full agenda and details are here.

Nvidia GTC takes place online from 8-11 November 2021, which will include a live-streamed keynote by Jensen Huang, plus talks from AI research and industry leaders on deep learning, data science, high-performance computing, robotics, data center/networking and graphics. Speakers include Fei-Fei Li, professor of computer science, Stanford University, Lindsay Edwards, responsible for AI at in respiratory and immunology, AstraZeneca, and Kay Firth-Butterfield, head of AI and ML, World Economic Forum. Details here.

The 58th DAC (Design Automation Conference) is takes place both physically in San Francisco and virtually between 5-10 December 2021. Keynote speakers include Jeff Dean of Google Research and Google Health, Bill Dally of Nvidia, and Missy Cummings of Duke University. For the first, DAC attendees will also have access to SEMICON West and the RISC-V Summit. Details here.

Title:

Content: Computing

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

China Delivers Its First Practical Quantum Computer System to a Customer

China’s Science Ministry on Monday announced that the country’s first practical quantum computer was delivered to a user, which the agency didn’t identify, a year ago.

The 24-qubit Wuyan system based on superconducting technology was built by Origin Quantum Computing Technology, a company founded in 2017 by two of the country’s leading quantum physicists, Guo Guoping and Guo Guangcan. A qubit in the quantum world performs functions akin to bits in the digital world.

With the on-premises installation of the Wuyan system, China became the third country, after Canada and the United States, to deliver a complete quantum computer system to a customer.

Some skeptics questioned the timing of the announcement.

“Quantum technology has a high priority for national security in China. If this were something very important, I doubt it would be disclosed like this in a transparent way by Chinese authorities,” explained Weifeng Zhong, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

“The fact that it was delayed for a year suggests that they realize now that it’s not important to national security, so they’re trying to use it to build China’s image as a technology leader at a time when they’re trying to open up their economy to the rest of the world,” Zhong told TechNewsWorld.

Important Step

However, Hodan Omaar, a senior AI policy analyst at the Center for Data Innovation, a think tank studying the intersection of data, technology, and public policy, in Washington, D.C., maintained the announcement shows that China has made an important step in its quantum development.

“Overcoming technical challenges on the path toward large-scale quantum computers will depend on the ability to scale the number of qubits in quantum systems, much like modern classical computers have depended on the growth in the number of transistors in superconducting chips,” Omaar told TechNewsWorld.

“Investing in near-term quantum computing applications helps bolster the development of longer-term use cases of the technology, thereby helping to improve competitiveness,” she added.

Skip Sanzeri, co-founder and COO of QuSecure, a maker of quantum-safe security solutions in San Mateo, Calif., called the announcement “formidable” because China is stating that they have a fully functional quantum computer, albeit the qubit count is low.

“Nonetheless, error correction and noise reduction are two significant factors in ensuring that a quantum computer can process data and provide applications that we can rely on,” Sanzeri told TechNewsWorld. “By announcing that they have been able to get to this level shows that China is making progress towards larger quantum computers.”

Bucking a Trend

The Wuyan system appears to be on par with other systems in the market, noted Heather West, a senior research analyst at IDC’, an international market research company.

“The fact that they sold a 24 qubit system to someone isn’t that different from what we’re seeing elsewhere around the world,” West told TechNewsWorld.

Delivering a standalone system like the Wuyan is actually bucking the current trend in the market.

“Most quantum computers that people are accessing today are accessed through the cloud,” explained Doug Finke, an analyst with Global Quantum Intelligence, an international market intelligence firm.

“This Wuyan computer is being delivered to a customer in an on-premise situation,” Finke told TechNewsWorld. “On-premise has a lot of disadvantages. You have to worry about maintenance. You have to worry about spare parts. You have to worry about calibration.”

“In addition,” he continued, “quantum computing innovation is so fast that they become obsolete in about two years. So few people want an on-premise quantum computer. They’re much more comfortable with the cloud.”

Superconducting Challenges

The Wuyan system is built using superconducting chip technology, one of the earliest technologies for quantum computers. Since its introduction, other technologies have been explored. They include photonics, trapped ions, and neutral atoms.

“At the moment, no one knows which technology will be the winner or if there’ll be a combination of technologies that will combine for efficacious quantum applications,” Sanzeri said.

“Superconducting is very difficult,” he explained. “It requires near zero Kelvin refrigeration.”

“The electrons used in superconducting quantum computers are very hard to manage due to very short coherence times,” he continued. “That’s why they must be cooled to such a low temperature.”

Other methods are managing longer coherence times and a faster path to the desired goal of 1,000 error-corrected qubits, he added.

“The million-dollar question is what technology will win the race to the fault-tolerant quantum computer,” West said. “There might not be one winner. There might not be one system that comes out on top. It might be that certain kinds of systems are better than others at solving certain kinds of problems.”

Long View

Omaar countered that superconducting chips have a number of advantages over competing technologies.

“First, superconducting qubits are solid-state electrical circuits that are easier to control because they are manipulated using microwaves,” she said. “Scientists can therefore use easily accessible commercial microwave devices and equipment in superconducting quantum computing applications.”

“Second,” she continued, “because preparing superconducting circuits is based on the existing method for fabricating semiconductor chips, the development of high-quality devices can leverage advanced chip-making technologies, which is good for manufacturing and scalability.”

Despite developments like China’s Wuyan system, the arrival of a quantum computer that can tackle problems beyond the capacity of silicon computers appears to be years away.

“What quantum computers are going to be best for is solving complex, intractable problems beyond the scope of classical compute technology,” West said. “Those problems are years away from a quantum computer solving.”

“To get to that, we need at least a million qubits,” she continued. “That’s going to take a lot of work in scaling and stabilizing the qubits. Qubits are very sensitive to outside noise. As a result, the error rates are high in the technology we have.”

Despite the exuberance exhibited by many, we’re still in the early days of quantum computing, added Richard Stiennon, founder and chief research analyst at IT-Harvest, a cybersecurity industry analyst firm in Birmingham, Mich.

“There are many physical constraints on quantum computing that require precision in length of pathways — we are talking microns — and resistance to forces — footsteps can interfere with it. Supercooled chips just add to the complexity,” Stiennon told TechNewsWorld.

“I put it in the same realm as developing usable nuclear fusion as an energy source,” he said. “Hundreds of billions of dollars and decades to show a glimmer of progress.”

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.

More by John P. Mello Jr.
More in Computing

To earn your loyalty as a consumer, how important is it that a brand provides a personalized experience?
 Loading ...

Technewsworld Channels

Title:

Content: Who invented the first quantum computer?

Who invented the first quantum computer?

**The first quantum computer was invented by a group of researchers led by physicist Isaac Chuang and computer scientist Neil Gershenfeld in 1998.**

Quantum computing has undoubtedly revolutionized the world of technology and opened up new possibilities for solving complex problems. As this fascinating field continues to grow, many people wonder who can be credited with the invention of the very first quantum computer. Well, the answer lies with a group of brilliant scientists who pushed the boundaries of computation to a whole new level.

What were the key contributions of Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld?

Isaac Chuang, a physicist, and Neil Gershenfeld, a computer scientist, collaborated in the 1990s to create the first practical quantum computer using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques.

How did their quantum computer work?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s quantum computer utilized the principles of quantum mechanics, including quantum superposition and entanglement, to perform computations.

What breakthroughs did their quantum computer achieve?

Their quantum computer successfully executed Shor’s algorithm, which is capable of factoring large numbers exponentially faster than classical computers.

How did their invention impact the field of quantum computing?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention marked a significant milestone in the development of quantum computers, inspiring subsequent researchers to explore new approaches and technologies for building more scalable and efficient quantum systems.

What limitations did the first quantum computer face?

The first quantum computer faced several limitations, including a high error rate due to the susceptibility of the NMR-based technology to decoherence.

Did Chuang and Gershenfeld receive recognition for their achievement?

Yes, their groundbreaking work gained recognition, and they were awarded the prestigious Richard P. Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology in 2001.

Has quantum computing technology improved since then?

Absolutely! Since Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention, quantum computing has made tremendous strides with advancements in hardware design, quantum algorithms, error correction techniques, and the emergence of various quantum computing platforms.

Are there other researchers who significantly contributed to quantum computing?

Certainly! A multitude of researchers and scientists around the world has made notable contributions to the development of quantum computing, further expanding our understanding and capabilities in this field.

What are the potential applications of quantum computing?

Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including cryptography, drug discovery, optimization problems, material science, and artificial intelligence.

Are quantum computers currently commercially available?

Although quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, there are some commercially available quantum computers offered by companies like IBM, Google, and Honeywell.

How far are we from achieving quantum supremacy?

Quantum supremacy refers to a point where a quantum computer can perform a calculation that is infeasible for any classical computer. While there have been promising demonstrations, achieving true quantum supremacy at scale is still a significant endeavor.

What are the biggest challenges in quantum computing today?

Some of the significant challenges in quantum computing include quantum decoherence, error correction, scaling up the number of qubits, and improving hardware reliability.

In conclusion, Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld can be credited for inventing the first quantum computer in 1998, marking a pivotal moment in the history of computing. Their pioneering work has inspired countless researchers, leading to remarkable advancements in quantum computing technology. As we continue to unravel the potential of this exciting field, it is crucial to acknowledge the many researchers who have contributed to shaping the future of quantum computing.

Scroll to Top

Title:

Content: Save Your Seat for Crypto Icon’s Insider Summit

On February 8, crypto legend Charlie Shrem will reveal a potential $100 trillion explosion in cryptocurrency — and his #1 way to play it.

Tue, February 8 at 7:00PM ET

7 Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in 2022

Quantum computing offers the potential to harness big data, make intricate predictions and use artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize business operations. Many industries such as automotive, agriculture, finance, healthcare, energy, logistics and space will be affected from the growth in this technology. As a result, Wall Street has been paying significant attention to quantum computing stocks.

Once considered science fiction, quantum computing has made significant progress in recent years to solve complex problems at lightning speed. This advanced technology uses the power of quantum mechanics to represent complex problems. These computers can take seconds to calculate equations that normally take days for machines that use a binary framework.

International Data Corporation forecasts that the global market for quantum computing should grow from about $412 million in 2020 to more than $8.5 billion in 2027. This increase would mean a  compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of an eye-popping 50% between now and 2027. Given such metrics, it’s understandable why investors are thrilled about the future of quantum computing stocks.

While it is currently in its early days, Wall Street has already warmed up to long-term prospects of this technology. Besides several pure-play quantum computing stocks going public in 2021, well-known tech names are pouring significant research dollars to invest in this advanced segment.

With that information, here are the seven best quantum computing stocks to buy in 2022:

  • Analog Devices (NASDAQ:ADI)
  • Defiance Quantum ETF (NYSEARCA:QTUM)
  • International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM)
  • IonQ (NYSE:IONQ)
  • Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)
  • Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA)
  • Supernova Partners Acquisition II (NYSE:SNII)

Quantum Computing Stocks: Analog Devices (ADI)

Source: Shutterstock

52-week range: $142.25 – $191.95

Dividend yield: 1.7%

Semiconductor group Analog Devices manufactures integrated circuits that process analog and digital signals. ADI’s chips are used in data converters, high-performance amplifiers and microwave-integrated circuits.

Analog Devices issued Q4 2021 metrics on Nov. 23. Revenue increased 53% year-over-year (YOY) to $2.34 billion. Adjusted earnings soared from $1.44 per share to $1.73 per share. The company generated a free cash flow of $810 million. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $1.98 billion.

Factory automation has fueled demand for sensors and machine connectivity, which increasingly rely on Analog’s chips. In addition, the automotive industry has also become a key growth driver due to the rising use of advanced electronics in electric vehicles (EVs).

In late August, the chipmaker completed the acquisition of Maxim Integrated. The billion transaction should increase ADI’s market share in automotive and 5G chipmaking.

ADI currently trades just under $160, up 7% over the past 12 months. Shares are trading at 21.5 times forward earnings and 8.9 times trailing sales. The 12-month median price forecast for Analog Devices stock stands at $210.

Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM)

Source: Maxx-Studio/ShutterStock.com

52-Week Range: $42.96 – $57.15

Expense Ratio: 0.40% per year

QTUM is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that focuses on the next generation of computing. It offers exposure to names leading the way in quantum computing, machine learning and cloud computing. The fund tracks the BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index.

QTUM, which started trading in September 2018, has 71 holdings. The top 10 holdings account for less than 20% of net assets of $161.5 million. Put another way, fund managers are not taking major bets on any company.

Among the leading holdings on the roster are the security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), French telecommunications operator Orange (NYSE:ORAN) and IBM.

For most retail investors, QTUM could potentially be a safe and diversified place to start investing in quantum computing. As portfolio companies come from a wide range of technology segments, wide swings in the price of one stock will not affect the ETF significantly.

The fund has gained 8.7% over the past year and saw an all-time high in November 2021. However, the recent selloff in tech stocks led to a 10.7% decline year-to-date (YTD). Interested readers could regard this decline as a good entry point into QTUM.

Quantum Computing Stocks: International Business Machines (IBM)

Source: shutterstock.com/LCV

52-week range: $113.17 – $146.12

Dividend Yield: 4.8%

Technology giant International Business Machines (IBM) needs little introduction. The legacy tech name offers integrated solutions and services, including infrastructure, software, information technology (IT) and hardware.

IBM announced Q4 2021 financials on Jan. 24. The company generated revenues of $16.7 billion, up 6.5% YOY. Net income stood at $2.33 billion, or $2.57 per diluted share, up from $1.36 billion, or $1.51 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $6.65 billion.

After the announcement, CEO Arvind Krishna said, “We increased revenue in the fourth quarter with hybrid cloud adoption driving growth in
software and consulting.”

The company launched its Quantum System One quantum computer in 2019. Around 150 research groups and partner companies currently use IBM’s quantum computing services. These names come from financial services businesses, automakers and energy suppliers.

In June 2021, IBM unveiled Europe’s most powerful quantum computer in Germany. Moreover, the tech giant recently announced a deal with Raytheon Technologies (NYSE:RTX) to provide quantum computing and AI services for the aerospace, defense and intelligence industries.

IBM currently changes hands around $137, up 20% over the past 12 months. Shares are trading at 13.5 times forward earnings and 2.2 times trailing sales. The 12-month median price forecast for IBM stock is $144.50. Interested readers could consider buying IBM shares around these levels.

IonQ (IONQ)

Source: Shutterstock

52-week range: $7.07 – $35.90

IonQ is one of the first publicly traded pure-play quantum computing stocks. It went public via a merger with the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) dMY Technology Group III in late 2021.

The quantum name released Q3 2021 results on Nov. 15. Its net loss was $14.8 million, or 12 cents loss per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $3.6 million a year ago. Cash and equivalents ended the quarter at $587 million. Wall Street was pleased that at the time, YTD contract bookings came in at $15.1 million.

IonQ is currently developing a network of quantum computers accessible from various cloud services. The technology uses ionized atoms that allow IonQ’s machines to perform complex calculations with fewer errors than any other quantum computer available.

The start-up has the financial backing of prominent investors, including Bill Gates and the Japanese telecommunications company Softbank Group (OTCMKTS:SFTBF). In addition, IonQ has been developing strategic partnerships with Microsoft, Amazon’s (NASDAQ:AMZN) Amazon Web Services and Alphabet’s (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google Cloud.

While IonQ is taking steps to become a commercialization-stage name, it is still a speculative investment. With its potential for explosive growth, it could be an attractive quantum computing stock for investors looking to take a risk.

IONQ stock hovers around $12. The recent selloff in tech stocks has led to a 26.7% decline YTD. Yet, the 12-month median price forecast for IONQ stock stands at $23.

Quantum Computing Stocks: Microsoft (MSFT)

Source: rafapress / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $224.26 – $349.67

Dividend Yield: 0.8%

Microsoft is one the largest and most prominent technology firms worldwide. It offers software products and services, including Azure cloud service, the Office 365 productivity suite and the customer relationship management (CRM) platform Dynamics 365.

Meanwhile, the Microsoft Quantum is “the world’s first full-stack, open cloud quantum computing ecosystem” that allows developers to create quantum applications and run them on multiple platforms. The software giant provides quantum computing services via the cloud on Azure.

Management announced robust Q2 FY22 metrics on Jan. 25. Revenue increased 20% YOY to $51.7 billion. Net income surged 21% YOY to $18.8 billion, or $2.48 per diluted share, compared to $15.5 billion, or $2.03 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $20.6 billion.

On Jan. 18, Microsoft announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI), a leading player in game and interactive entertainment development. It will be an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion. Wall Street expects this deal to provide tailwinds for Microsoft’s gaming business and building blocks for the metaverse.

MSFT stock currently trades just under $310, up 27% over the past 12 months. Shares support a valuation of 32.6 times forward earnings and 12.3 times trailing sales. And the 12-month median price forecast for Microsoft stock stands at $370.

Nvidia (NVDA)

Source: Antonio Baccardi / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $115.67 – $346.47

Dividend Yield: 0.06%

Santa Clara, California-based Nvidia has become an important name in advanced semiconductor design and software for next-generation computing development. InvestorPlace readers likely know the chipmaker is a market leader in the gaming and data center markets.

Nvidia announced impressive Q3 FY 2022 numbers on Nov. 17. Revenue soared 50% YOY to a record $7.1 billion, fueled by record sales in the gaming and data center businesses. Net income increased 62% YOY to $2.97 billion, or $1.17 per diluted share. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $1.29 billion.

The chipmaker provides the necessary processing power that drives the development of quantum computing. Additionally, Nvidia recently released cuQuantum, a software development kit designed for building quantum computing workflows. It has partnered with Google, IBM and other quantum computing players that rely on cuQuantum to accelerate their quantum computing work.

Given its growing addressable market in cloud computing, gaming, AI, and more recently the metaverse, NVDA stock deserves your attention. Share are changing hands around $245, up nearly 80% over the past year. However, despite an 18% decline YTD, shares are trading at 46.5 times forward earnings and 25 times trailing sales.

Finally, the 12-month median price forecast for Nvidia stock is $350. As the company gets ready to report earnings soon, investors should expect increased choppiness in price.

Quantum Computing Stocks: Supernova Partners Acquisition II (SNII)

Source: Dmitry Demidovich/ShutterStock.com

52-week range: $9.62 – $12.75

Our final stock is Supernova Partners Acquisition II, a SPAC. It is merging with Rigetti Computing, a start-up focused on quantum computer development. As a result of the merger, Rigetti Computing was valued at about $1.5 billion and received $458 million in gross cash proceeds.

Rigetti designs quantum chips and then integrates those chips with a controlling architecture. It also develops software used to build algorithms for these chips.

Rigetti recently announced business highlights for the nine months ended Oct. 31, 2021. Revenue came in at $6.9 million. Net operating loss declined 3% YOY to $26.2 million.

“We believe the time for quantum computing has arrived,” said founder and CEO Chad Rigetti. “Customer demand is increasing as Rigetti quantum computers begin to address high-impact computational problems.”

The start-up launched the world’s first scalable multi-chip quantum processor in June 2021. This processor boasts a proprietary modular architecture. Now Wall Street expects the company to move toward commercialization.

Rigetti collaborates with government entities and technology to advance its quantum processors. For instance, it boasts strategic partnerships with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. It also works with data analytics firm Palantir Technologies (NYSE:PLTR) and electronics manufacturer Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS).

SNII stock is currently shy of $10, down about 4% YTD. As investors’ interest in quantum computing names grow, shares are likely to become hot.

On the date of publication, Tezcan Gecgil holds both long and short positions in NVDA stock. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

Tezcan Gecgil has worked in investment management for over two decades in the U.S. and U.K. In addition to formal higher education in the field, she has also completed all 3 levels of the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) examination. Her passion is for options trading based on technical analysis of fundamentally strong companies. She especially enjoys setting up weekly covered calls for income generation.

Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2022/02/7-best-quantum-computing-stocks-to-buy-in-2022/.

©2022 InvestorPlace Media, LLC

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

What are important areas in quantum research?

development of high-level software
implementations of quantum processors

What are important areas in quantum research?

development of high-level software
implementations of quantum processors

What are important areas in quantum research?

development of high-level software
implementations of quantum processors

What are important areas in quantum research?

development of high-level software
implementations of quantum processors

What are important areas in quantum research?

development of high-level software
implementations of quantum processors

What are important areas in quantum research?

development of high-level software
implementations of quantum processors

**Complexity and Expertise**: Quantum computing requires highly specialized knowledge, typically at postgraduate level.

Title:

Content: Image: © luchschenF/Stock.adobe.com

What skills do you need to start a career in quantum?

2 hours ago

Quantum combines quantum mechanics with physics, maths and computer science to innovate and solve problems. It’s an exciting area to break into.

Quantum tech is perhaps not as well-known as other areas of tech, but there is no doubt that its influence is growing – and that means it is a good area to look into if you’re an ambitious person with an aptitude for computers and maths.

Lots of Big Tech companies are betting on quantum as a driver of innovation for the future. Currently, much of the quantum knowledge is evolving in the academic world, but businesses are beginning to sit up and take notice of the tech’s potential thanks to industry-academia collaborations.

In Ireland, Trinity College Dublin has recently formed an alliance for quantum computing skills with industry players IBM and Microsoft. Smaller companies have joined the alliance, too, including Horizon Quantum Computing, a Singapore-based quantum tech company headed up by Irishman Dr Joe Fitzsimons. He spoke to SiliconRepublic.com last year when his company expanded into Ireland, announcing several new jobs for Dublin.

So, what kind of skills do you need if you want to break into quantum computing and how difficult is it to establish a career in the sector?

To answer the second question first, you will most likely need a university qualification – possibly to postgraduate level. Quantum is complex and even academics who work on advancing research in the field are sometimes stymied by problems in the field.

That said, Irish universities’ determination to make quantum skills accessible for everyone means there are a lot of postgraduate programmes that have been developed in consultation with the likes of IBM.

If you’re looking to brush up on your skills casually, Google has made its Quantum Virtual Machine available to the public free of charge so everyone can learn quantum programming skills. There is also the option of online courses, available from the likes of Skillnet Ireland, as well as Udemy and edX.

Technical, mathematical and soft skills

Maths is definitely a skill you need for quantum. Specifically, linear algebra, probability theory and statistics. Computer science skills such as algorithms, programming and data structuring are required in combination also.

It goes without saying that you need to know the quantum lingo, too. This means a decent grasp of quantum theory and mechanics. Keep up with developments that are happening in quantum science and know how the industry is using the tech for different purposes. Specialist publications like Quantum Zeitgeist are good for this. If you are able to talk the talk with quantum, you can explain to businesses how they can benefit from the tech but you have to understand it first, so know your stuff – and your qubits.

Because quantum is such a complex area, it can be easy to put all of the focus on technical skills, but like any other career area it demands soft skills, too. Communication is important. Analytical and creative skills are definitely an asset, as are research skills for this fast-growing, young technology.

10 things you need to know direct to your inbox every weekday. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of essential sci-tech news.

By Blathnaid O’Dea

Blathnaid O’Dea joined Silicon Republic in 2021 as Careers reporter, coming from a background in the Humanities. She likes people, pranking, pictures of puffins – and apparently alliteration.

Loading now, one moment please!

Title:

Content: Who invented the first quantum computer?

Who invented the first quantum computer?

**The first quantum computer was invented by a group of researchers led by physicist Isaac Chuang and computer scientist Neil Gershenfeld in 1998.**

Quantum computing has undoubtedly revolutionized the world of technology and opened up new possibilities for solving complex problems. As this fascinating field continues to grow, many people wonder who can be credited with the invention of the very first quantum computer. Well, the answer lies with a group of brilliant scientists who pushed the boundaries of computation to a whole new level.

What were the key contributions of Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld?

Isaac Chuang, a physicist, and Neil Gershenfeld, a computer scientist, collaborated in the 1990s to create the first practical quantum computer using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques.

How did their quantum computer work?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s quantum computer utilized the principles of quantum mechanics, including quantum superposition and entanglement, to perform computations.

What breakthroughs did their quantum computer achieve?

Their quantum computer successfully executed Shor’s algorithm, which is capable of factoring large numbers exponentially faster than classical computers.

How did their invention impact the field of quantum computing?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention marked a significant milestone in the development of quantum computers, inspiring subsequent researchers to explore new approaches and technologies for building more scalable and efficient quantum systems.

What limitations did the first quantum computer face?

The first quantum computer faced several limitations, including a high error rate due to the susceptibility of the NMR-based technology to decoherence.

Did Chuang and Gershenfeld receive recognition for their achievement?

Yes, their groundbreaking work gained recognition, and they were awarded the prestigious Richard P. Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology in 2001.

Has quantum computing technology improved since then?

Absolutely! Since Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention, quantum computing has made tremendous strides with advancements in hardware design, quantum algorithms, error correction techniques, and the emergence of various quantum computing platforms.

Are there other researchers who significantly contributed to quantum computing?

Certainly! A multitude of researchers and scientists around the world has made notable contributions to the development of quantum computing, further expanding our understanding and capabilities in this field.

What are the potential applications of quantum computing?

Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including cryptography, drug discovery, optimization problems, material science, and artificial intelligence.

Are quantum computers currently commercially available?

Although quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, there are some commercially available quantum computers offered by companies like IBM, Google, and Honeywell.

How far are we from achieving quantum supremacy?

Quantum supremacy refers to a point where a quantum computer can perform a calculation that is infeasible for any classical computer. While there have been promising demonstrations, achieving true quantum supremacy at scale is still a significant endeavor.

What are the biggest challenges in quantum computing today?

Some of the significant challenges in quantum computing include quantum decoherence, error correction, scaling up the number of qubits, and improving hardware reliability.

In conclusion, Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld can be credited for inventing the first quantum computer in 1998, marking a pivotal moment in the history of computing. Their pioneering work has inspired countless researchers, leading to remarkable advancements in quantum computing technology. As we continue to unravel the potential of this exciting field, it is crucial to acknowledge the many researchers who have contributed to shaping the future of quantum computing.

Scroll to Top

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

Even academics in the field face significant challenges.

Title:

Content: Image: © luchschenF/Stock.adobe.com

What skills do you need to start a career in quantum?

2 hours ago

Quantum combines quantum mechanics with physics, maths and computer science to innovate and solve problems. It’s an exciting area to break into.

Quantum tech is perhaps not as well-known as other areas of tech, but there is no doubt that its influence is growing – and that means it is a good area to look into if you’re an ambitious person with an aptitude for computers and maths.

Lots of Big Tech companies are betting on quantum as a driver of innovation for the future. Currently, much of the quantum knowledge is evolving in the academic world, but businesses are beginning to sit up and take notice of the tech’s potential thanks to industry-academia collaborations.

In Ireland, Trinity College Dublin has recently formed an alliance for quantum computing skills with industry players IBM and Microsoft. Smaller companies have joined the alliance, too, including Horizon Quantum Computing, a Singapore-based quantum tech company headed up by Irishman Dr Joe Fitzsimons. He spoke to SiliconRepublic.com last year when his company expanded into Ireland, announcing several new jobs for Dublin.

So, what kind of skills do you need if you want to break into quantum computing and how difficult is it to establish a career in the sector?

To answer the second question first, you will most likely need a university qualification – possibly to postgraduate level. Quantum is complex and even academics who work on advancing research in the field are sometimes stymied by problems in the field.

That said, Irish universities’ determination to make quantum skills accessible for everyone means there are a lot of postgraduate programmes that have been developed in consultation with the likes of IBM.

If you’re looking to brush up on your skills casually, Google has made its Quantum Virtual Machine available to the public free of charge so everyone can learn quantum programming skills. There is also the option of online courses, available from the likes of Skillnet Ireland, as well as Udemy and edX.

Technical, mathematical and soft skills

Maths is definitely a skill you need for quantum. Specifically, linear algebra, probability theory and statistics. Computer science skills such as algorithms, programming and data structuring are required in combination also.

It goes without saying that you need to know the quantum lingo, too. This means a decent grasp of quantum theory and mechanics. Keep up with developments that are happening in quantum science and know how the industry is using the tech for different purposes. Specialist publications like Quantum Zeitgeist are good for this. If you are able to talk the talk with quantum, you can explain to businesses how they can benefit from the tech but you have to understand it first, so know your stuff – and your qubits.

Because quantum is such a complex area, it can be easy to put all of the focus on technical skills, but like any other career area it demands soft skills, too. Communication is important. Analytical and creative skills are definitely an asset, as are research skills for this fast-growing, young technology.

10 things you need to know direct to your inbox every weekday. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of essential sci-tech news.

By Blathnaid O’Dea

Blathnaid O’Dea joined Silicon Republic in 2021 as Careers reporter, coming from a background in the Humanities. She likes people, pranking, pictures of puffins – and apparently alliteration.

Loading now, one moment please!

**National Security Implications**: Quantum computers could potentially break encryption that protects modern communications, raising significant security concerns.

Title:

Content: Alert
It will not be all DPP Lai Ching-te talking about the premier and the head of the ministry: there are already candidates to think about.
Previous articlePrevious post: The 4th Stage of Cancer Planned Funeral: Don ’ t Want to See These People
Taiwan stocks rose 124 points, the band high transaction value but hit a new low this year...
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
1994 was a turning point in quantum computing. The algorithm of the American mathematician Shue showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be an important early application of quantum computers.
According to Reuters, the world may celebrate “Q-day ” as soon as next year, by which time the current encryption methods will be useless before quantum computers.
In view of this, the United States and China are stealing and harvesting each other ’ s data on a large scale to decipher and intercept messages in the quantum future.
According to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report in May last year predicted that enterprises will profit from quantum computing as soon as next year; by about 2035, quantum data may bring users as much as $850 billion (about NT $26.8 trillion) in benefits, quantum technology will mature in that year.
Quantum computers are expected to be able to crack cryptographic codes in minutes, rather than the thousands of years it would take for traditional computers today.
Industry experts claim that North America is the center of quantum computing.
American companies build quantum processors including IBM, Amazon, Intel, Google, Quantinum, IonQ, Microsoft, QCI and Rigetti Computing.
As of the previous year, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada also had the largest number of startups in the industry, according to the McKinsey report.
As for China, Genyuan Quantum announced in January last year that it had delivered a fully homemade 24 qubit quantum computer to customers and expected to develop a 1024 qubit quantum computer next year. In November last year, Alibaba Group donated the quantum computing laboratory and related experimental equipment of its research institute, Damo Institute, to Zhejiang University.
Baidu also followed suit this month by donating a quantum computing lab and equipment to the Beijing Institute of Quantum Information Sciences, which is supported by the Chinese government.
Others include Guodun Quantum, Guoyi Quantum, Turing Quantum, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the country's top scientific and technological academic institution, each developing quantum computing technology.
However, under this 1 quantum trend, the major countries in the United States and China are preparing for the future, lest in the quantum future, far more powerful than the current fastest supercomputer, will be able to crack the password to protect almost all modern communications.
Tilo Kunz, vice president of QD5, a Canadian security company, said that according to the minutes of the meeting released by the US Defense Information Systems Agency, all countries have tried to steal data, that is, to carry out a "harvest now, decipher later" security attack.
The military will discover that its long history of planning and intelligence has caught the eye of the enemy, that corporate intelligence has been stolen, and that people ’ s health records will be revealed.
However, opinions differ on when the quantum day "big limit" will come.
Quantum computing is still in its early days, and only small quantum computers with limited processing power and error-prone capabilities have been built.
Some researchers estimate that Quantum Day may be approaching by the middle of the century.
No one knows who can get there first.
The United States and China are seen as leaders in the field, and many experts believe the United States still prevails.
Researchers believe that more important than breaking the decryption code, quantum computers use the mysterious properties of subatomic particles, which are expected to bring breakthroughs in science, weapons equipment and industry.
Beijing Information Security Quantum Computing Quantum Computer
Extended reading
US, Japan, and Australia air force combat "Against North 24" joint exercise begins in Guam in early February
US B-21 stealth bomber production and China's "big power competition" intensified
Ying / Tsai Ing-wen Visited the Results of the Quantum Computer Project, Hoping to Contribute to the World
Home Made Quantum Computer by Academia Sinica Tsai Ing-wen: Made in Taiwan is the pride of Taiwanese
Related News
The performance is not as expected … Musk named Tesla ’ s share in the Japanese market is too low 1 reason why it is difficult for him to achieve his wish.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that Tesla ’ s market share in Japan is too low, hoping to at least raise it to a level with other companies.
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
In 1994, the turning point of quantum computing, the American mathematician Shue's algorithm showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be a quantum computer.
Japan's Toyota to suspend shipments of 10 cars after diesel engine violations in certification test
Japan ’ s Toyota Motor announced today that it has decided to suspend shipments of 10 affected vehicles because the diesel engine produced by the group ’ s “Toyota Automatic Weaving ” violated the certification test process.
South Korean semiconductor technology leak brothers take over illegal export equipment to earn more than 80 million
A semiconductor cleaning equipment manufacturer in South Korea was prosecuted for illegally leaking related technology to the Chinese side, and one of the suspects even took over the company immediately after his brother was detained and prosecuted for the above reasons.
China 's latest rescue measures boost Asian shares to rise and fall
Asian stocks rose and fell today as the Chinese authorities' latest rescue measures boosted their gains.
International oil prices are rising again in the Middle East, and it is alleged that an attack by a rebel group backed by Iran killed three people.
Semiconductor technology leaks continue! South Korean investigators say technology is flowing to the mainland to reveal secret signals and other methods
South Korean media quoted intelligence agency investigators as saying that the illegal export of semiconductor technology criminals in addition to using code communication to avoid being tracked, their methods are changing day by day, using mergers and acquisitions.
Product recommendation
udn Forum

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

What are the potential threats of quantum computers?

threatening national security through breaking encryption

What fields can quantum computers advance?

What are the potential threats of quantum computers?

threatening national security through breaking encryption

What fields can quantum computers advance?

What are the potential threats of quantum computers?

threatening national security through breaking encryption

What fields can quantum computers advance?

Countries are already engaging in "harvest now, decrypt later" strategies.

Title:

Content: Alert
It will not be all DPP Lai Ching-te talking about the premier and the head of the ministry: there are already candidates to think about.
Previous articlePrevious post: The 4th Stage of Cancer Planned Funeral: Don ’ t Want to See These People
Taiwan stocks rose 124 points, the band high transaction value but hit a new low this year...
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
1994 was a turning point in quantum computing. The algorithm of the American mathematician Shue showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be an important early application of quantum computers.
According to Reuters, the world may celebrate “Q-day ” as soon as next year, by which time the current encryption methods will be useless before quantum computers.
In view of this, the United States and China are stealing and harvesting each other ’ s data on a large scale to decipher and intercept messages in the quantum future.
According to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report in May last year predicted that enterprises will profit from quantum computing as soon as next year; by about 2035, quantum data may bring users as much as $850 billion (about NT $26.8 trillion) in benefits, quantum technology will mature in that year.
Quantum computers are expected to be able to crack cryptographic codes in minutes, rather than the thousands of years it would take for traditional computers today.
Industry experts claim that North America is the center of quantum computing.
American companies build quantum processors including IBM, Amazon, Intel, Google, Quantinum, IonQ, Microsoft, QCI and Rigetti Computing.
As of the previous year, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada also had the largest number of startups in the industry, according to the McKinsey report.
As for China, Genyuan Quantum announced in January last year that it had delivered a fully homemade 24 qubit quantum computer to customers and expected to develop a 1024 qubit quantum computer next year. In November last year, Alibaba Group donated the quantum computing laboratory and related experimental equipment of its research institute, Damo Institute, to Zhejiang University.
Baidu also followed suit this month by donating a quantum computing lab and equipment to the Beijing Institute of Quantum Information Sciences, which is supported by the Chinese government.
Others include Guodun Quantum, Guoyi Quantum, Turing Quantum, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the country's top scientific and technological academic institution, each developing quantum computing technology.
However, under this 1 quantum trend, the major countries in the United States and China are preparing for the future, lest in the quantum future, far more powerful than the current fastest supercomputer, will be able to crack the password to protect almost all modern communications.
Tilo Kunz, vice president of QD5, a Canadian security company, said that according to the minutes of the meeting released by the US Defense Information Systems Agency, all countries have tried to steal data, that is, to carry out a "harvest now, decipher later" security attack.
The military will discover that its long history of planning and intelligence has caught the eye of the enemy, that corporate intelligence has been stolen, and that people ’ s health records will be revealed.
However, opinions differ on when the quantum day "big limit" will come.
Quantum computing is still in its early days, and only small quantum computers with limited processing power and error-prone capabilities have been built.
Some researchers estimate that Quantum Day may be approaching by the middle of the century.
No one knows who can get there first.
The United States and China are seen as leaders in the field, and many experts believe the United States still prevails.
Researchers believe that more important than breaking the decryption code, quantum computers use the mysterious properties of subatomic particles, which are expected to bring breakthroughs in science, weapons equipment and industry.
Beijing Information Security Quantum Computing Quantum Computer
Extended reading
US, Japan, and Australia air force combat "Against North 24" joint exercise begins in Guam in early February
US B-21 stealth bomber production and China's "big power competition" intensified
Ying / Tsai Ing-wen Visited the Results of the Quantum Computer Project, Hoping to Contribute to the World
Home Made Quantum Computer by Academia Sinica Tsai Ing-wen: Made in Taiwan is the pride of Taiwanese
Related News
The performance is not as expected … Musk named Tesla ’ s share in the Japanese market is too low 1 reason why it is difficult for him to achieve his wish.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that Tesla ’ s market share in Japan is too low, hoping to at least raise it to a level with other companies.
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
In 1994, the turning point of quantum computing, the American mathematician Shue's algorithm showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be a quantum computer.
Japan's Toyota to suspend shipments of 10 cars after diesel engine violations in certification test
Japan ’ s Toyota Motor announced today that it has decided to suspend shipments of 10 affected vehicles because the diesel engine produced by the group ’ s “Toyota Automatic Weaving ” violated the certification test process.
South Korean semiconductor technology leak brothers take over illegal export equipment to earn more than 80 million
A semiconductor cleaning equipment manufacturer in South Korea was prosecuted for illegally leaking related technology to the Chinese side, and one of the suspects even took over the company immediately after his brother was detained and prosecuted for the above reasons.
China 's latest rescue measures boost Asian shares to rise and fall
Asian stocks rose and fell today as the Chinese authorities' latest rescue measures boosted their gains.
International oil prices are rising again in the Middle East, and it is alleged that an attack by a rebel group backed by Iran killed three people.
Semiconductor technology leaks continue! South Korean investigators say technology is flowing to the mainland to reveal secret signals and other methods
South Korean media quoted intelligence agency investigators as saying that the illegal export of semiconductor technology criminals in addition to using code communication to avoid being tracked, their methods are changing day by day, using mergers and acquisitions.
Product recommendation
udn Forum

What are the potential threats of quantum computers?

threatening national security through breaking encryption

What fields can quantum computers advance?

**Multiple Approaches**: Various quantum computing approaches exist (superconducting qubits, ion chains, etc.

Title:

Content: Skip to main content

U.S. May Include AI and Quantum Computing in Chinese Tech Ban

The U.S. may be looking to tighten its technological noose on China beyond semiconductors. According to Bloomberg's sources, the Biden administration has been holding internal and external discussions on further cutting China off from high-tech solutions that might impact national and worldwide security. Foremost are the fields of A.I. software and quantum computing, whose potential for worldwide disruption is still under assessment despite breakneck advances. Further sanctions would add power to existing ones, including China's quantum computing companies (to a degree).

One thing both technological spaces have in common is that they're still nascent: every day greets us with yet another quantum computing or AI-related headline. Efforts to regulate China's access to such rapidly-changing technologies leave the Biden administration between a rock and a hard place. Sanctions targeting China have been shown to have nefarious effects on the world at large and American semiconductor companies in particular, not just on its intending recipient.

Another element any sanctions would have to consider is the technological fields themselves. Essentially, what specific elements for each technology could be sanctioned that would hit China the most and the rest of the world the least? What price - if any - would U.S. companies pay for tightening the noose?

Companies in the quantum computing space might tell you otherwise, but the current approaches to the field showcase the number of potential sanction venues. Should the Biden administration produce sanctions for any kind of quantum computing approach - from superconducting qubits to ion chains? What would it do to the quantum computing research and product market if the sanctions only focussed on certain technologies, disproportionately hitting some companies while leaving others off the hook? What if a new quantum computing (or A.I.) approach surfaces?

Despite the cost and difficulty in perceiving the magnitude of the required U.S. regulatory intervention, China's efforts in the quantum computing space should give the U.S. pause. The number of accusations flying around regarding I.P. and state secret thefts, paired with China's clear interest in leading the space's research and development, open up the doors to immense privacy and national security concerns.

When quantum computing lurches past its current NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum Era), it will enable any actor to field a way to crack currently-applied encryption algorithms. This includes data in motion and data at rest - especially any data that has been already stolen in what is known as a "steal now, decrypt later" attack. Nobody knows the petabytes (?) of intercepted data just lying in wait for the moment that a quantum computer is around to destroy their current encryption schemes. The impact of being the first to crack quantum computing cannot be overstated - especially if it's done by an actor that feels it has a score to settle, even more so when standards for post-quantum encryption are still being discussed.

China has shown incredible resilience despite the ever-tightening sanctions. Even after being cut from the latest manufacturing technologies, the country's OceanLight supercomputer managed to stand side by side with the AMD-made Frontier in disputing the finalist prize for the Gordon Bell award. The award is directly related to A.I. workloads, and China managed to field a supercomputer powered by 14nm-era hardware to perform work deemed relevant enough for prize contention. It's extremely likely that China will continue on this road. As they say: where there's a will, there's a way.

Freelance News Writer

Francisco Pires is a freelance news writer for Tom's Hardware with a soft side for quantum computing.

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

What are important areas in quantum research?

new types of qubits
implementations of quantum processors

What are important areas in quantum research?

new types of qubits
implementations of quantum processors

), each with different advantages and challenges.

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

This diversity creates both opportunities and complications for regulation and standardization.

Title:

Content: Skip to main content

U.S. May Include AI and Quantum Computing in Chinese Tech Ban

The U.S. may be looking to tighten its technological noose on China beyond semiconductors. According to Bloomberg's sources, the Biden administration has been holding internal and external discussions on further cutting China off from high-tech solutions that might impact national and worldwide security. Foremost are the fields of A.I. software and quantum computing, whose potential for worldwide disruption is still under assessment despite breakneck advances. Further sanctions would add power to existing ones, including China's quantum computing companies (to a degree).

One thing both technological spaces have in common is that they're still nascent: every day greets us with yet another quantum computing or AI-related headline. Efforts to regulate China's access to such rapidly-changing technologies leave the Biden administration between a rock and a hard place. Sanctions targeting China have been shown to have nefarious effects on the world at large and American semiconductor companies in particular, not just on its intending recipient.

Another element any sanctions would have to consider is the technological fields themselves. Essentially, what specific elements for each technology could be sanctioned that would hit China the most and the rest of the world the least? What price - if any - would U.S. companies pay for tightening the noose?

Companies in the quantum computing space might tell you otherwise, but the current approaches to the field showcase the number of potential sanction venues. Should the Biden administration produce sanctions for any kind of quantum computing approach - from superconducting qubits to ion chains? What would it do to the quantum computing research and product market if the sanctions only focussed on certain technologies, disproportionately hitting some companies while leaving others off the hook? What if a new quantum computing (or A.I.) approach surfaces?

Despite the cost and difficulty in perceiving the magnitude of the required U.S. regulatory intervention, China's efforts in the quantum computing space should give the U.S. pause. The number of accusations flying around regarding I.P. and state secret thefts, paired with China's clear interest in leading the space's research and development, open up the doors to immense privacy and national security concerns.

When quantum computing lurches past its current NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum Era), it will enable any actor to field a way to crack currently-applied encryption algorithms. This includes data in motion and data at rest - especially any data that has been already stolen in what is known as a "steal now, decrypt later" attack. Nobody knows the petabytes (?) of intercepted data just lying in wait for the moment that a quantum computer is around to destroy their current encryption schemes. The impact of being the first to crack quantum computing cannot be overstated - especially if it's done by an actor that feels it has a score to settle, even more so when standards for post-quantum encryption are still being discussed.

China has shown incredible resilience despite the ever-tightening sanctions. Even after being cut from the latest manufacturing technologies, the country's OceanLight supercomputer managed to stand side by side with the AMD-made Frontier in disputing the finalist prize for the Gordon Bell award. The award is directly related to A.I. workloads, and China managed to field a supercomputer powered by 14nm-era hardware to perform work deemed relevant enough for prize contention. It's extremely likely that China will continue on this road. As they say: where there's a will, there's a way.

Freelance News Writer

Francisco Pires is a freelance news writer for Tom's Hardware with a soft side for quantum computing.

**Early Stage Development**: Despite progress, quantum computing is still in its early stages, with current systems having limited processing power and being prone to errors.

Title:

Content: Who invented the first quantum computer?

Who invented the first quantum computer?

**The first quantum computer was invented by a group of researchers led by physicist Isaac Chuang and computer scientist Neil Gershenfeld in 1998.**

Quantum computing has undoubtedly revolutionized the world of technology and opened up new possibilities for solving complex problems. As this fascinating field continues to grow, many people wonder who can be credited with the invention of the very first quantum computer. Well, the answer lies with a group of brilliant scientists who pushed the boundaries of computation to a whole new level.

What were the key contributions of Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld?

Isaac Chuang, a physicist, and Neil Gershenfeld, a computer scientist, collaborated in the 1990s to create the first practical quantum computer using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques.

How did their quantum computer work?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s quantum computer utilized the principles of quantum mechanics, including quantum superposition and entanglement, to perform computations.

What breakthroughs did their quantum computer achieve?

Their quantum computer successfully executed Shor’s algorithm, which is capable of factoring large numbers exponentially faster than classical computers.

How did their invention impact the field of quantum computing?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention marked a significant milestone in the development of quantum computers, inspiring subsequent researchers to explore new approaches and technologies for building more scalable and efficient quantum systems.

What limitations did the first quantum computer face?

The first quantum computer faced several limitations, including a high error rate due to the susceptibility of the NMR-based technology to decoherence.

Did Chuang and Gershenfeld receive recognition for their achievement?

Yes, their groundbreaking work gained recognition, and they were awarded the prestigious Richard P. Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology in 2001.

Has quantum computing technology improved since then?

Absolutely! Since Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention, quantum computing has made tremendous strides with advancements in hardware design, quantum algorithms, error correction techniques, and the emergence of various quantum computing platforms.

Are there other researchers who significantly contributed to quantum computing?

Certainly! A multitude of researchers and scientists around the world has made notable contributions to the development of quantum computing, further expanding our understanding and capabilities in this field.

What are the potential applications of quantum computing?

Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including cryptography, drug discovery, optimization problems, material science, and artificial intelligence.

Are quantum computers currently commercially available?

Although quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, there are some commercially available quantum computers offered by companies like IBM, Google, and Honeywell.

How far are we from achieving quantum supremacy?

Quantum supremacy refers to a point where a quantum computer can perform a calculation that is infeasible for any classical computer. While there have been promising demonstrations, achieving true quantum supremacy at scale is still a significant endeavor.

What are the biggest challenges in quantum computing today?

Some of the significant challenges in quantum computing include quantum decoherence, error correction, scaling up the number of qubits, and improving hardware reliability.

In conclusion, Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld can be credited for inventing the first quantum computer in 1998, marking a pivotal moment in the history of computing. Their pioneering work has inspired countless researchers, leading to remarkable advancements in quantum computing technology. As we continue to unravel the potential of this exciting field, it is crucial to acknowledge the many researchers who have contributed to shaping the future of quantum computing.

Scroll to Top

Title:

Content: Alert
It will not be all DPP Lai Ching-te talking about the premier and the head of the ministry: there are already candidates to think about.
Previous articlePrevious post: The 4th Stage of Cancer Planned Funeral: Don ’ t Want to See These People
Taiwan stocks rose 124 points, the band high transaction value but hit a new low this year...
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
1994 was a turning point in quantum computing. The algorithm of the American mathematician Shue showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be an important early application of quantum computers.
According to Reuters, the world may celebrate “Q-day ” as soon as next year, by which time the current encryption methods will be useless before quantum computers.
In view of this, the United States and China are stealing and harvesting each other ’ s data on a large scale to decipher and intercept messages in the quantum future.
According to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report in May last year predicted that enterprises will profit from quantum computing as soon as next year; by about 2035, quantum data may bring users as much as $850 billion (about NT $26.8 trillion) in benefits, quantum technology will mature in that year.
Quantum computers are expected to be able to crack cryptographic codes in minutes, rather than the thousands of years it would take for traditional computers today.
Industry experts claim that North America is the center of quantum computing.
American companies build quantum processors including IBM, Amazon, Intel, Google, Quantinum, IonQ, Microsoft, QCI and Rigetti Computing.
As of the previous year, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada also had the largest number of startups in the industry, according to the McKinsey report.
As for China, Genyuan Quantum announced in January last year that it had delivered a fully homemade 24 qubit quantum computer to customers and expected to develop a 1024 qubit quantum computer next year. In November last year, Alibaba Group donated the quantum computing laboratory and related experimental equipment of its research institute, Damo Institute, to Zhejiang University.
Baidu also followed suit this month by donating a quantum computing lab and equipment to the Beijing Institute of Quantum Information Sciences, which is supported by the Chinese government.
Others include Guodun Quantum, Guoyi Quantum, Turing Quantum, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the country's top scientific and technological academic institution, each developing quantum computing technology.
However, under this 1 quantum trend, the major countries in the United States and China are preparing for the future, lest in the quantum future, far more powerful than the current fastest supercomputer, will be able to crack the password to protect almost all modern communications.
Tilo Kunz, vice president of QD5, a Canadian security company, said that according to the minutes of the meeting released by the US Defense Information Systems Agency, all countries have tried to steal data, that is, to carry out a "harvest now, decipher later" security attack.
The military will discover that its long history of planning and intelligence has caught the eye of the enemy, that corporate intelligence has been stolen, and that people ’ s health records will be revealed.
However, opinions differ on when the quantum day "big limit" will come.
Quantum computing is still in its early days, and only small quantum computers with limited processing power and error-prone capabilities have been built.
Some researchers estimate that Quantum Day may be approaching by the middle of the century.
No one knows who can get there first.
The United States and China are seen as leaders in the field, and many experts believe the United States still prevails.
Researchers believe that more important than breaking the decryption code, quantum computers use the mysterious properties of subatomic particles, which are expected to bring breakthroughs in science, weapons equipment and industry.
Beijing Information Security Quantum Computing Quantum Computer
Extended reading
US, Japan, and Australia air force combat "Against North 24" joint exercise begins in Guam in early February
US B-21 stealth bomber production and China's "big power competition" intensified
Ying / Tsai Ing-wen Visited the Results of the Quantum Computer Project, Hoping to Contribute to the World
Home Made Quantum Computer by Academia Sinica Tsai Ing-wen: Made in Taiwan is the pride of Taiwanese
Related News
The performance is not as expected … Musk named Tesla ’ s share in the Japanese market is too low 1 reason why it is difficult for him to achieve his wish.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that Tesla ’ s market share in Japan is too low, hoping to at least raise it to a level with other companies.
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
In 1994, the turning point of quantum computing, the American mathematician Shue's algorithm showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be a quantum computer.
Japan's Toyota to suspend shipments of 10 cars after diesel engine violations in certification test
Japan ’ s Toyota Motor announced today that it has decided to suspend shipments of 10 affected vehicles because the diesel engine produced by the group ’ s “Toyota Automatic Weaving ” violated the certification test process.
South Korean semiconductor technology leak brothers take over illegal export equipment to earn more than 80 million
A semiconductor cleaning equipment manufacturer in South Korea was prosecuted for illegally leaking related technology to the Chinese side, and one of the suspects even took over the company immediately after his brother was detained and prosecuted for the above reasons.
China 's latest rescue measures boost Asian shares to rise and fall
Asian stocks rose and fell today as the Chinese authorities' latest rescue measures boosted their gains.
International oil prices are rising again in the Middle East, and it is alleged that an attack by a rebel group backed by Iran killed three people.
Semiconductor technology leaks continue! South Korean investigators say technology is flowing to the mainland to reveal secret signals and other methods
South Korean media quoted intelligence agency investigators as saying that the illegal export of semiconductor technology criminals in addition to using code communication to avoid being tracked, their methods are changing day by day, using mergers and acquisitions.
Product recommendation
udn Forum

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

What are the challenges in quantum computing research?

high error rates
only small quantum computers available

What are the challenges in quantum computing research?

high error rates
only small quantum computers available

What are the challenges in quantum computing research?

high error rates
only small quantum computers available

**Collaboration Importance**: Partnerships between academia, industry, and government are crucial for advancement, as demonstrated by successful alliances in multiple countries.

Title:

Content: embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT - Embedded.com

embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT

A roundup of this week’s embedded news includes embedded edge with Nitin podcast featuring a brand new GPU, quantum computing developments and IoT for smart buildings, plus usual product news including automotive, tools and software.

In our latest embedded edge with Nitin podcast, we have highlighted a new GPU, developments in quantum computing, and IoT for smart buildings. In the show, Andrew Girdler of Imagination Technologies told us about the company’s new flagship GPU that brings desktop-quality ray tracing to mobile for the first time and is industry’s first Level 4 RTLS ray tracing architecture. He said, “It’s the most advanced ray tracing architecture out there today, giving you the ability to enable advanced ray trace gaming effects, in a low power budget in a mobile phone device.” Listen to the full interview on the podcast.

I also spoke to two companies looking to help democratize quantum computing with the work they are doing. First, Bob Coecke of Cambridge Quantum took us into the background to the company’s launch of the world’s first toolkit and library for quantum natural language processing, which allows sentences to be converted into a quantum circuit. Then I spoke to Pauls Wells of sureCore, who’s leading a seven-member consortium that has received a UK£6.5 million government innovation grant to jointly develop advanced cryogenic semiconductor IP; this is intended to dramatically accelerate the growth of the quantum computing industry by reducing the constrains associated with interconnects thus enabling efficient qubit/system scaling.

Finally, the podcast features an interview with Bruno Johnson of Cascoda, who talks about his company’s module recently certified for the OCF running over Thread network protocol – this is said to be a true internet protocol-based connectivity solution that is extremely low power that provides IP connectivity right down to the end node and with the Open Connectivity Foundation secure PKI X 509 grade security for end-to-end encryption. This gives smart building and building automation “banking grade security” for IoT devices.

We’ve been attending various events in person over recent weeks, and next week you can catch us at the CW International Conference. The agenda for this year’s event is somewhat topical, especially given that we also had the COP26 global UN climate chance conference this week. The CW conference will consider the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximize wireless’ potential to improve the future, including the reduction of wireless’ environmental impact.

News & Products

SensiML Corporation, a developer of AI tools for building intelligent IoT endpoints, has teamed with onsemi to deliver a complete machine learning solution for autonomous sensor data processing and predictive modeling. The collaboration combines SensiML’s analytics toolkit development software with the RSL10 sensor development kit from onsemi to create a platform for edge sensing applications such as industrial process control and monitoring. The ability to support AI functions in a small memory footprint along with advanced sensing and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity enables sophisticated smart sensing without the need for cloud analytics of highly dynamic raw sensor data.

Allegro MicroSystems has expanded its automotive lighting portfolio to include two new offerings for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) applications. The A80803 is a switch-mode, constant-current controller for high-power LED automotive lighting applications that addresses many common pain points for headlight designers to help bring advanced functionality to mainstream vehicles. The A80804 is Allegro’s first four-channel linear driver for high-power LEDs. In addition to targeted applications such as DRL/position and stop/taillights, it gives lighting designers increased design flexibility for popular features such as sequential turn signals, animation effects, and theater-style transitions.

[insert image]

Tata Elxsi and Green Hills Software are working together on a driver monitoring system (DMS) platform that combines advanced DMS software (V.O.E.O.S.Y.S – vehicle operator environment observation system) and AUTOSAR adaptive from Tata Elxsi integrated with the safe and secure INTEGRITY real-time operating system (RTOS) from Green Hills Software, optimized to run on the latest families of automotive-grade microprocessors. This flexible and standards-based DMS platform enables OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to reduce the time, cost, and complexity of developing and deploying their DMS-compliant ADAS systems while meeting mandatory global safety and security requirements.

Infineon Technologies has joined the FiRa Consortium as a contributor member to support the expansion of the UWB ecosystem. The company’s VP digital security & identity, Bjoern Scharfen, said “UWB has a great potential to enhance Infineon’s offering in security, connectivity and computing. With this, the technology fully supports our vision of linking the real and digital world.” With the acquisition of Cypress in 2020, Infineon said it acquired significant expertise in connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) as well as in microcontrollers.

Wireless Telecom Group said that SmartSky Networks has selected the CommAgility high-performance telecommunications systems software and tools for its next-generation air-to-ground (ATG) network. Deployed in SmartSky’s inflight connectivity, CommAgility is providing a full protocol stack and physical layer (PHY) for SmartSky’s aircraft base radio (ABR), which is the user equipment (UE) on board the aircraft. The ABR connects to a ground base station and provides broadband inflight connectivity for the operational needs of the aircraft, passengers, and crew. SmartSky’s patented beamforming and spectrum re-use technologies have been tested and proven, and the network is now rolling out across the USA for aviation operators and passengers.

MicroAI has announced MicroAI Launchpad, a quick start development and deployment tool that helps organizations simplify and accelerate the design, development, testing, and deployment of smart systems that run embedded MicroAI software on MCUs and microprocessors (MPUs) in edge and endpoint devices. Launchpad makes it simple to handle customers with SIMs around the world and manage and reconfigure device profiles. A single pane of glass gives access to customizable dashboards for account creation, authentication, mobile SIM or LoRaWAN connectivity activation, credit card billing for global SIM connectivity, and onboarding of MicroAI’s embedded software libraries. Its embedded software, AtomML, enables OEMs to deploy personalized, edge-native AI models, without needing to develop static edge-AI models first in a cloud or laptop and then port them to the embedded device.

IAR Systems said that its latest version of IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm adds support for the Arm Cortex-M55 processor. In addition, version 9.20 of the toolchain includes support for the latest MCUs from several semiconductor vendors. The toolchain delivers optimization capabilities to assist developers in getting the most out of the performance of the MCU and yet stay as energy efficient as possible. To ensure code quality, code analysis tools are completely integrated with IAR Embedded Workbench.

Teledyne Test Tools has launched the T3DSO3000, a new series of premium economy oscilloscopes, which feature four channel models with analog bandwidth options from 200 MHz to 1 GHz. Each model offers a maximum sample rate of 5 GSa/s, and a maximum memory depth of 250 Mpts in half channel mode. All models incorporate two 5 GSa/s ADCs and two 250 Mpts memory modules. The oscilloscopes employ a new generation of high-speed display technology for excellent signal clarity, fidelity and performance. The series comes with a minimum vertical input range of 500 μV/div, an innovative digital trigger system with high sensitivity, low jitter, and a waveform capture rate of 500,000 waveforms/sec (sequence mode).

Kontron has launched the 3.5-inch SBC-R39, a compact 3.5-inch single-board computer suitable for integration into (open source) embedded systems in entertainment, digital signage, facial recognition, smart retail, smart classroom, smart office and industrial applications. The 3.5-inch SBC-R39 is built on a Rockchip RK3399(K) processor with ARM big.LITTLE microarchitecture. This includes two processors embedded in a single, fully integrated silicon chip. The LITTLE cluster consists of a quad-core Cortex A53 processor, which is typically used to perform routine tasks at low power consumption. The large cluster is a dual-core Cortex-A72 processor, which handles compute-intensive high-performance tasks. This architecture enables the SBC-R39 to dynamically assign tasks to the respective processor according to the performance requirement.

People and Funding

Velodyne Lidar announced the appointment of Theodore “Ted” L. Tewksbury, Ph.D. as chief executive officer, who joins after serving as CEO of Eta Compute. Prior to Eta Compute, Tewksbury, a technology executive with over 30 years’ leadership experience across public and private companies, held several chief executive and board positions, including Entropic Communications and Integrated Device Technology. He is an accomplished engineer, with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from MIT. He has held a variety of engineering and management positions in his career, including introducing over 180 innovative new product families during his time at Maxim Integrated Products.

Events

The CW International Conference (CWIC), one of the key annual events for the wireless industry in the U.K., is back both as a physical live event at IWM Duxford, Europe’s largest air museum, as well being available online. Taking place on 9th November 2021, this year’s theme considers the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximise wireless’ potential to improve the future. Full agenda and details are here.

Nvidia GTC takes place online from 8-11 November 2021, which will include a live-streamed keynote by Jensen Huang, plus talks from AI research and industry leaders on deep learning, data science, high-performance computing, robotics, data center/networking and graphics. Speakers include Fei-Fei Li, professor of computer science, Stanford University, Lindsay Edwards, responsible for AI at in respiratory and immunology, AstraZeneca, and Kay Firth-Butterfield, head of AI and ML, World Economic Forum. Details here.

The 58th DAC (Design Automation Conference) is takes place both physically in San Francisco and virtually between 5-10 December 2021. Keynote speakers include Jeff Dean of Google Research and Google Health, Bill Dally of Nvidia, and Missy Cummings of Duke University. For the first, DAC attendees will also have access to SEMICON West and the RISC-V Summit. Details here.

Title:

Content: Image: © luchschenF/Stock.adobe.com

What skills do you need to start a career in quantum?

2 hours ago

Quantum combines quantum mechanics with physics, maths and computer science to innovate and solve problems. It’s an exciting area to break into.

Quantum tech is perhaps not as well-known as other areas of tech, but there is no doubt that its influence is growing – and that means it is a good area to look into if you’re an ambitious person with an aptitude for computers and maths.

Lots of Big Tech companies are betting on quantum as a driver of innovation for the future. Currently, much of the quantum knowledge is evolving in the academic world, but businesses are beginning to sit up and take notice of the tech’s potential thanks to industry-academia collaborations.

In Ireland, Trinity College Dublin has recently formed an alliance for quantum computing skills with industry players IBM and Microsoft. Smaller companies have joined the alliance, too, including Horizon Quantum Computing, a Singapore-based quantum tech company headed up by Irishman Dr Joe Fitzsimons. He spoke to SiliconRepublic.com last year when his company expanded into Ireland, announcing several new jobs for Dublin.

So, what kind of skills do you need if you want to break into quantum computing and how difficult is it to establish a career in the sector?

To answer the second question first, you will most likely need a university qualification – possibly to postgraduate level. Quantum is complex and even academics who work on advancing research in the field are sometimes stymied by problems in the field.

That said, Irish universities’ determination to make quantum skills accessible for everyone means there are a lot of postgraduate programmes that have been developed in consultation with the likes of IBM.

If you’re looking to brush up on your skills casually, Google has made its Quantum Virtual Machine available to the public free of charge so everyone can learn quantum programming skills. There is also the option of online courses, available from the likes of Skillnet Ireland, as well as Udemy and edX.

Technical, mathematical and soft skills

Maths is definitely a skill you need for quantum. Specifically, linear algebra, probability theory and statistics. Computer science skills such as algorithms, programming and data structuring are required in combination also.

It goes without saying that you need to know the quantum lingo, too. This means a decent grasp of quantum theory and mechanics. Keep up with developments that are happening in quantum science and know how the industry is using the tech for different purposes. Specialist publications like Quantum Zeitgeist are good for this. If you are able to talk the talk with quantum, you can explain to businesses how they can benefit from the tech but you have to understand it first, so know your stuff – and your qubits.

Because quantum is such a complex area, it can be easy to put all of the focus on technical skills, but like any other career area it demands soft skills, too. Communication is important. Analytical and creative skills are definitely an asset, as are research skills for this fast-growing, young technology.

10 things you need to know direct to your inbox every weekday. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of essential sci-tech news.

By Blathnaid O’Dea

Blathnaid O’Dea joined Silicon Republic in 2021 as Careers reporter, coming from a background in the Humanities. She likes people, pranking, pictures of puffins – and apparently alliteration.

Loading now, one moment please!

## Countries Investing Heavily in Quantum Computing

Significant national investments include:

1.

Title:

Content: embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT - Embedded.com

embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT

A roundup of this week’s embedded news includes embedded edge with Nitin podcast featuring a brand new GPU, quantum computing developments and IoT for smart buildings, plus usual product news including automotive, tools and software.

In our latest embedded edge with Nitin podcast, we have highlighted a new GPU, developments in quantum computing, and IoT for smart buildings. In the show, Andrew Girdler of Imagination Technologies told us about the company’s new flagship GPU that brings desktop-quality ray tracing to mobile for the first time and is industry’s first Level 4 RTLS ray tracing architecture. He said, “It’s the most advanced ray tracing architecture out there today, giving you the ability to enable advanced ray trace gaming effects, in a low power budget in a mobile phone device.” Listen to the full interview on the podcast.

I also spoke to two companies looking to help democratize quantum computing with the work they are doing. First, Bob Coecke of Cambridge Quantum took us into the background to the company’s launch of the world’s first toolkit and library for quantum natural language processing, which allows sentences to be converted into a quantum circuit. Then I spoke to Pauls Wells of sureCore, who’s leading a seven-member consortium that has received a UK£6.5 million government innovation grant to jointly develop advanced cryogenic semiconductor IP; this is intended to dramatically accelerate the growth of the quantum computing industry by reducing the constrains associated with interconnects thus enabling efficient qubit/system scaling.

Finally, the podcast features an interview with Bruno Johnson of Cascoda, who talks about his company’s module recently certified for the OCF running over Thread network protocol – this is said to be a true internet protocol-based connectivity solution that is extremely low power that provides IP connectivity right down to the end node and with the Open Connectivity Foundation secure PKI X 509 grade security for end-to-end encryption. This gives smart building and building automation “banking grade security” for IoT devices.

We’ve been attending various events in person over recent weeks, and next week you can catch us at the CW International Conference. The agenda for this year’s event is somewhat topical, especially given that we also had the COP26 global UN climate chance conference this week. The CW conference will consider the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximize wireless’ potential to improve the future, including the reduction of wireless’ environmental impact.

News & Products

SensiML Corporation, a developer of AI tools for building intelligent IoT endpoints, has teamed with onsemi to deliver a complete machine learning solution for autonomous sensor data processing and predictive modeling. The collaboration combines SensiML’s analytics toolkit development software with the RSL10 sensor development kit from onsemi to create a platform for edge sensing applications such as industrial process control and monitoring. The ability to support AI functions in a small memory footprint along with advanced sensing and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity enables sophisticated smart sensing without the need for cloud analytics of highly dynamic raw sensor data.

Allegro MicroSystems has expanded its automotive lighting portfolio to include two new offerings for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) applications. The A80803 is a switch-mode, constant-current controller for high-power LED automotive lighting applications that addresses many common pain points for headlight designers to help bring advanced functionality to mainstream vehicles. The A80804 is Allegro’s first four-channel linear driver for high-power LEDs. In addition to targeted applications such as DRL/position and stop/taillights, it gives lighting designers increased design flexibility for popular features such as sequential turn signals, animation effects, and theater-style transitions.

[insert image]

Tata Elxsi and Green Hills Software are working together on a driver monitoring system (DMS) platform that combines advanced DMS software (V.O.E.O.S.Y.S – vehicle operator environment observation system) and AUTOSAR adaptive from Tata Elxsi integrated with the safe and secure INTEGRITY real-time operating system (RTOS) from Green Hills Software, optimized to run on the latest families of automotive-grade microprocessors. This flexible and standards-based DMS platform enables OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to reduce the time, cost, and complexity of developing and deploying their DMS-compliant ADAS systems while meeting mandatory global safety and security requirements.

Infineon Technologies has joined the FiRa Consortium as a contributor member to support the expansion of the UWB ecosystem. The company’s VP digital security & identity, Bjoern Scharfen, said “UWB has a great potential to enhance Infineon’s offering in security, connectivity and computing. With this, the technology fully supports our vision of linking the real and digital world.” With the acquisition of Cypress in 2020, Infineon said it acquired significant expertise in connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) as well as in microcontrollers.

Wireless Telecom Group said that SmartSky Networks has selected the CommAgility high-performance telecommunications systems software and tools for its next-generation air-to-ground (ATG) network. Deployed in SmartSky’s inflight connectivity, CommAgility is providing a full protocol stack and physical layer (PHY) for SmartSky’s aircraft base radio (ABR), which is the user equipment (UE) on board the aircraft. The ABR connects to a ground base station and provides broadband inflight connectivity for the operational needs of the aircraft, passengers, and crew. SmartSky’s patented beamforming and spectrum re-use technologies have been tested and proven, and the network is now rolling out across the USA for aviation operators and passengers.

MicroAI has announced MicroAI Launchpad, a quick start development and deployment tool that helps organizations simplify and accelerate the design, development, testing, and deployment of smart systems that run embedded MicroAI software on MCUs and microprocessors (MPUs) in edge and endpoint devices. Launchpad makes it simple to handle customers with SIMs around the world and manage and reconfigure device profiles. A single pane of glass gives access to customizable dashboards for account creation, authentication, mobile SIM or LoRaWAN connectivity activation, credit card billing for global SIM connectivity, and onboarding of MicroAI’s embedded software libraries. Its embedded software, AtomML, enables OEMs to deploy personalized, edge-native AI models, without needing to develop static edge-AI models first in a cloud or laptop and then port them to the embedded device.

IAR Systems said that its latest version of IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm adds support for the Arm Cortex-M55 processor. In addition, version 9.20 of the toolchain includes support for the latest MCUs from several semiconductor vendors. The toolchain delivers optimization capabilities to assist developers in getting the most out of the performance of the MCU and yet stay as energy efficient as possible. To ensure code quality, code analysis tools are completely integrated with IAR Embedded Workbench.

Teledyne Test Tools has launched the T3DSO3000, a new series of premium economy oscilloscopes, which feature four channel models with analog bandwidth options from 200 MHz to 1 GHz. Each model offers a maximum sample rate of 5 GSa/s, and a maximum memory depth of 250 Mpts in half channel mode. All models incorporate two 5 GSa/s ADCs and two 250 Mpts memory modules. The oscilloscopes employ a new generation of high-speed display technology for excellent signal clarity, fidelity and performance. The series comes with a minimum vertical input range of 500 μV/div, an innovative digital trigger system with high sensitivity, low jitter, and a waveform capture rate of 500,000 waveforms/sec (sequence mode).

Kontron has launched the 3.5-inch SBC-R39, a compact 3.5-inch single-board computer suitable for integration into (open source) embedded systems in entertainment, digital signage, facial recognition, smart retail, smart classroom, smart office and industrial applications. The 3.5-inch SBC-R39 is built on a Rockchip RK3399(K) processor with ARM big.LITTLE microarchitecture. This includes two processors embedded in a single, fully integrated silicon chip. The LITTLE cluster consists of a quad-core Cortex A53 processor, which is typically used to perform routine tasks at low power consumption. The large cluster is a dual-core Cortex-A72 processor, which handles compute-intensive high-performance tasks. This architecture enables the SBC-R39 to dynamically assign tasks to the respective processor according to the performance requirement.

People and Funding

Velodyne Lidar announced the appointment of Theodore “Ted” L. Tewksbury, Ph.D. as chief executive officer, who joins after serving as CEO of Eta Compute. Prior to Eta Compute, Tewksbury, a technology executive with over 30 years’ leadership experience across public and private companies, held several chief executive and board positions, including Entropic Communications and Integrated Device Technology. He is an accomplished engineer, with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from MIT. He has held a variety of engineering and management positions in his career, including introducing over 180 innovative new product families during his time at Maxim Integrated Products.

Events

The CW International Conference (CWIC), one of the key annual events for the wireless industry in the U.K., is back both as a physical live event at IWM Duxford, Europe’s largest air museum, as well being available online. Taking place on 9th November 2021, this year’s theme considers the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximise wireless’ potential to improve the future. Full agenda and details are here.

Nvidia GTC takes place online from 8-11 November 2021, which will include a live-streamed keynote by Jensen Huang, plus talks from AI research and industry leaders on deep learning, data science, high-performance computing, robotics, data center/networking and graphics. Speakers include Fei-Fei Li, professor of computer science, Stanford University, Lindsay Edwards, responsible for AI at in respiratory and immunology, AstraZeneca, and Kay Firth-Butterfield, head of AI and ML, World Economic Forum. Details here.

The 58th DAC (Design Automation Conference) is takes place both physically in San Francisco and virtually between 5-10 December 2021. Keynote speakers include Jeff Dean of Google Research and Google Health, Bill Dally of Nvidia, and Missy Cummings of Duke University. For the first, DAC attendees will also have access to SEMICON West and the RISC-V Summit. Details here.

Title:

Content: NEWS
Investors named the ten most promising areas in DeepTech
NEWS
Anastasia Maryina
Head of RB.ru news department
Anastasia Maryina
The Phystech Ventures Foundation presented an analytical review of Deeptech Outlook 2021, according to which investments in DeepTech showed a fourfold increase between 2016 and 2020.
Over the past year, more than $60 billion has been invested in the industry in the world.
Investors named the ten most promising areas in DeepTech
The fund ’ s investors also identified ten of the most promising technological areas in 2021:
• artificial intelligence and machine learning,
• quantum technologies,
• Cybersecurity,
• genetics and bioinformatics,
• neurobiology,
• energy,
• mobility,
• Space technology,
• foodtech,
• Agrotech.
“A number of deeptech segments are on the verge of big changes.
In 2021, we witnessed the first editing of the human genome, with the result that the capitalization of biotechnology companies Intellia and CRISPR Therapeutics exceeded $10 billion.
PsiQuantum, IonQ and ArQit were the first quantum unicorns.
Starlink, OneWeb and Amazon plan to increase the number of Earth satellites by 20 times.
We believe in science as the main driver of innovation, ” said Peter Lukyanov, partner and founder of Phystech Ventures.
Venture and corporate investments in artificial intelligence and machine learning reached $73 billion in 2020.
And the first quarter of 2021 was a record for the number of investments - for three months, $20.1 billion was invested.
Also in 2021, the first quantum unicorns appeared - PsiQuantum, IonQ and ArQit.
Experts expect the growth of physical implementations of quantum processors, new types of qubits and the development of high-level software.
According to forecasts, the quantum computing market will reach $7.3 billion by 2025.
The drone market reached $50 billion last year.
Startups raised almost $4 billion in the first half of 2021.
In this sector, among the promising areas are unmanned aerial vehicles, systems with autonomous control, systems with several robots and infrastructure development projects.
As the top 3 success stories in this segment in 2021, investors singled out Cruise, Joby Aviation and Plus.
In space technology, investors emphasize areas related to the propulsion systems of spacecraft and the technologies of their input-output from orbit.
Now about 60% of all failures at launch are due to problems in the propulsion systems.
About the study
The analysis and evaluation of investment activity was conducted in June-July 2021 and covered the development of deeptech over the past 10 years.
As part of the study, the team relied on industry reports and databases (Pitchbook, CB Insights, Scopus, Google Patents), as well as insider opinions and internal analytics.
The full study is available at the link.
Subscribe to our TG channel to be aware of all news and events!
Photo: Unsplash
Did you find a typo?
Select text and press Ctrl + Enter
Materials on the topic
1.
Xiaomi introduced a cyber dog of its own design
2.
“Systems will be improved, but … ”: Nissan Russia assessed the prospects for the development of drones in Russia
3.
"Pyaterochka" began to test robots to check the layout of goods and price tags
4.
4 How does the business of growing strawberries on vertical farms
5.
American cinema chain AMC will sell tickets for bitcoins
AgroCode Hub
Latest news, current events and networking in the AgroTech community — AgroCode Hub
Join us!
OPPORTUNITIES
August 13, 2021
August 15, 2021

Title:

Content: Computing

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

China Delivers Its First Practical Quantum Computer System to a Customer

China’s Science Ministry on Monday announced that the country’s first practical quantum computer was delivered to a user, which the agency didn’t identify, a year ago.

The 24-qubit Wuyan system based on superconducting technology was built by Origin Quantum Computing Technology, a company founded in 2017 by two of the country’s leading quantum physicists, Guo Guoping and Guo Guangcan. A qubit in the quantum world performs functions akin to bits in the digital world.

With the on-premises installation of the Wuyan system, China became the third country, after Canada and the United States, to deliver a complete quantum computer system to a customer.

Some skeptics questioned the timing of the announcement.

“Quantum technology has a high priority for national security in China. If this were something very important, I doubt it would be disclosed like this in a transparent way by Chinese authorities,” explained Weifeng Zhong, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

“The fact that it was delayed for a year suggests that they realize now that it’s not important to national security, so they’re trying to use it to build China’s image as a technology leader at a time when they’re trying to open up their economy to the rest of the world,” Zhong told TechNewsWorld.

Important Step

However, Hodan Omaar, a senior AI policy analyst at the Center for Data Innovation, a think tank studying the intersection of data, technology, and public policy, in Washington, D.C., maintained the announcement shows that China has made an important step in its quantum development.

“Overcoming technical challenges on the path toward large-scale quantum computers will depend on the ability to scale the number of qubits in quantum systems, much like modern classical computers have depended on the growth in the number of transistors in superconducting chips,” Omaar told TechNewsWorld.

“Investing in near-term quantum computing applications helps bolster the development of longer-term use cases of the technology, thereby helping to improve competitiveness,” she added.

Skip Sanzeri, co-founder and COO of QuSecure, a maker of quantum-safe security solutions in San Mateo, Calif., called the announcement “formidable” because China is stating that they have a fully functional quantum computer, albeit the qubit count is low.

“Nonetheless, error correction and noise reduction are two significant factors in ensuring that a quantum computer can process data and provide applications that we can rely on,” Sanzeri told TechNewsWorld. “By announcing that they have been able to get to this level shows that China is making progress towards larger quantum computers.”

Bucking a Trend

The Wuyan system appears to be on par with other systems in the market, noted Heather West, a senior research analyst at IDC’, an international market research company.

“The fact that they sold a 24 qubit system to someone isn’t that different from what we’re seeing elsewhere around the world,” West told TechNewsWorld.

Delivering a standalone system like the Wuyan is actually bucking the current trend in the market.

“Most quantum computers that people are accessing today are accessed through the cloud,” explained Doug Finke, an analyst with Global Quantum Intelligence, an international market intelligence firm.

“This Wuyan computer is being delivered to a customer in an on-premise situation,” Finke told TechNewsWorld. “On-premise has a lot of disadvantages. You have to worry about maintenance. You have to worry about spare parts. You have to worry about calibration.”

“In addition,” he continued, “quantum computing innovation is so fast that they become obsolete in about two years. So few people want an on-premise quantum computer. They’re much more comfortable with the cloud.”

Superconducting Challenges

The Wuyan system is built using superconducting chip technology, one of the earliest technologies for quantum computers. Since its introduction, other technologies have been explored. They include photonics, trapped ions, and neutral atoms.

“At the moment, no one knows which technology will be the winner or if there’ll be a combination of technologies that will combine for efficacious quantum applications,” Sanzeri said.

“Superconducting is very difficult,” he explained. “It requires near zero Kelvin refrigeration.”

“The electrons used in superconducting quantum computers are very hard to manage due to very short coherence times,” he continued. “That’s why they must be cooled to such a low temperature.”

Other methods are managing longer coherence times and a faster path to the desired goal of 1,000 error-corrected qubits, he added.

“The million-dollar question is what technology will win the race to the fault-tolerant quantum computer,” West said. “There might not be one winner. There might not be one system that comes out on top. It might be that certain kinds of systems are better than others at solving certain kinds of problems.”

Long View

Omaar countered that superconducting chips have a number of advantages over competing technologies.

“First, superconducting qubits are solid-state electrical circuits that are easier to control because they are manipulated using microwaves,” she said. “Scientists can therefore use easily accessible commercial microwave devices and equipment in superconducting quantum computing applications.”

“Second,” she continued, “because preparing superconducting circuits is based on the existing method for fabricating semiconductor chips, the development of high-quality devices can leverage advanced chip-making technologies, which is good for manufacturing and scalability.”

Despite developments like China’s Wuyan system, the arrival of a quantum computer that can tackle problems beyond the capacity of silicon computers appears to be years away.

“What quantum computers are going to be best for is solving complex, intractable problems beyond the scope of classical compute technology,” West said. “Those problems are years away from a quantum computer solving.”

“To get to that, we need at least a million qubits,” she continued. “That’s going to take a lot of work in scaling and stabilizing the qubits. Qubits are very sensitive to outside noise. As a result, the error rates are high in the technology we have.”

Despite the exuberance exhibited by many, we’re still in the early days of quantum computing, added Richard Stiennon, founder and chief research analyst at IT-Harvest, a cybersecurity industry analyst firm in Birmingham, Mich.

“There are many physical constraints on quantum computing that require precision in length of pathways — we are talking microns — and resistance to forces — footsteps can interfere with it. Supercooled chips just add to the complexity,” Stiennon told TechNewsWorld.

“I put it in the same realm as developing usable nuclear fusion as an energy source,” he said. “Hundreds of billions of dollars and decades to show a glimmer of progress.”

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.

More by John P. Mello Jr.
More in Computing

To earn your loyalty as a consumer, how important is it that a brand provides a personalized experience?
 Loading ...

Technewsworld Channels

Title:

Content: Image: © luchschenF/Stock.adobe.com

What skills do you need to start a career in quantum?

2 hours ago

Quantum combines quantum mechanics with physics, maths and computer science to innovate and solve problems. It’s an exciting area to break into.

Quantum tech is perhaps not as well-known as other areas of tech, but there is no doubt that its influence is growing – and that means it is a good area to look into if you’re an ambitious person with an aptitude for computers and maths.

Lots of Big Tech companies are betting on quantum as a driver of innovation for the future. Currently, much of the quantum knowledge is evolving in the academic world, but businesses are beginning to sit up and take notice of the tech’s potential thanks to industry-academia collaborations.

In Ireland, Trinity College Dublin has recently formed an alliance for quantum computing skills with industry players IBM and Microsoft. Smaller companies have joined the alliance, too, including Horizon Quantum Computing, a Singapore-based quantum tech company headed up by Irishman Dr Joe Fitzsimons. He spoke to SiliconRepublic.com last year when his company expanded into Ireland, announcing several new jobs for Dublin.

So, what kind of skills do you need if you want to break into quantum computing and how difficult is it to establish a career in the sector?

To answer the second question first, you will most likely need a university qualification – possibly to postgraduate level. Quantum is complex and even academics who work on advancing research in the field are sometimes stymied by problems in the field.

That said, Irish universities’ determination to make quantum skills accessible for everyone means there are a lot of postgraduate programmes that have been developed in consultation with the likes of IBM.

If you’re looking to brush up on your skills casually, Google has made its Quantum Virtual Machine available to the public free of charge so everyone can learn quantum programming skills. There is also the option of online courses, available from the likes of Skillnet Ireland, as well as Udemy and edX.

Technical, mathematical and soft skills

Maths is definitely a skill you need for quantum. Specifically, linear algebra, probability theory and statistics. Computer science skills such as algorithms, programming and data structuring are required in combination also.

It goes without saying that you need to know the quantum lingo, too. This means a decent grasp of quantum theory and mechanics. Keep up with developments that are happening in quantum science and know how the industry is using the tech for different purposes. Specialist publications like Quantum Zeitgeist are good for this. If you are able to talk the talk with quantum, you can explain to businesses how they can benefit from the tech but you have to understand it first, so know your stuff – and your qubits.

Because quantum is such a complex area, it can be easy to put all of the focus on technical skills, but like any other career area it demands soft skills, too. Communication is important. Analytical and creative skills are definitely an asset, as are research skills for this fast-growing, young technology.

10 things you need to know direct to your inbox every weekday. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of essential sci-tech news.

By Blathnaid O’Dea

Blathnaid O’Dea joined Silicon Republic in 2021 as Careers reporter, coming from a background in the Humanities. She likes people, pranking, pictures of puffins – and apparently alliteration.

Loading now, one moment please!

Title:

Content: Who invented the first quantum computer?

Who invented the first quantum computer?

**The first quantum computer was invented by a group of researchers led by physicist Isaac Chuang and computer scientist Neil Gershenfeld in 1998.**

Quantum computing has undoubtedly revolutionized the world of technology and opened up new possibilities for solving complex problems. As this fascinating field continues to grow, many people wonder who can be credited with the invention of the very first quantum computer. Well, the answer lies with a group of brilliant scientists who pushed the boundaries of computation to a whole new level.

What were the key contributions of Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld?

Isaac Chuang, a physicist, and Neil Gershenfeld, a computer scientist, collaborated in the 1990s to create the first practical quantum computer using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques.

How did their quantum computer work?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s quantum computer utilized the principles of quantum mechanics, including quantum superposition and entanglement, to perform computations.

What breakthroughs did their quantum computer achieve?

Their quantum computer successfully executed Shor’s algorithm, which is capable of factoring large numbers exponentially faster than classical computers.

How did their invention impact the field of quantum computing?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention marked a significant milestone in the development of quantum computers, inspiring subsequent researchers to explore new approaches and technologies for building more scalable and efficient quantum systems.

What limitations did the first quantum computer face?

The first quantum computer faced several limitations, including a high error rate due to the susceptibility of the NMR-based technology to decoherence.

Did Chuang and Gershenfeld receive recognition for their achievement?

Yes, their groundbreaking work gained recognition, and they were awarded the prestigious Richard P. Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology in 2001.

Has quantum computing technology improved since then?

Absolutely! Since Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention, quantum computing has made tremendous strides with advancements in hardware design, quantum algorithms, error correction techniques, and the emergence of various quantum computing platforms.

Are there other researchers who significantly contributed to quantum computing?

Certainly! A multitude of researchers and scientists around the world has made notable contributions to the development of quantum computing, further expanding our understanding and capabilities in this field.

What are the potential applications of quantum computing?

Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including cryptography, drug discovery, optimization problems, material science, and artificial intelligence.

Are quantum computers currently commercially available?

Although quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, there are some commercially available quantum computers offered by companies like IBM, Google, and Honeywell.

How far are we from achieving quantum supremacy?

Quantum supremacy refers to a point where a quantum computer can perform a calculation that is infeasible for any classical computer. While there have been promising demonstrations, achieving true quantum supremacy at scale is still a significant endeavor.

What are the biggest challenges in quantum computing today?

Some of the significant challenges in quantum computing include quantum decoherence, error correction, scaling up the number of qubits, and improving hardware reliability.

In conclusion, Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld can be credited for inventing the first quantum computer in 1998, marking a pivotal moment in the history of computing. Their pioneering work has inspired countless researchers, leading to remarkable advancements in quantum computing technology. As we continue to unravel the potential of this exciting field, it is crucial to acknowledge the many researchers who have contributed to shaping the future of quantum computing.

Scroll to Top

Title:

Content: Save Your Seat for Crypto Icon’s Insider Summit

On February 8, crypto legend Charlie Shrem will reveal a potential $100 trillion explosion in cryptocurrency — and his #1 way to play it.

Tue, February 8 at 7:00PM ET

7 Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in 2022

Quantum computing offers the potential to harness big data, make intricate predictions and use artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize business operations. Many industries such as automotive, agriculture, finance, healthcare, energy, logistics and space will be affected from the growth in this technology. As a result, Wall Street has been paying significant attention to quantum computing stocks.

Once considered science fiction, quantum computing has made significant progress in recent years to solve complex problems at lightning speed. This advanced technology uses the power of quantum mechanics to represent complex problems. These computers can take seconds to calculate equations that normally take days for machines that use a binary framework.

International Data Corporation forecasts that the global market for quantum computing should grow from about $412 million in 2020 to more than $8.5 billion in 2027. This increase would mean a  compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of an eye-popping 50% between now and 2027. Given such metrics, it’s understandable why investors are thrilled about the future of quantum computing stocks.

While it is currently in its early days, Wall Street has already warmed up to long-term prospects of this technology. Besides several pure-play quantum computing stocks going public in 2021, well-known tech names are pouring significant research dollars to invest in this advanced segment.

With that information, here are the seven best quantum computing stocks to buy in 2022:

  • Analog Devices (NASDAQ:ADI)
  • Defiance Quantum ETF (NYSEARCA:QTUM)
  • International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM)
  • IonQ (NYSE:IONQ)
  • Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)
  • Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA)
  • Supernova Partners Acquisition II (NYSE:SNII)

Quantum Computing Stocks: Analog Devices (ADI)

Source: Shutterstock

52-week range: $142.25 – $191.95

Dividend yield: 1.7%

Semiconductor group Analog Devices manufactures integrated circuits that process analog and digital signals. ADI’s chips are used in data converters, high-performance amplifiers and microwave-integrated circuits.

Analog Devices issued Q4 2021 metrics on Nov. 23. Revenue increased 53% year-over-year (YOY) to $2.34 billion. Adjusted earnings soared from $1.44 per share to $1.73 per share. The company generated a free cash flow of $810 million. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $1.98 billion.

Factory automation has fueled demand for sensors and machine connectivity, which increasingly rely on Analog’s chips. In addition, the automotive industry has also become a key growth driver due to the rising use of advanced electronics in electric vehicles (EVs).

In late August, the chipmaker completed the acquisition of Maxim Integrated. The billion transaction should increase ADI’s market share in automotive and 5G chipmaking.

ADI currently trades just under $160, up 7% over the past 12 months. Shares are trading at 21.5 times forward earnings and 8.9 times trailing sales. The 12-month median price forecast for Analog Devices stock stands at $210.

Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM)

Source: Maxx-Studio/ShutterStock.com

52-Week Range: $42.96 – $57.15

Expense Ratio: 0.40% per year

QTUM is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that focuses on the next generation of computing. It offers exposure to names leading the way in quantum computing, machine learning and cloud computing. The fund tracks the BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index.

QTUM, which started trading in September 2018, has 71 holdings. The top 10 holdings account for less than 20% of net assets of $161.5 million. Put another way, fund managers are not taking major bets on any company.

Among the leading holdings on the roster are the security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), French telecommunications operator Orange (NYSE:ORAN) and IBM.

For most retail investors, QTUM could potentially be a safe and diversified place to start investing in quantum computing. As portfolio companies come from a wide range of technology segments, wide swings in the price of one stock will not affect the ETF significantly.

The fund has gained 8.7% over the past year and saw an all-time high in November 2021. However, the recent selloff in tech stocks led to a 10.7% decline year-to-date (YTD). Interested readers could regard this decline as a good entry point into QTUM.

Quantum Computing Stocks: International Business Machines (IBM)

Source: shutterstock.com/LCV

52-week range: $113.17 – $146.12

Dividend Yield: 4.8%

Technology giant International Business Machines (IBM) needs little introduction. The legacy tech name offers integrated solutions and services, including infrastructure, software, information technology (IT) and hardware.

IBM announced Q4 2021 financials on Jan. 24. The company generated revenues of $16.7 billion, up 6.5% YOY. Net income stood at $2.33 billion, or $2.57 per diluted share, up from $1.36 billion, or $1.51 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $6.65 billion.

After the announcement, CEO Arvind Krishna said, “We increased revenue in the fourth quarter with hybrid cloud adoption driving growth in
software and consulting.”

The company launched its Quantum System One quantum computer in 2019. Around 150 research groups and partner companies currently use IBM’s quantum computing services. These names come from financial services businesses, automakers and energy suppliers.

In June 2021, IBM unveiled Europe’s most powerful quantum computer in Germany. Moreover, the tech giant recently announced a deal with Raytheon Technologies (NYSE:RTX) to provide quantum computing and AI services for the aerospace, defense and intelligence industries.

IBM currently changes hands around $137, up 20% over the past 12 months. Shares are trading at 13.5 times forward earnings and 2.2 times trailing sales. The 12-month median price forecast for IBM stock is $144.50. Interested readers could consider buying IBM shares around these levels.

IonQ (IONQ)

Source: Shutterstock

52-week range: $7.07 – $35.90

IonQ is one of the first publicly traded pure-play quantum computing stocks. It went public via a merger with the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) dMY Technology Group III in late 2021.

The quantum name released Q3 2021 results on Nov. 15. Its net loss was $14.8 million, or 12 cents loss per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $3.6 million a year ago. Cash and equivalents ended the quarter at $587 million. Wall Street was pleased that at the time, YTD contract bookings came in at $15.1 million.

IonQ is currently developing a network of quantum computers accessible from various cloud services. The technology uses ionized atoms that allow IonQ’s machines to perform complex calculations with fewer errors than any other quantum computer available.

The start-up has the financial backing of prominent investors, including Bill Gates and the Japanese telecommunications company Softbank Group (OTCMKTS:SFTBF). In addition, IonQ has been developing strategic partnerships with Microsoft, Amazon’s (NASDAQ:AMZN) Amazon Web Services and Alphabet’s (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google Cloud.

While IonQ is taking steps to become a commercialization-stage name, it is still a speculative investment. With its potential for explosive growth, it could be an attractive quantum computing stock for investors looking to take a risk.

IONQ stock hovers around $12. The recent selloff in tech stocks has led to a 26.7% decline YTD. Yet, the 12-month median price forecast for IONQ stock stands at $23.

Quantum Computing Stocks: Microsoft (MSFT)

Source: rafapress / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $224.26 – $349.67

Dividend Yield: 0.8%

Microsoft is one the largest and most prominent technology firms worldwide. It offers software products and services, including Azure cloud service, the Office 365 productivity suite and the customer relationship management (CRM) platform Dynamics 365.

Meanwhile, the Microsoft Quantum is “the world’s first full-stack, open cloud quantum computing ecosystem” that allows developers to create quantum applications and run them on multiple platforms. The software giant provides quantum computing services via the cloud on Azure.

Management announced robust Q2 FY22 metrics on Jan. 25. Revenue increased 20% YOY to $51.7 billion. Net income surged 21% YOY to $18.8 billion, or $2.48 per diluted share, compared to $15.5 billion, or $2.03 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $20.6 billion.

On Jan. 18, Microsoft announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI), a leading player in game and interactive entertainment development. It will be an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion. Wall Street expects this deal to provide tailwinds for Microsoft’s gaming business and building blocks for the metaverse.

MSFT stock currently trades just under $310, up 27% over the past 12 months. Shares support a valuation of 32.6 times forward earnings and 12.3 times trailing sales. And the 12-month median price forecast for Microsoft stock stands at $370.

Nvidia (NVDA)

Source: Antonio Baccardi / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $115.67 – $346.47

Dividend Yield: 0.06%

Santa Clara, California-based Nvidia has become an important name in advanced semiconductor design and software for next-generation computing development. InvestorPlace readers likely know the chipmaker is a market leader in the gaming and data center markets.

Nvidia announced impressive Q3 FY 2022 numbers on Nov. 17. Revenue soared 50% YOY to a record $7.1 billion, fueled by record sales in the gaming and data center businesses. Net income increased 62% YOY to $2.97 billion, or $1.17 per diluted share. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $1.29 billion.

The chipmaker provides the necessary processing power that drives the development of quantum computing. Additionally, Nvidia recently released cuQuantum, a software development kit designed for building quantum computing workflows. It has partnered with Google, IBM and other quantum computing players that rely on cuQuantum to accelerate their quantum computing work.

Given its growing addressable market in cloud computing, gaming, AI, and more recently the metaverse, NVDA stock deserves your attention. Share are changing hands around $245, up nearly 80% over the past year. However, despite an 18% decline YTD, shares are trading at 46.5 times forward earnings and 25 times trailing sales.

Finally, the 12-month median price forecast for Nvidia stock is $350. As the company gets ready to report earnings soon, investors should expect increased choppiness in price.

Quantum Computing Stocks: Supernova Partners Acquisition II (SNII)

Source: Dmitry Demidovich/ShutterStock.com

52-week range: $9.62 – $12.75

Our final stock is Supernova Partners Acquisition II, a SPAC. It is merging with Rigetti Computing, a start-up focused on quantum computer development. As a result of the merger, Rigetti Computing was valued at about $1.5 billion and received $458 million in gross cash proceeds.

Rigetti designs quantum chips and then integrates those chips with a controlling architecture. It also develops software used to build algorithms for these chips.

Rigetti recently announced business highlights for the nine months ended Oct. 31, 2021. Revenue came in at $6.9 million. Net operating loss declined 3% YOY to $26.2 million.

“We believe the time for quantum computing has arrived,” said founder and CEO Chad Rigetti. “Customer demand is increasing as Rigetti quantum computers begin to address high-impact computational problems.”

The start-up launched the world’s first scalable multi-chip quantum processor in June 2021. This processor boasts a proprietary modular architecture. Now Wall Street expects the company to move toward commercialization.

Rigetti collaborates with government entities and technology to advance its quantum processors. For instance, it boasts strategic partnerships with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. It also works with data analytics firm Palantir Technologies (NYSE:PLTR) and electronics manufacturer Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS).

SNII stock is currently shy of $10, down about 4% YTD. As investors’ interest in quantum computing names grow, shares are likely to become hot.

On the date of publication, Tezcan Gecgil holds both long and short positions in NVDA stock. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

Tezcan Gecgil has worked in investment management for over two decades in the U.S. and U.K. In addition to formal higher education in the field, she has also completed all 3 levels of the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) examination. Her passion is for options trading based on technical analysis of fundamentally strong companies. She especially enjoys setting up weekly covered calls for income generation.

Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2022/02/7-best-quantum-computing-stocks-to-buy-in-2022/.

©2022 InvestorPlace Media, LLC

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

**China**: Estimated to be investing billions across all areas of quantum research, with clear strategic goals to lead the field.

Title:

Content: NEWS
Investors named the ten most promising areas in DeepTech
NEWS
Anastasia Maryina
Head of RB.ru news department
Anastasia Maryina
The Phystech Ventures Foundation presented an analytical review of Deeptech Outlook 2021, according to which investments in DeepTech showed a fourfold increase between 2016 and 2020.
Over the past year, more than $60 billion has been invested in the industry in the world.
Investors named the ten most promising areas in DeepTech
The fund ’ s investors also identified ten of the most promising technological areas in 2021:
• artificial intelligence and machine learning,
• quantum technologies,
• Cybersecurity,
• genetics and bioinformatics,
• neurobiology,
• energy,
• mobility,
• Space technology,
• foodtech,
• Agrotech.
“A number of deeptech segments are on the verge of big changes.
In 2021, we witnessed the first editing of the human genome, with the result that the capitalization of biotechnology companies Intellia and CRISPR Therapeutics exceeded $10 billion.
PsiQuantum, IonQ and ArQit were the first quantum unicorns.
Starlink, OneWeb and Amazon plan to increase the number of Earth satellites by 20 times.
We believe in science as the main driver of innovation, ” said Peter Lukyanov, partner and founder of Phystech Ventures.
Venture and corporate investments in artificial intelligence and machine learning reached $73 billion in 2020.
And the first quarter of 2021 was a record for the number of investments - for three months, $20.1 billion was invested.
Also in 2021, the first quantum unicorns appeared - PsiQuantum, IonQ and ArQit.
Experts expect the growth of physical implementations of quantum processors, new types of qubits and the development of high-level software.
According to forecasts, the quantum computing market will reach $7.3 billion by 2025.
The drone market reached $50 billion last year.
Startups raised almost $4 billion in the first half of 2021.
In this sector, among the promising areas are unmanned aerial vehicles, systems with autonomous control, systems with several robots and infrastructure development projects.
As the top 3 success stories in this segment in 2021, investors singled out Cruise, Joby Aviation and Plus.
In space technology, investors emphasize areas related to the propulsion systems of spacecraft and the technologies of their input-output from orbit.
Now about 60% of all failures at launch are due to problems in the propulsion systems.
About the study
The analysis and evaluation of investment activity was conducted in June-July 2021 and covered the development of deeptech over the past 10 years.
As part of the study, the team relied on industry reports and databases (Pitchbook, CB Insights, Scopus, Google Patents), as well as insider opinions and internal analytics.
The full study is available at the link.
Subscribe to our TG channel to be aware of all news and events!
Photo: Unsplash
Did you find a typo?
Select text and press Ctrl + Enter
Materials on the topic
1.
Xiaomi introduced a cyber dog of its own design
2.
“Systems will be improved, but … ”: Nissan Russia assessed the prospects for the development of drones in Russia
3.
"Pyaterochka" began to test robots to check the layout of goods and price tags
4.
4 How does the business of growing strawberries on vertical farms
5.
American cinema chain AMC will sell tickets for bitcoins
AgroCode Hub
Latest news, current events and networking in the AgroTech community — AgroCode Hub
Join us!
OPPORTUNITIES
August 13, 2021
August 15, 2021

Title:

Content: Computing

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

China Delivers Its First Practical Quantum Computer System to a Customer

China’s Science Ministry on Monday announced that the country’s first practical quantum computer was delivered to a user, which the agency didn’t identify, a year ago.

The 24-qubit Wuyan system based on superconducting technology was built by Origin Quantum Computing Technology, a company founded in 2017 by two of the country’s leading quantum physicists, Guo Guoping and Guo Guangcan. A qubit in the quantum world performs functions akin to bits in the digital world.

With the on-premises installation of the Wuyan system, China became the third country, after Canada and the United States, to deliver a complete quantum computer system to a customer.

Some skeptics questioned the timing of the announcement.

“Quantum technology has a high priority for national security in China. If this were something very important, I doubt it would be disclosed like this in a transparent way by Chinese authorities,” explained Weifeng Zhong, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

“The fact that it was delayed for a year suggests that they realize now that it’s not important to national security, so they’re trying to use it to build China’s image as a technology leader at a time when they’re trying to open up their economy to the rest of the world,” Zhong told TechNewsWorld.

Important Step

However, Hodan Omaar, a senior AI policy analyst at the Center for Data Innovation, a think tank studying the intersection of data, technology, and public policy, in Washington, D.C., maintained the announcement shows that China has made an important step in its quantum development.

“Overcoming technical challenges on the path toward large-scale quantum computers will depend on the ability to scale the number of qubits in quantum systems, much like modern classical computers have depended on the growth in the number of transistors in superconducting chips,” Omaar told TechNewsWorld.

“Investing in near-term quantum computing applications helps bolster the development of longer-term use cases of the technology, thereby helping to improve competitiveness,” she added.

Skip Sanzeri, co-founder and COO of QuSecure, a maker of quantum-safe security solutions in San Mateo, Calif., called the announcement “formidable” because China is stating that they have a fully functional quantum computer, albeit the qubit count is low.

“Nonetheless, error correction and noise reduction are two significant factors in ensuring that a quantum computer can process data and provide applications that we can rely on,” Sanzeri told TechNewsWorld. “By announcing that they have been able to get to this level shows that China is making progress towards larger quantum computers.”

Bucking a Trend

The Wuyan system appears to be on par with other systems in the market, noted Heather West, a senior research analyst at IDC’, an international market research company.

“The fact that they sold a 24 qubit system to someone isn’t that different from what we’re seeing elsewhere around the world,” West told TechNewsWorld.

Delivering a standalone system like the Wuyan is actually bucking the current trend in the market.

“Most quantum computers that people are accessing today are accessed through the cloud,” explained Doug Finke, an analyst with Global Quantum Intelligence, an international market intelligence firm.

“This Wuyan computer is being delivered to a customer in an on-premise situation,” Finke told TechNewsWorld. “On-premise has a lot of disadvantages. You have to worry about maintenance. You have to worry about spare parts. You have to worry about calibration.”

“In addition,” he continued, “quantum computing innovation is so fast that they become obsolete in about two years. So few people want an on-premise quantum computer. They’re much more comfortable with the cloud.”

Superconducting Challenges

The Wuyan system is built using superconducting chip technology, one of the earliest technologies for quantum computers. Since its introduction, other technologies have been explored. They include photonics, trapped ions, and neutral atoms.

“At the moment, no one knows which technology will be the winner or if there’ll be a combination of technologies that will combine for efficacious quantum applications,” Sanzeri said.

“Superconducting is very difficult,” he explained. “It requires near zero Kelvin refrigeration.”

“The electrons used in superconducting quantum computers are very hard to manage due to very short coherence times,” he continued. “That’s why they must be cooled to such a low temperature.”

Other methods are managing longer coherence times and a faster path to the desired goal of 1,000 error-corrected qubits, he added.

“The million-dollar question is what technology will win the race to the fault-tolerant quantum computer,” West said. “There might not be one winner. There might not be one system that comes out on top. It might be that certain kinds of systems are better than others at solving certain kinds of problems.”

Long View

Omaar countered that superconducting chips have a number of advantages over competing technologies.

“First, superconducting qubits are solid-state electrical circuits that are easier to control because they are manipulated using microwaves,” she said. “Scientists can therefore use easily accessible commercial microwave devices and equipment in superconducting quantum computing applications.”

“Second,” she continued, “because preparing superconducting circuits is based on the existing method for fabricating semiconductor chips, the development of high-quality devices can leverage advanced chip-making technologies, which is good for manufacturing and scalability.”

Despite developments like China’s Wuyan system, the arrival of a quantum computer that can tackle problems beyond the capacity of silicon computers appears to be years away.

“What quantum computers are going to be best for is solving complex, intractable problems beyond the scope of classical compute technology,” West said. “Those problems are years away from a quantum computer solving.”

“To get to that, we need at least a million qubits,” she continued. “That’s going to take a lot of work in scaling and stabilizing the qubits. Qubits are very sensitive to outside noise. As a result, the error rates are high in the technology we have.”

Despite the exuberance exhibited by many, we’re still in the early days of quantum computing, added Richard Stiennon, founder and chief research analyst at IT-Harvest, a cybersecurity industry analyst firm in Birmingham, Mich.

“There are many physical constraints on quantum computing that require precision in length of pathways — we are talking microns — and resistance to forces — footsteps can interfere with it. Supercooled chips just add to the complexity,” Stiennon told TechNewsWorld.

“I put it in the same realm as developing usable nuclear fusion as an energy source,” he said. “Hundreds of billions of dollars and decades to show a glimmer of progress.”

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.

More by John P. Mello Jr.
More in Computing

To earn your loyalty as a consumer, how important is it that a brand provides a personalized experience?
 Loading ...

Technewsworld Channels

Title:

Content: Skip to main content

U.S. May Include AI and Quantum Computing in Chinese Tech Ban

The U.S. may be looking to tighten its technological noose on China beyond semiconductors. According to Bloomberg's sources, the Biden administration has been holding internal and external discussions on further cutting China off from high-tech solutions that might impact national and worldwide security. Foremost are the fields of A.I. software and quantum computing, whose potential for worldwide disruption is still under assessment despite breakneck advances. Further sanctions would add power to existing ones, including China's quantum computing companies (to a degree).

One thing both technological spaces have in common is that they're still nascent: every day greets us with yet another quantum computing or AI-related headline. Efforts to regulate China's access to such rapidly-changing technologies leave the Biden administration between a rock and a hard place. Sanctions targeting China have been shown to have nefarious effects on the world at large and American semiconductor companies in particular, not just on its intending recipient.

Another element any sanctions would have to consider is the technological fields themselves. Essentially, what specific elements for each technology could be sanctioned that would hit China the most and the rest of the world the least? What price - if any - would U.S. companies pay for tightening the noose?

Companies in the quantum computing space might tell you otherwise, but the current approaches to the field showcase the number of potential sanction venues. Should the Biden administration produce sanctions for any kind of quantum computing approach - from superconducting qubits to ion chains? What would it do to the quantum computing research and product market if the sanctions only focussed on certain technologies, disproportionately hitting some companies while leaving others off the hook? What if a new quantum computing (or A.I.) approach surfaces?

Despite the cost and difficulty in perceiving the magnitude of the required U.S. regulatory intervention, China's efforts in the quantum computing space should give the U.S. pause. The number of accusations flying around regarding I.P. and state secret thefts, paired with China's clear interest in leading the space's research and development, open up the doors to immense privacy and national security concerns.

When quantum computing lurches past its current NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum Era), it will enable any actor to field a way to crack currently-applied encryption algorithms. This includes data in motion and data at rest - especially any data that has been already stolen in what is known as a "steal now, decrypt later" attack. Nobody knows the petabytes (?) of intercepted data just lying in wait for the moment that a quantum computer is around to destroy their current encryption schemes. The impact of being the first to crack quantum computing cannot be overstated - especially if it's done by an actor that feels it has a score to settle, even more so when standards for post-quantum encryption are still being discussed.

China has shown incredible resilience despite the ever-tightening sanctions. Even after being cut from the latest manufacturing technologies, the country's OceanLight supercomputer managed to stand side by side with the AMD-made Frontier in disputing the finalist prize for the Gordon Bell award. The award is directly related to A.I. workloads, and China managed to field a supercomputer powered by 14nm-era hardware to perform work deemed relevant enough for prize contention. It's extremely likely that China will continue on this road. As they say: where there's a will, there's a way.

Freelance News Writer

Francisco Pires is a freelance news writer for Tom's Hardware with a soft side for quantum computing.

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

How much have countries and blocs invested in quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

How much have countries and blocs invested in quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

How much have countries and blocs invested in quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

How much have countries and blocs invested in quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

How much have countries and blocs invested in quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

How much have countries and blocs invested in quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

**United States**: Substantial government and industry investment, with strategic partnerships between federal agencies (NASA, Department of Energy) and private companies.

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

**Japan**: Government strategy with specific targets, including deploying domestic quantum computers and creating 10 million quantum technology users by 2030.

**United Kingdom**: Provided a £6.

Title:

Content: embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT - Embedded.com

embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT

A roundup of this week’s embedded news includes embedded edge with Nitin podcast featuring a brand new GPU, quantum computing developments and IoT for smart buildings, plus usual product news including automotive, tools and software.

In our latest embedded edge with Nitin podcast, we have highlighted a new GPU, developments in quantum computing, and IoT for smart buildings. In the show, Andrew Girdler of Imagination Technologies told us about the company’s new flagship GPU that brings desktop-quality ray tracing to mobile for the first time and is industry’s first Level 4 RTLS ray tracing architecture. He said, “It’s the most advanced ray tracing architecture out there today, giving you the ability to enable advanced ray trace gaming effects, in a low power budget in a mobile phone device.” Listen to the full interview on the podcast.

I also spoke to two companies looking to help democratize quantum computing with the work they are doing. First, Bob Coecke of Cambridge Quantum took us into the background to the company’s launch of the world’s first toolkit and library for quantum natural language processing, which allows sentences to be converted into a quantum circuit. Then I spoke to Pauls Wells of sureCore, who’s leading a seven-member consortium that has received a UK£6.5 million government innovation grant to jointly develop advanced cryogenic semiconductor IP; this is intended to dramatically accelerate the growth of the quantum computing industry by reducing the constrains associated with interconnects thus enabling efficient qubit/system scaling.

Finally, the podcast features an interview with Bruno Johnson of Cascoda, who talks about his company’s module recently certified for the OCF running over Thread network protocol – this is said to be a true internet protocol-based connectivity solution that is extremely low power that provides IP connectivity right down to the end node and with the Open Connectivity Foundation secure PKI X 509 grade security for end-to-end encryption. This gives smart building and building automation “banking grade security” for IoT devices.

We’ve been attending various events in person over recent weeks, and next week you can catch us at the CW International Conference. The agenda for this year’s event is somewhat topical, especially given that we also had the COP26 global UN climate chance conference this week. The CW conference will consider the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximize wireless’ potential to improve the future, including the reduction of wireless’ environmental impact.

News & Products

SensiML Corporation, a developer of AI tools for building intelligent IoT endpoints, has teamed with onsemi to deliver a complete machine learning solution for autonomous sensor data processing and predictive modeling. The collaboration combines SensiML’s analytics toolkit development software with the RSL10 sensor development kit from onsemi to create a platform for edge sensing applications such as industrial process control and monitoring. The ability to support AI functions in a small memory footprint along with advanced sensing and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity enables sophisticated smart sensing without the need for cloud analytics of highly dynamic raw sensor data.

Allegro MicroSystems has expanded its automotive lighting portfolio to include two new offerings for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) applications. The A80803 is a switch-mode, constant-current controller for high-power LED automotive lighting applications that addresses many common pain points for headlight designers to help bring advanced functionality to mainstream vehicles. The A80804 is Allegro’s first four-channel linear driver for high-power LEDs. In addition to targeted applications such as DRL/position and stop/taillights, it gives lighting designers increased design flexibility for popular features such as sequential turn signals, animation effects, and theater-style transitions.

[insert image]

Tata Elxsi and Green Hills Software are working together on a driver monitoring system (DMS) platform that combines advanced DMS software (V.O.E.O.S.Y.S – vehicle operator environment observation system) and AUTOSAR adaptive from Tata Elxsi integrated with the safe and secure INTEGRITY real-time operating system (RTOS) from Green Hills Software, optimized to run on the latest families of automotive-grade microprocessors. This flexible and standards-based DMS platform enables OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to reduce the time, cost, and complexity of developing and deploying their DMS-compliant ADAS systems while meeting mandatory global safety and security requirements.

Infineon Technologies has joined the FiRa Consortium as a contributor member to support the expansion of the UWB ecosystem. The company’s VP digital security & identity, Bjoern Scharfen, said “UWB has a great potential to enhance Infineon’s offering in security, connectivity and computing. With this, the technology fully supports our vision of linking the real and digital world.” With the acquisition of Cypress in 2020, Infineon said it acquired significant expertise in connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) as well as in microcontrollers.

Wireless Telecom Group said that SmartSky Networks has selected the CommAgility high-performance telecommunications systems software and tools for its next-generation air-to-ground (ATG) network. Deployed in SmartSky’s inflight connectivity, CommAgility is providing a full protocol stack and physical layer (PHY) for SmartSky’s aircraft base radio (ABR), which is the user equipment (UE) on board the aircraft. The ABR connects to a ground base station and provides broadband inflight connectivity for the operational needs of the aircraft, passengers, and crew. SmartSky’s patented beamforming and spectrum re-use technologies have been tested and proven, and the network is now rolling out across the USA for aviation operators and passengers.

MicroAI has announced MicroAI Launchpad, a quick start development and deployment tool that helps organizations simplify and accelerate the design, development, testing, and deployment of smart systems that run embedded MicroAI software on MCUs and microprocessors (MPUs) in edge and endpoint devices. Launchpad makes it simple to handle customers with SIMs around the world and manage and reconfigure device profiles. A single pane of glass gives access to customizable dashboards for account creation, authentication, mobile SIM or LoRaWAN connectivity activation, credit card billing for global SIM connectivity, and onboarding of MicroAI’s embedded software libraries. Its embedded software, AtomML, enables OEMs to deploy personalized, edge-native AI models, without needing to develop static edge-AI models first in a cloud or laptop and then port them to the embedded device.

IAR Systems said that its latest version of IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm adds support for the Arm Cortex-M55 processor. In addition, version 9.20 of the toolchain includes support for the latest MCUs from several semiconductor vendors. The toolchain delivers optimization capabilities to assist developers in getting the most out of the performance of the MCU and yet stay as energy efficient as possible. To ensure code quality, code analysis tools are completely integrated with IAR Embedded Workbench.

Teledyne Test Tools has launched the T3DSO3000, a new series of premium economy oscilloscopes, which feature four channel models with analog bandwidth options from 200 MHz to 1 GHz. Each model offers a maximum sample rate of 5 GSa/s, and a maximum memory depth of 250 Mpts in half channel mode. All models incorporate two 5 GSa/s ADCs and two 250 Mpts memory modules. The oscilloscopes employ a new generation of high-speed display technology for excellent signal clarity, fidelity and performance. The series comes with a minimum vertical input range of 500 μV/div, an innovative digital trigger system with high sensitivity, low jitter, and a waveform capture rate of 500,000 waveforms/sec (sequence mode).

Kontron has launched the 3.5-inch SBC-R39, a compact 3.5-inch single-board computer suitable for integration into (open source) embedded systems in entertainment, digital signage, facial recognition, smart retail, smart classroom, smart office and industrial applications. The 3.5-inch SBC-R39 is built on a Rockchip RK3399(K) processor with ARM big.LITTLE microarchitecture. This includes two processors embedded in a single, fully integrated silicon chip. The LITTLE cluster consists of a quad-core Cortex A53 processor, which is typically used to perform routine tasks at low power consumption. The large cluster is a dual-core Cortex-A72 processor, which handles compute-intensive high-performance tasks. This architecture enables the SBC-R39 to dynamically assign tasks to the respective processor according to the performance requirement.

People and Funding

Velodyne Lidar announced the appointment of Theodore “Ted” L. Tewksbury, Ph.D. as chief executive officer, who joins after serving as CEO of Eta Compute. Prior to Eta Compute, Tewksbury, a technology executive with over 30 years’ leadership experience across public and private companies, held several chief executive and board positions, including Entropic Communications and Integrated Device Technology. He is an accomplished engineer, with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from MIT. He has held a variety of engineering and management positions in his career, including introducing over 180 innovative new product families during his time at Maxim Integrated Products.

Events

The CW International Conference (CWIC), one of the key annual events for the wireless industry in the U.K., is back both as a physical live event at IWM Duxford, Europe’s largest air museum, as well being available online. Taking place on 9th November 2021, this year’s theme considers the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximise wireless’ potential to improve the future. Full agenda and details are here.

Nvidia GTC takes place online from 8-11 November 2021, which will include a live-streamed keynote by Jensen Huang, plus talks from AI research and industry leaders on deep learning, data science, high-performance computing, robotics, data center/networking and graphics. Speakers include Fei-Fei Li, professor of computer science, Stanford University, Lindsay Edwards, responsible for AI at in respiratory and immunology, AstraZeneca, and Kay Firth-Butterfield, head of AI and ML, World Economic Forum. Details here.

The 58th DAC (Design Automation Conference) is takes place both physically in San Francisco and virtually between 5-10 December 2021. Keynote speakers include Jeff Dean of Google Research and Google Health, Bill Dally of Nvidia, and Missy Cummings of Duke University. For the first, DAC attendees will also have access to SEMICON West and the RISC-V Summit. Details here.

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

5 million government innovation grant for developing advanced cryogenic semiconductor IP to accelerate quantum computing growth.

Title:

Content: embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT - Embedded.com

embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT

A roundup of this week’s embedded news includes embedded edge with Nitin podcast featuring a brand new GPU, quantum computing developments and IoT for smart buildings, plus usual product news including automotive, tools and software.

In our latest embedded edge with Nitin podcast, we have highlighted a new GPU, developments in quantum computing, and IoT for smart buildings. In the show, Andrew Girdler of Imagination Technologies told us about the company’s new flagship GPU that brings desktop-quality ray tracing to mobile for the first time and is industry’s first Level 4 RTLS ray tracing architecture. He said, “It’s the most advanced ray tracing architecture out there today, giving you the ability to enable advanced ray trace gaming effects, in a low power budget in a mobile phone device.” Listen to the full interview on the podcast.

I also spoke to two companies looking to help democratize quantum computing with the work they are doing. First, Bob Coecke of Cambridge Quantum took us into the background to the company’s launch of the world’s first toolkit and library for quantum natural language processing, which allows sentences to be converted into a quantum circuit. Then I spoke to Pauls Wells of sureCore, who’s leading a seven-member consortium that has received a UK£6.5 million government innovation grant to jointly develop advanced cryogenic semiconductor IP; this is intended to dramatically accelerate the growth of the quantum computing industry by reducing the constrains associated with interconnects thus enabling efficient qubit/system scaling.

Finally, the podcast features an interview with Bruno Johnson of Cascoda, who talks about his company’s module recently certified for the OCF running over Thread network protocol – this is said to be a true internet protocol-based connectivity solution that is extremely low power that provides IP connectivity right down to the end node and with the Open Connectivity Foundation secure PKI X 509 grade security for end-to-end encryption. This gives smart building and building automation “banking grade security” for IoT devices.

We’ve been attending various events in person over recent weeks, and next week you can catch us at the CW International Conference. The agenda for this year’s event is somewhat topical, especially given that we also had the COP26 global UN climate chance conference this week. The CW conference will consider the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximize wireless’ potential to improve the future, including the reduction of wireless’ environmental impact.

News & Products

SensiML Corporation, a developer of AI tools for building intelligent IoT endpoints, has teamed with onsemi to deliver a complete machine learning solution for autonomous sensor data processing and predictive modeling. The collaboration combines SensiML’s analytics toolkit development software with the RSL10 sensor development kit from onsemi to create a platform for edge sensing applications such as industrial process control and monitoring. The ability to support AI functions in a small memory footprint along with advanced sensing and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity enables sophisticated smart sensing without the need for cloud analytics of highly dynamic raw sensor data.

Allegro MicroSystems has expanded its automotive lighting portfolio to include two new offerings for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) applications. The A80803 is a switch-mode, constant-current controller for high-power LED automotive lighting applications that addresses many common pain points for headlight designers to help bring advanced functionality to mainstream vehicles. The A80804 is Allegro’s first four-channel linear driver for high-power LEDs. In addition to targeted applications such as DRL/position and stop/taillights, it gives lighting designers increased design flexibility for popular features such as sequential turn signals, animation effects, and theater-style transitions.

[insert image]

Tata Elxsi and Green Hills Software are working together on a driver monitoring system (DMS) platform that combines advanced DMS software (V.O.E.O.S.Y.S – vehicle operator environment observation system) and AUTOSAR adaptive from Tata Elxsi integrated with the safe and secure INTEGRITY real-time operating system (RTOS) from Green Hills Software, optimized to run on the latest families of automotive-grade microprocessors. This flexible and standards-based DMS platform enables OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to reduce the time, cost, and complexity of developing and deploying their DMS-compliant ADAS systems while meeting mandatory global safety and security requirements.

Infineon Technologies has joined the FiRa Consortium as a contributor member to support the expansion of the UWB ecosystem. The company’s VP digital security & identity, Bjoern Scharfen, said “UWB has a great potential to enhance Infineon’s offering in security, connectivity and computing. With this, the technology fully supports our vision of linking the real and digital world.” With the acquisition of Cypress in 2020, Infineon said it acquired significant expertise in connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) as well as in microcontrollers.

Wireless Telecom Group said that SmartSky Networks has selected the CommAgility high-performance telecommunications systems software and tools for its next-generation air-to-ground (ATG) network. Deployed in SmartSky’s inflight connectivity, CommAgility is providing a full protocol stack and physical layer (PHY) for SmartSky’s aircraft base radio (ABR), which is the user equipment (UE) on board the aircraft. The ABR connects to a ground base station and provides broadband inflight connectivity for the operational needs of the aircraft, passengers, and crew. SmartSky’s patented beamforming and spectrum re-use technologies have been tested and proven, and the network is now rolling out across the USA for aviation operators and passengers.

MicroAI has announced MicroAI Launchpad, a quick start development and deployment tool that helps organizations simplify and accelerate the design, development, testing, and deployment of smart systems that run embedded MicroAI software on MCUs and microprocessors (MPUs) in edge and endpoint devices. Launchpad makes it simple to handle customers with SIMs around the world and manage and reconfigure device profiles. A single pane of glass gives access to customizable dashboards for account creation, authentication, mobile SIM or LoRaWAN connectivity activation, credit card billing for global SIM connectivity, and onboarding of MicroAI’s embedded software libraries. Its embedded software, AtomML, enables OEMs to deploy personalized, edge-native AI models, without needing to develop static edge-AI models first in a cloud or laptop and then port them to the embedded device.

IAR Systems said that its latest version of IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm adds support for the Arm Cortex-M55 processor. In addition, version 9.20 of the toolchain includes support for the latest MCUs from several semiconductor vendors. The toolchain delivers optimization capabilities to assist developers in getting the most out of the performance of the MCU and yet stay as energy efficient as possible. To ensure code quality, code analysis tools are completely integrated with IAR Embedded Workbench.

Teledyne Test Tools has launched the T3DSO3000, a new series of premium economy oscilloscopes, which feature four channel models with analog bandwidth options from 200 MHz to 1 GHz. Each model offers a maximum sample rate of 5 GSa/s, and a maximum memory depth of 250 Mpts in half channel mode. All models incorporate two 5 GSa/s ADCs and two 250 Mpts memory modules. The oscilloscopes employ a new generation of high-speed display technology for excellent signal clarity, fidelity and performance. The series comes with a minimum vertical input range of 500 μV/div, an innovative digital trigger system with high sensitivity, low jitter, and a waveform capture rate of 500,000 waveforms/sec (sequence mode).

Kontron has launched the 3.5-inch SBC-R39, a compact 3.5-inch single-board computer suitable for integration into (open source) embedded systems in entertainment, digital signage, facial recognition, smart retail, smart classroom, smart office and industrial applications. The 3.5-inch SBC-R39 is built on a Rockchip RK3399(K) processor with ARM big.LITTLE microarchitecture. This includes two processors embedded in a single, fully integrated silicon chip. The LITTLE cluster consists of a quad-core Cortex A53 processor, which is typically used to perform routine tasks at low power consumption. The large cluster is a dual-core Cortex-A72 processor, which handles compute-intensive high-performance tasks. This architecture enables the SBC-R39 to dynamically assign tasks to the respective processor according to the performance requirement.

People and Funding

Velodyne Lidar announced the appointment of Theodore “Ted” L. Tewksbury, Ph.D. as chief executive officer, who joins after serving as CEO of Eta Compute. Prior to Eta Compute, Tewksbury, a technology executive with over 30 years’ leadership experience across public and private companies, held several chief executive and board positions, including Entropic Communications and Integrated Device Technology. He is an accomplished engineer, with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from MIT. He has held a variety of engineering and management positions in his career, including introducing over 180 innovative new product families during his time at Maxim Integrated Products.

Events

The CW International Conference (CWIC), one of the key annual events for the wireless industry in the U.K., is back both as a physical live event at IWM Duxford, Europe’s largest air museum, as well being available online. Taking place on 9th November 2021, this year’s theme considers the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximise wireless’ potential to improve the future. Full agenda and details are here.

Nvidia GTC takes place online from 8-11 November 2021, which will include a live-streamed keynote by Jensen Huang, plus talks from AI research and industry leaders on deep learning, data science, high-performance computing, robotics, data center/networking and graphics. Speakers include Fei-Fei Li, professor of computer science, Stanford University, Lindsay Edwards, responsible for AI at in respiratory and immunology, AstraZeneca, and Kay Firth-Butterfield, head of AI and ML, World Economic Forum. Details here.

The 58th DAC (Design Automation Conference) is takes place both physically in San Francisco and virtually between 5-10 December 2021. Keynote speakers include Jeff Dean of Google Research and Google Health, Bill Dally of Nvidia, and Missy Cummings of Duke University. For the first, DAC attendees will also have access to SEMICON West and the RISC-V Summit. Details here.

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

What are important areas in quantum research?

What are important areas in quantum research?

What are important areas in quantum research?

**European Union**: Growing investment across member states, with specific initiatives in countries like Ireland.

What countries and blocs are leading in developing quantum computing?

## Market Outlook

The quantum computing market is projected to grow dramatically, from approximately $412 million in 2020 to more than $8.

Title:

Content: NEWS
Investors named the ten most promising areas in DeepTech
NEWS
Anastasia Maryina
Head of RB.ru news department
Anastasia Maryina
The Phystech Ventures Foundation presented an analytical review of Deeptech Outlook 2021, according to which investments in DeepTech showed a fourfold increase between 2016 and 2020.
Over the past year, more than $60 billion has been invested in the industry in the world.
Investors named the ten most promising areas in DeepTech
The fund ’ s investors also identified ten of the most promising technological areas in 2021:
• artificial intelligence and machine learning,
• quantum technologies,
• Cybersecurity,
• genetics and bioinformatics,
• neurobiology,
• energy,
• mobility,
• Space technology,
• foodtech,
• Agrotech.
“A number of deeptech segments are on the verge of big changes.
In 2021, we witnessed the first editing of the human genome, with the result that the capitalization of biotechnology companies Intellia and CRISPR Therapeutics exceeded $10 billion.
PsiQuantum, IonQ and ArQit were the first quantum unicorns.
Starlink, OneWeb and Amazon plan to increase the number of Earth satellites by 20 times.
We believe in science as the main driver of innovation, ” said Peter Lukyanov, partner and founder of Phystech Ventures.
Venture and corporate investments in artificial intelligence and machine learning reached $73 billion in 2020.
And the first quarter of 2021 was a record for the number of investments - for three months, $20.1 billion was invested.
Also in 2021, the first quantum unicorns appeared - PsiQuantum, IonQ and ArQit.
Experts expect the growth of physical implementations of quantum processors, new types of qubits and the development of high-level software.
According to forecasts, the quantum computing market will reach $7.3 billion by 2025.
The drone market reached $50 billion last year.
Startups raised almost $4 billion in the first half of 2021.
In this sector, among the promising areas are unmanned aerial vehicles, systems with autonomous control, systems with several robots and infrastructure development projects.
As the top 3 success stories in this segment in 2021, investors singled out Cruise, Joby Aviation and Plus.
In space technology, investors emphasize areas related to the propulsion systems of spacecraft and the technologies of their input-output from orbit.
Now about 60% of all failures at launch are due to problems in the propulsion systems.
About the study
The analysis and evaluation of investment activity was conducted in June-July 2021 and covered the development of deeptech over the past 10 years.
As part of the study, the team relied on industry reports and databases (Pitchbook, CB Insights, Scopus, Google Patents), as well as insider opinions and internal analytics.
The full study is available at the link.
Subscribe to our TG channel to be aware of all news and events!
Photo: Unsplash
Did you find a typo?
Select text and press Ctrl + Enter
Materials on the topic
1.
Xiaomi introduced a cyber dog of its own design
2.
“Systems will be improved, but … ”: Nissan Russia assessed the prospects for the development of drones in Russia
3.
"Pyaterochka" began to test robots to check the layout of goods and price tags
4.
4 How does the business of growing strawberries on vertical farms
5.
American cinema chain AMC will sell tickets for bitcoins
AgroCode Hub
Latest news, current events and networking in the AgroTech community — AgroCode Hub
Join us!
OPPORTUNITIES
August 13, 2021
August 15, 2021

Title:

Content: Save Your Seat for Crypto Icon’s Insider Summit

On February 8, crypto legend Charlie Shrem will reveal a potential $100 trillion explosion in cryptocurrency — and his #1 way to play it.

Tue, February 8 at 7:00PM ET

7 Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in 2022

Quantum computing offers the potential to harness big data, make intricate predictions and use artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize business operations. Many industries such as automotive, agriculture, finance, healthcare, energy, logistics and space will be affected from the growth in this technology. As a result, Wall Street has been paying significant attention to quantum computing stocks.

Once considered science fiction, quantum computing has made significant progress in recent years to solve complex problems at lightning speed. This advanced technology uses the power of quantum mechanics to represent complex problems. These computers can take seconds to calculate equations that normally take days for machines that use a binary framework.

International Data Corporation forecasts that the global market for quantum computing should grow from about $412 million in 2020 to more than $8.5 billion in 2027. This increase would mean a  compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of an eye-popping 50% between now and 2027. Given such metrics, it’s understandable why investors are thrilled about the future of quantum computing stocks.

While it is currently in its early days, Wall Street has already warmed up to long-term prospects of this technology. Besides several pure-play quantum computing stocks going public in 2021, well-known tech names are pouring significant research dollars to invest in this advanced segment.

With that information, here are the seven best quantum computing stocks to buy in 2022:

  • Analog Devices (NASDAQ:ADI)
  • Defiance Quantum ETF (NYSEARCA:QTUM)
  • International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM)
  • IonQ (NYSE:IONQ)
  • Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)
  • Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA)
  • Supernova Partners Acquisition II (NYSE:SNII)

Quantum Computing Stocks: Analog Devices (ADI)

Source: Shutterstock

52-week range: $142.25 – $191.95

Dividend yield: 1.7%

Semiconductor group Analog Devices manufactures integrated circuits that process analog and digital signals. ADI’s chips are used in data converters, high-performance amplifiers and microwave-integrated circuits.

Analog Devices issued Q4 2021 metrics on Nov. 23. Revenue increased 53% year-over-year (YOY) to $2.34 billion. Adjusted earnings soared from $1.44 per share to $1.73 per share. The company generated a free cash flow of $810 million. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $1.98 billion.

Factory automation has fueled demand for sensors and machine connectivity, which increasingly rely on Analog’s chips. In addition, the automotive industry has also become a key growth driver due to the rising use of advanced electronics in electric vehicles (EVs).

In late August, the chipmaker completed the acquisition of Maxim Integrated. The billion transaction should increase ADI’s market share in automotive and 5G chipmaking.

ADI currently trades just under $160, up 7% over the past 12 months. Shares are trading at 21.5 times forward earnings and 8.9 times trailing sales. The 12-month median price forecast for Analog Devices stock stands at $210.

Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM)

Source: Maxx-Studio/ShutterStock.com

52-Week Range: $42.96 – $57.15

Expense Ratio: 0.40% per year

QTUM is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that focuses on the next generation of computing. It offers exposure to names leading the way in quantum computing, machine learning and cloud computing. The fund tracks the BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index.

QTUM, which started trading in September 2018, has 71 holdings. The top 10 holdings account for less than 20% of net assets of $161.5 million. Put another way, fund managers are not taking major bets on any company.

Among the leading holdings on the roster are the security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), French telecommunications operator Orange (NYSE:ORAN) and IBM.

For most retail investors, QTUM could potentially be a safe and diversified place to start investing in quantum computing. As portfolio companies come from a wide range of technology segments, wide swings in the price of one stock will not affect the ETF significantly.

The fund has gained 8.7% over the past year and saw an all-time high in November 2021. However, the recent selloff in tech stocks led to a 10.7% decline year-to-date (YTD). Interested readers could regard this decline as a good entry point into QTUM.

Quantum Computing Stocks: International Business Machines (IBM)

Source: shutterstock.com/LCV

52-week range: $113.17 – $146.12

Dividend Yield: 4.8%

Technology giant International Business Machines (IBM) needs little introduction. The legacy tech name offers integrated solutions and services, including infrastructure, software, information technology (IT) and hardware.

IBM announced Q4 2021 financials on Jan. 24. The company generated revenues of $16.7 billion, up 6.5% YOY. Net income stood at $2.33 billion, or $2.57 per diluted share, up from $1.36 billion, or $1.51 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $6.65 billion.

After the announcement, CEO Arvind Krishna said, “We increased revenue in the fourth quarter with hybrid cloud adoption driving growth in
software and consulting.”

The company launched its Quantum System One quantum computer in 2019. Around 150 research groups and partner companies currently use IBM’s quantum computing services. These names come from financial services businesses, automakers and energy suppliers.

In June 2021, IBM unveiled Europe’s most powerful quantum computer in Germany. Moreover, the tech giant recently announced a deal with Raytheon Technologies (NYSE:RTX) to provide quantum computing and AI services for the aerospace, defense and intelligence industries.

IBM currently changes hands around $137, up 20% over the past 12 months. Shares are trading at 13.5 times forward earnings and 2.2 times trailing sales. The 12-month median price forecast for IBM stock is $144.50. Interested readers could consider buying IBM shares around these levels.

IonQ (IONQ)

Source: Shutterstock

52-week range: $7.07 – $35.90

IonQ is one of the first publicly traded pure-play quantum computing stocks. It went public via a merger with the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) dMY Technology Group III in late 2021.

The quantum name released Q3 2021 results on Nov. 15. Its net loss was $14.8 million, or 12 cents loss per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $3.6 million a year ago. Cash and equivalents ended the quarter at $587 million. Wall Street was pleased that at the time, YTD contract bookings came in at $15.1 million.

IonQ is currently developing a network of quantum computers accessible from various cloud services. The technology uses ionized atoms that allow IonQ’s machines to perform complex calculations with fewer errors than any other quantum computer available.

The start-up has the financial backing of prominent investors, including Bill Gates and the Japanese telecommunications company Softbank Group (OTCMKTS:SFTBF). In addition, IonQ has been developing strategic partnerships with Microsoft, Amazon’s (NASDAQ:AMZN) Amazon Web Services and Alphabet’s (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google Cloud.

While IonQ is taking steps to become a commercialization-stage name, it is still a speculative investment. With its potential for explosive growth, it could be an attractive quantum computing stock for investors looking to take a risk.

IONQ stock hovers around $12. The recent selloff in tech stocks has led to a 26.7% decline YTD. Yet, the 12-month median price forecast for IONQ stock stands at $23.

Quantum Computing Stocks: Microsoft (MSFT)

Source: rafapress / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $224.26 – $349.67

Dividend Yield: 0.8%

Microsoft is one the largest and most prominent technology firms worldwide. It offers software products and services, including Azure cloud service, the Office 365 productivity suite and the customer relationship management (CRM) platform Dynamics 365.

Meanwhile, the Microsoft Quantum is “the world’s first full-stack, open cloud quantum computing ecosystem” that allows developers to create quantum applications and run them on multiple platforms. The software giant provides quantum computing services via the cloud on Azure.

Management announced robust Q2 FY22 metrics on Jan. 25. Revenue increased 20% YOY to $51.7 billion. Net income surged 21% YOY to $18.8 billion, or $2.48 per diluted share, compared to $15.5 billion, or $2.03 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $20.6 billion.

On Jan. 18, Microsoft announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI), a leading player in game and interactive entertainment development. It will be an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion. Wall Street expects this deal to provide tailwinds for Microsoft’s gaming business and building blocks for the metaverse.

MSFT stock currently trades just under $310, up 27% over the past 12 months. Shares support a valuation of 32.6 times forward earnings and 12.3 times trailing sales. And the 12-month median price forecast for Microsoft stock stands at $370.

Nvidia (NVDA)

Source: Antonio Baccardi / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $115.67 – $346.47

Dividend Yield: 0.06%

Santa Clara, California-based Nvidia has become an important name in advanced semiconductor design and software for next-generation computing development. InvestorPlace readers likely know the chipmaker is a market leader in the gaming and data center markets.

Nvidia announced impressive Q3 FY 2022 numbers on Nov. 17. Revenue soared 50% YOY to a record $7.1 billion, fueled by record sales in the gaming and data center businesses. Net income increased 62% YOY to $2.97 billion, or $1.17 per diluted share. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $1.29 billion.

The chipmaker provides the necessary processing power that drives the development of quantum computing. Additionally, Nvidia recently released cuQuantum, a software development kit designed for building quantum computing workflows. It has partnered with Google, IBM and other quantum computing players that rely on cuQuantum to accelerate their quantum computing work.

Given its growing addressable market in cloud computing, gaming, AI, and more recently the metaverse, NVDA stock deserves your attention. Share are changing hands around $245, up nearly 80% over the past year. However, despite an 18% decline YTD, shares are trading at 46.5 times forward earnings and 25 times trailing sales.

Finally, the 12-month median price forecast for Nvidia stock is $350. As the company gets ready to report earnings soon, investors should expect increased choppiness in price.

Quantum Computing Stocks: Supernova Partners Acquisition II (SNII)

Source: Dmitry Demidovich/ShutterStock.com

52-week range: $9.62 – $12.75

Our final stock is Supernova Partners Acquisition II, a SPAC. It is merging with Rigetti Computing, a start-up focused on quantum computer development. As a result of the merger, Rigetti Computing was valued at about $1.5 billion and received $458 million in gross cash proceeds.

Rigetti designs quantum chips and then integrates those chips with a controlling architecture. It also develops software used to build algorithms for these chips.

Rigetti recently announced business highlights for the nine months ended Oct. 31, 2021. Revenue came in at $6.9 million. Net operating loss declined 3% YOY to $26.2 million.

“We believe the time for quantum computing has arrived,” said founder and CEO Chad Rigetti. “Customer demand is increasing as Rigetti quantum computers begin to address high-impact computational problems.”

The start-up launched the world’s first scalable multi-chip quantum processor in June 2021. This processor boasts a proprietary modular architecture. Now Wall Street expects the company to move toward commercialization.

Rigetti collaborates with government entities and technology to advance its quantum processors. For instance, it boasts strategic partnerships with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. It also works with data analytics firm Palantir Technologies (NYSE:PLTR) and electronics manufacturer Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS).

SNII stock is currently shy of $10, down about 4% YTD. As investors’ interest in quantum computing names grow, shares are likely to become hot.

On the date of publication, Tezcan Gecgil holds both long and short positions in NVDA stock. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

Tezcan Gecgil has worked in investment management for over two decades in the U.S. and U.K. In addition to formal higher education in the field, she has also completed all 3 levels of the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) examination. Her passion is for options trading based on technical analysis of fundamentally strong companies. She especially enjoys setting up weekly covered calls for income generation.

Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2022/02/7-best-quantum-computing-stocks-to-buy-in-2022/.

©2022 InvestorPlace Media, LLC

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

5 billion by 2027, representing a compound annual growth rate of about 50%.

Title:

Content: Save Your Seat for Crypto Icon’s Insider Summit

On February 8, crypto legend Charlie Shrem will reveal a potential $100 trillion explosion in cryptocurrency — and his #1 way to play it.

Tue, February 8 at 7:00PM ET

7 Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in 2022

Quantum computing offers the potential to harness big data, make intricate predictions and use artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize business operations. Many industries such as automotive, agriculture, finance, healthcare, energy, logistics and space will be affected from the growth in this technology. As a result, Wall Street has been paying significant attention to quantum computing stocks.

Once considered science fiction, quantum computing has made significant progress in recent years to solve complex problems at lightning speed. This advanced technology uses the power of quantum mechanics to represent complex problems. These computers can take seconds to calculate equations that normally take days for machines that use a binary framework.

International Data Corporation forecasts that the global market for quantum computing should grow from about $412 million in 2020 to more than $8.5 billion in 2027. This increase would mean a  compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of an eye-popping 50% between now and 2027. Given such metrics, it’s understandable why investors are thrilled about the future of quantum computing stocks.

While it is currently in its early days, Wall Street has already warmed up to long-term prospects of this technology. Besides several pure-play quantum computing stocks going public in 2021, well-known tech names are pouring significant research dollars to invest in this advanced segment.

With that information, here are the seven best quantum computing stocks to buy in 2022:

  • Analog Devices (NASDAQ:ADI)
  • Defiance Quantum ETF (NYSEARCA:QTUM)
  • International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM)
  • IonQ (NYSE:IONQ)
  • Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)
  • Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA)
  • Supernova Partners Acquisition II (NYSE:SNII)

Quantum Computing Stocks: Analog Devices (ADI)

Source: Shutterstock

52-week range: $142.25 – $191.95

Dividend yield: 1.7%

Semiconductor group Analog Devices manufactures integrated circuits that process analog and digital signals. ADI’s chips are used in data converters, high-performance amplifiers and microwave-integrated circuits.

Analog Devices issued Q4 2021 metrics on Nov. 23. Revenue increased 53% year-over-year (YOY) to $2.34 billion. Adjusted earnings soared from $1.44 per share to $1.73 per share. The company generated a free cash flow of $810 million. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $1.98 billion.

Factory automation has fueled demand for sensors and machine connectivity, which increasingly rely on Analog’s chips. In addition, the automotive industry has also become a key growth driver due to the rising use of advanced electronics in electric vehicles (EVs).

In late August, the chipmaker completed the acquisition of Maxim Integrated. The billion transaction should increase ADI’s market share in automotive and 5G chipmaking.

ADI currently trades just under $160, up 7% over the past 12 months. Shares are trading at 21.5 times forward earnings and 8.9 times trailing sales. The 12-month median price forecast for Analog Devices stock stands at $210.

Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM)

Source: Maxx-Studio/ShutterStock.com

52-Week Range: $42.96 – $57.15

Expense Ratio: 0.40% per year

QTUM is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that focuses on the next generation of computing. It offers exposure to names leading the way in quantum computing, machine learning and cloud computing. The fund tracks the BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index.

QTUM, which started trading in September 2018, has 71 holdings. The top 10 holdings account for less than 20% of net assets of $161.5 million. Put another way, fund managers are not taking major bets on any company.

Among the leading holdings on the roster are the security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), French telecommunications operator Orange (NYSE:ORAN) and IBM.

For most retail investors, QTUM could potentially be a safe and diversified place to start investing in quantum computing. As portfolio companies come from a wide range of technology segments, wide swings in the price of one stock will not affect the ETF significantly.

The fund has gained 8.7% over the past year and saw an all-time high in November 2021. However, the recent selloff in tech stocks led to a 10.7% decline year-to-date (YTD). Interested readers could regard this decline as a good entry point into QTUM.

Quantum Computing Stocks: International Business Machines (IBM)

Source: shutterstock.com/LCV

52-week range: $113.17 – $146.12

Dividend Yield: 4.8%

Technology giant International Business Machines (IBM) needs little introduction. The legacy tech name offers integrated solutions and services, including infrastructure, software, information technology (IT) and hardware.

IBM announced Q4 2021 financials on Jan. 24. The company generated revenues of $16.7 billion, up 6.5% YOY. Net income stood at $2.33 billion, or $2.57 per diluted share, up from $1.36 billion, or $1.51 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $6.65 billion.

After the announcement, CEO Arvind Krishna said, “We increased revenue in the fourth quarter with hybrid cloud adoption driving growth in
software and consulting.”

The company launched its Quantum System One quantum computer in 2019. Around 150 research groups and partner companies currently use IBM’s quantum computing services. These names come from financial services businesses, automakers and energy suppliers.

In June 2021, IBM unveiled Europe’s most powerful quantum computer in Germany. Moreover, the tech giant recently announced a deal with Raytheon Technologies (NYSE:RTX) to provide quantum computing and AI services for the aerospace, defense and intelligence industries.

IBM currently changes hands around $137, up 20% over the past 12 months. Shares are trading at 13.5 times forward earnings and 2.2 times trailing sales. The 12-month median price forecast for IBM stock is $144.50. Interested readers could consider buying IBM shares around these levels.

IonQ (IONQ)

Source: Shutterstock

52-week range: $7.07 – $35.90

IonQ is one of the first publicly traded pure-play quantum computing stocks. It went public via a merger with the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) dMY Technology Group III in late 2021.

The quantum name released Q3 2021 results on Nov. 15. Its net loss was $14.8 million, or 12 cents loss per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $3.6 million a year ago. Cash and equivalents ended the quarter at $587 million. Wall Street was pleased that at the time, YTD contract bookings came in at $15.1 million.

IonQ is currently developing a network of quantum computers accessible from various cloud services. The technology uses ionized atoms that allow IonQ’s machines to perform complex calculations with fewer errors than any other quantum computer available.

The start-up has the financial backing of prominent investors, including Bill Gates and the Japanese telecommunications company Softbank Group (OTCMKTS:SFTBF). In addition, IonQ has been developing strategic partnerships with Microsoft, Amazon’s (NASDAQ:AMZN) Amazon Web Services and Alphabet’s (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google Cloud.

While IonQ is taking steps to become a commercialization-stage name, it is still a speculative investment. With its potential for explosive growth, it could be an attractive quantum computing stock for investors looking to take a risk.

IONQ stock hovers around $12. The recent selloff in tech stocks has led to a 26.7% decline YTD. Yet, the 12-month median price forecast for IONQ stock stands at $23.

Quantum Computing Stocks: Microsoft (MSFT)

Source: rafapress / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $224.26 – $349.67

Dividend Yield: 0.8%

Microsoft is one the largest and most prominent technology firms worldwide. It offers software products and services, including Azure cloud service, the Office 365 productivity suite and the customer relationship management (CRM) platform Dynamics 365.

Meanwhile, the Microsoft Quantum is “the world’s first full-stack, open cloud quantum computing ecosystem” that allows developers to create quantum applications and run them on multiple platforms. The software giant provides quantum computing services via the cloud on Azure.

Management announced robust Q2 FY22 metrics on Jan. 25. Revenue increased 20% YOY to $51.7 billion. Net income surged 21% YOY to $18.8 billion, or $2.48 per diluted share, compared to $15.5 billion, or $2.03 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $20.6 billion.

On Jan. 18, Microsoft announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI), a leading player in game and interactive entertainment development. It will be an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion. Wall Street expects this deal to provide tailwinds for Microsoft’s gaming business and building blocks for the metaverse.

MSFT stock currently trades just under $310, up 27% over the past 12 months. Shares support a valuation of 32.6 times forward earnings and 12.3 times trailing sales. And the 12-month median price forecast for Microsoft stock stands at $370.

Nvidia (NVDA)

Source: Antonio Baccardi / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $115.67 – $346.47

Dividend Yield: 0.06%

Santa Clara, California-based Nvidia has become an important name in advanced semiconductor design and software for next-generation computing development. InvestorPlace readers likely know the chipmaker is a market leader in the gaming and data center markets.

Nvidia announced impressive Q3 FY 2022 numbers on Nov. 17. Revenue soared 50% YOY to a record $7.1 billion, fueled by record sales in the gaming and data center businesses. Net income increased 62% YOY to $2.97 billion, or $1.17 per diluted share. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $1.29 billion.

The chipmaker provides the necessary processing power that drives the development of quantum computing. Additionally, Nvidia recently released cuQuantum, a software development kit designed for building quantum computing workflows. It has partnered with Google, IBM and other quantum computing players that rely on cuQuantum to accelerate their quantum computing work.

Given its growing addressable market in cloud computing, gaming, AI, and more recently the metaverse, NVDA stock deserves your attention. Share are changing hands around $245, up nearly 80% over the past year. However, despite an 18% decline YTD, shares are trading at 46.5 times forward earnings and 25 times trailing sales.

Finally, the 12-month median price forecast for Nvidia stock is $350. As the company gets ready to report earnings soon, investors should expect increased choppiness in price.

Quantum Computing Stocks: Supernova Partners Acquisition II (SNII)

Source: Dmitry Demidovich/ShutterStock.com

52-week range: $9.62 – $12.75

Our final stock is Supernova Partners Acquisition II, a SPAC. It is merging with Rigetti Computing, a start-up focused on quantum computer development. As a result of the merger, Rigetti Computing was valued at about $1.5 billion and received $458 million in gross cash proceeds.

Rigetti designs quantum chips and then integrates those chips with a controlling architecture. It also develops software used to build algorithms for these chips.

Rigetti recently announced business highlights for the nine months ended Oct. 31, 2021. Revenue came in at $6.9 million. Net operating loss declined 3% YOY to $26.2 million.

“We believe the time for quantum computing has arrived,” said founder and CEO Chad Rigetti. “Customer demand is increasing as Rigetti quantum computers begin to address high-impact computational problems.”

The start-up launched the world’s first scalable multi-chip quantum processor in June 2021. This processor boasts a proprietary modular architecture. Now Wall Street expects the company to move toward commercialization.

Rigetti collaborates with government entities and technology to advance its quantum processors. For instance, it boasts strategic partnerships with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. It also works with data analytics firm Palantir Technologies (NYSE:PLTR) and electronics manufacturer Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS).

SNII stock is currently shy of $10, down about 4% YTD. As investors’ interest in quantum computing names grow, shares are likely to become hot.

On the date of publication, Tezcan Gecgil holds both long and short positions in NVDA stock. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

Tezcan Gecgil has worked in investment management for over two decades in the U.S. and U.K. In addition to formal higher education in the field, she has also completed all 3 levels of the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) examination. Her passion is for options trading based on technical analysis of fundamentally strong companies. She especially enjoys setting up weekly covered calls for income generation.

Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2022/02/7-best-quantum-computing-stocks-to-buy-in-2022/.

©2022 InvestorPlace Media, LLC

Job postings in the field increased by 12% between 2021 and 2022, with $2 billion in equity investments made through 2022.

Title:

Content: NEWS
Investors named the ten most promising areas in DeepTech
NEWS
Anastasia Maryina
Head of RB.ru news department
Anastasia Maryina
The Phystech Ventures Foundation presented an analytical review of Deeptech Outlook 2021, according to which investments in DeepTech showed a fourfold increase between 2016 and 2020.
Over the past year, more than $60 billion has been invested in the industry in the world.
Investors named the ten most promising areas in DeepTech
The fund ’ s investors also identified ten of the most promising technological areas in 2021:
• artificial intelligence and machine learning,
• quantum technologies,
• Cybersecurity,
• genetics and bioinformatics,
• neurobiology,
• energy,
• mobility,
• Space technology,
• foodtech,
• Agrotech.
“A number of deeptech segments are on the verge of big changes.
In 2021, we witnessed the first editing of the human genome, with the result that the capitalization of biotechnology companies Intellia and CRISPR Therapeutics exceeded $10 billion.
PsiQuantum, IonQ and ArQit were the first quantum unicorns.
Starlink, OneWeb and Amazon plan to increase the number of Earth satellites by 20 times.
We believe in science as the main driver of innovation, ” said Peter Lukyanov, partner and founder of Phystech Ventures.
Venture and corporate investments in artificial intelligence and machine learning reached $73 billion in 2020.
And the first quarter of 2021 was a record for the number of investments - for three months, $20.1 billion was invested.
Also in 2021, the first quantum unicorns appeared - PsiQuantum, IonQ and ArQit.
Experts expect the growth of physical implementations of quantum processors, new types of qubits and the development of high-level software.
According to forecasts, the quantum computing market will reach $7.3 billion by 2025.
The drone market reached $50 billion last year.
Startups raised almost $4 billion in the first half of 2021.
In this sector, among the promising areas are unmanned aerial vehicles, systems with autonomous control, systems with several robots and infrastructure development projects.
As the top 3 success stories in this segment in 2021, investors singled out Cruise, Joby Aviation and Plus.
In space technology, investors emphasize areas related to the propulsion systems of spacecraft and the technologies of their input-output from orbit.
Now about 60% of all failures at launch are due to problems in the propulsion systems.
About the study
The analysis and evaluation of investment activity was conducted in June-July 2021 and covered the development of deeptech over the past 10 years.
As part of the study, the team relied on industry reports and databases (Pitchbook, CB Insights, Scopus, Google Patents), as well as insider opinions and internal analytics.
The full study is available at the link.
Subscribe to our TG channel to be aware of all news and events!
Photo: Unsplash
Did you find a typo?
Select text and press Ctrl + Enter
Materials on the topic
1.
Xiaomi introduced a cyber dog of its own design
2.
“Systems will be improved, but … ”: Nissan Russia assessed the prospects for the development of drones in Russia
3.
"Pyaterochka" began to test robots to check the layout of goods and price tags
4.
4 How does the business of growing strawberries on vertical farms
5.
American cinema chain AMC will sell tickets for bitcoins
AgroCode Hub
Latest news, current events and networking in the AgroTech community — AgroCode Hub
Join us!
OPPORTUNITIES
August 13, 2021
August 15, 2021

## Conclusion

The quantum computing "arms race" represents a new frontier of technological competition with significant implications for economic and national security.

Title:

Content: NEWS
Investors named the ten most promising areas in DeepTech
NEWS
Anastasia Maryina
Head of RB.ru news department
Anastasia Maryina
The Phystech Ventures Foundation presented an analytical review of Deeptech Outlook 2021, according to which investments in DeepTech showed a fourfold increase between 2016 and 2020.
Over the past year, more than $60 billion has been invested in the industry in the world.
Investors named the ten most promising areas in DeepTech
The fund ’ s investors also identified ten of the most promising technological areas in 2021:
• artificial intelligence and machine learning,
• quantum technologies,
• Cybersecurity,
• genetics and bioinformatics,
• neurobiology,
• energy,
• mobility,
• Space technology,
• foodtech,
• Agrotech.
“A number of deeptech segments are on the verge of big changes.
In 2021, we witnessed the first editing of the human genome, with the result that the capitalization of biotechnology companies Intellia and CRISPR Therapeutics exceeded $10 billion.
PsiQuantum, IonQ and ArQit were the first quantum unicorns.
Starlink, OneWeb and Amazon plan to increase the number of Earth satellites by 20 times.
We believe in science as the main driver of innovation, ” said Peter Lukyanov, partner and founder of Phystech Ventures.
Venture and corporate investments in artificial intelligence and machine learning reached $73 billion in 2020.
And the first quarter of 2021 was a record for the number of investments - for three months, $20.1 billion was invested.
Also in 2021, the first quantum unicorns appeared - PsiQuantum, IonQ and ArQit.
Experts expect the growth of physical implementations of quantum processors, new types of qubits and the development of high-level software.
According to forecasts, the quantum computing market will reach $7.3 billion by 2025.
The drone market reached $50 billion last year.
Startups raised almost $4 billion in the first half of 2021.
In this sector, among the promising areas are unmanned aerial vehicles, systems with autonomous control, systems with several robots and infrastructure development projects.
As the top 3 success stories in this segment in 2021, investors singled out Cruise, Joby Aviation and Plus.
In space technology, investors emphasize areas related to the propulsion systems of spacecraft and the technologies of their input-output from orbit.
Now about 60% of all failures at launch are due to problems in the propulsion systems.
About the study
The analysis and evaluation of investment activity was conducted in June-July 2021 and covered the development of deeptech over the past 10 years.
As part of the study, the team relied on industry reports and databases (Pitchbook, CB Insights, Scopus, Google Patents), as well as insider opinions and internal analytics.
The full study is available at the link.
Subscribe to our TG channel to be aware of all news and events!
Photo: Unsplash
Did you find a typo?
Select text and press Ctrl + Enter
Materials on the topic
1.
Xiaomi introduced a cyber dog of its own design
2.
“Systems will be improved, but … ”: Nissan Russia assessed the prospects for the development of drones in Russia
3.
"Pyaterochka" began to test robots to check the layout of goods and price tags
4.
4 How does the business of growing strawberries on vertical farms
5.
American cinema chain AMC will sell tickets for bitcoins
AgroCode Hub
Latest news, current events and networking in the AgroTech community — AgroCode Hub
Join us!
OPPORTUNITIES
August 13, 2021
August 15, 2021

Title:

Content: Computing

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

China Delivers Its First Practical Quantum Computer System to a Customer

China’s Science Ministry on Monday announced that the country’s first practical quantum computer was delivered to a user, which the agency didn’t identify, a year ago.

The 24-qubit Wuyan system based on superconducting technology was built by Origin Quantum Computing Technology, a company founded in 2017 by two of the country’s leading quantum physicists, Guo Guoping and Guo Guangcan. A qubit in the quantum world performs functions akin to bits in the digital world.

With the on-premises installation of the Wuyan system, China became the third country, after Canada and the United States, to deliver a complete quantum computer system to a customer.

Some skeptics questioned the timing of the announcement.

“Quantum technology has a high priority for national security in China. If this were something very important, I doubt it would be disclosed like this in a transparent way by Chinese authorities,” explained Weifeng Zhong, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

“The fact that it was delayed for a year suggests that they realize now that it’s not important to national security, so they’re trying to use it to build China’s image as a technology leader at a time when they’re trying to open up their economy to the rest of the world,” Zhong told TechNewsWorld.

Important Step

However, Hodan Omaar, a senior AI policy analyst at the Center for Data Innovation, a think tank studying the intersection of data, technology, and public policy, in Washington, D.C., maintained the announcement shows that China has made an important step in its quantum development.

“Overcoming technical challenges on the path toward large-scale quantum computers will depend on the ability to scale the number of qubits in quantum systems, much like modern classical computers have depended on the growth in the number of transistors in superconducting chips,” Omaar told TechNewsWorld.

“Investing in near-term quantum computing applications helps bolster the development of longer-term use cases of the technology, thereby helping to improve competitiveness,” she added.

Skip Sanzeri, co-founder and COO of QuSecure, a maker of quantum-safe security solutions in San Mateo, Calif., called the announcement “formidable” because China is stating that they have a fully functional quantum computer, albeit the qubit count is low.

“Nonetheless, error correction and noise reduction are two significant factors in ensuring that a quantum computer can process data and provide applications that we can rely on,” Sanzeri told TechNewsWorld. “By announcing that they have been able to get to this level shows that China is making progress towards larger quantum computers.”

Bucking a Trend

The Wuyan system appears to be on par with other systems in the market, noted Heather West, a senior research analyst at IDC’, an international market research company.

“The fact that they sold a 24 qubit system to someone isn’t that different from what we’re seeing elsewhere around the world,” West told TechNewsWorld.

Delivering a standalone system like the Wuyan is actually bucking the current trend in the market.

“Most quantum computers that people are accessing today are accessed through the cloud,” explained Doug Finke, an analyst with Global Quantum Intelligence, an international market intelligence firm.

“This Wuyan computer is being delivered to a customer in an on-premise situation,” Finke told TechNewsWorld. “On-premise has a lot of disadvantages. You have to worry about maintenance. You have to worry about spare parts. You have to worry about calibration.”

“In addition,” he continued, “quantum computing innovation is so fast that they become obsolete in about two years. So few people want an on-premise quantum computer. They’re much more comfortable with the cloud.”

Superconducting Challenges

The Wuyan system is built using superconducting chip technology, one of the earliest technologies for quantum computers. Since its introduction, other technologies have been explored. They include photonics, trapped ions, and neutral atoms.

“At the moment, no one knows which technology will be the winner or if there’ll be a combination of technologies that will combine for efficacious quantum applications,” Sanzeri said.

“Superconducting is very difficult,” he explained. “It requires near zero Kelvin refrigeration.”

“The electrons used in superconducting quantum computers are very hard to manage due to very short coherence times,” he continued. “That’s why they must be cooled to such a low temperature.”

Other methods are managing longer coherence times and a faster path to the desired goal of 1,000 error-corrected qubits, he added.

“The million-dollar question is what technology will win the race to the fault-tolerant quantum computer,” West said. “There might not be one winner. There might not be one system that comes out on top. It might be that certain kinds of systems are better than others at solving certain kinds of problems.”

Long View

Omaar countered that superconducting chips have a number of advantages over competing technologies.

“First, superconducting qubits are solid-state electrical circuits that are easier to control because they are manipulated using microwaves,” she said. “Scientists can therefore use easily accessible commercial microwave devices and equipment in superconducting quantum computing applications.”

“Second,” she continued, “because preparing superconducting circuits is based on the existing method for fabricating semiconductor chips, the development of high-quality devices can leverage advanced chip-making technologies, which is good for manufacturing and scalability.”

Despite developments like China’s Wuyan system, the arrival of a quantum computer that can tackle problems beyond the capacity of silicon computers appears to be years away.

“What quantum computers are going to be best for is solving complex, intractable problems beyond the scope of classical compute technology,” West said. “Those problems are years away from a quantum computer solving.”

“To get to that, we need at least a million qubits,” she continued. “That’s going to take a lot of work in scaling and stabilizing the qubits. Qubits are very sensitive to outside noise. As a result, the error rates are high in the technology we have.”

Despite the exuberance exhibited by many, we’re still in the early days of quantum computing, added Richard Stiennon, founder and chief research analyst at IT-Harvest, a cybersecurity industry analyst firm in Birmingham, Mich.

“There are many physical constraints on quantum computing that require precision in length of pathways — we are talking microns — and resistance to forces — footsteps can interfere with it. Supercooled chips just add to the complexity,” Stiennon told TechNewsWorld.

“I put it in the same realm as developing usable nuclear fusion as an energy source,” he said. “Hundreds of billions of dollars and decades to show a glimmer of progress.”

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.

More by John P. Mello Jr.
More in Computing

To earn your loyalty as a consumer, how important is it that a brand provides a personalized experience?
 Loading ...

Technewsworld Channels

Title:

Content: Who invented the first quantum computer?

Who invented the first quantum computer?

**The first quantum computer was invented by a group of researchers led by physicist Isaac Chuang and computer scientist Neil Gershenfeld in 1998.**

Quantum computing has undoubtedly revolutionized the world of technology and opened up new possibilities for solving complex problems. As this fascinating field continues to grow, many people wonder who can be credited with the invention of the very first quantum computer. Well, the answer lies with a group of brilliant scientists who pushed the boundaries of computation to a whole new level.

What were the key contributions of Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld?

Isaac Chuang, a physicist, and Neil Gershenfeld, a computer scientist, collaborated in the 1990s to create the first practical quantum computer using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques.

How did their quantum computer work?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s quantum computer utilized the principles of quantum mechanics, including quantum superposition and entanglement, to perform computations.

What breakthroughs did their quantum computer achieve?

Their quantum computer successfully executed Shor’s algorithm, which is capable of factoring large numbers exponentially faster than classical computers.

How did their invention impact the field of quantum computing?

Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention marked a significant milestone in the development of quantum computers, inspiring subsequent researchers to explore new approaches and technologies for building more scalable and efficient quantum systems.

What limitations did the first quantum computer face?

The first quantum computer faced several limitations, including a high error rate due to the susceptibility of the NMR-based technology to decoherence.

Did Chuang and Gershenfeld receive recognition for their achievement?

Yes, their groundbreaking work gained recognition, and they were awarded the prestigious Richard P. Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology in 2001.

Has quantum computing technology improved since then?

Absolutely! Since Chuang and Gershenfeld’s invention, quantum computing has made tremendous strides with advancements in hardware design, quantum algorithms, error correction techniques, and the emergence of various quantum computing platforms.

Are there other researchers who significantly contributed to quantum computing?

Certainly! A multitude of researchers and scientists around the world has made notable contributions to the development of quantum computing, further expanding our understanding and capabilities in this field.

What are the potential applications of quantum computing?

Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including cryptography, drug discovery, optimization problems, material science, and artificial intelligence.

Are quantum computers currently commercially available?

Although quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, there are some commercially available quantum computers offered by companies like IBM, Google, and Honeywell.

How far are we from achieving quantum supremacy?

Quantum supremacy refers to a point where a quantum computer can perform a calculation that is infeasible for any classical computer. While there have been promising demonstrations, achieving true quantum supremacy at scale is still a significant endeavor.

What are the biggest challenges in quantum computing today?

Some of the significant challenges in quantum computing include quantum decoherence, error correction, scaling up the number of qubits, and improving hardware reliability.

In conclusion, Isaac Chuang and Neil Gershenfeld can be credited for inventing the first quantum computer in 1998, marking a pivotal moment in the history of computing. Their pioneering work has inspired countless researchers, leading to remarkable advancements in quantum computing technology. As we continue to unravel the potential of this exciting field, it is crucial to acknowledge the many researchers who have contributed to shaping the future of quantum computing.

Scroll to Top

Title:

Content: Skip to main content

U.S. May Include AI and Quantum Computing in Chinese Tech Ban

The U.S. may be looking to tighten its technological noose on China beyond semiconductors. According to Bloomberg's sources, the Biden administration has been holding internal and external discussions on further cutting China off from high-tech solutions that might impact national and worldwide security. Foremost are the fields of A.I. software and quantum computing, whose potential for worldwide disruption is still under assessment despite breakneck advances. Further sanctions would add power to existing ones, including China's quantum computing companies (to a degree).

One thing both technological spaces have in common is that they're still nascent: every day greets us with yet another quantum computing or AI-related headline. Efforts to regulate China's access to such rapidly-changing technologies leave the Biden administration between a rock and a hard place. Sanctions targeting China have been shown to have nefarious effects on the world at large and American semiconductor companies in particular, not just on its intending recipient.

Another element any sanctions would have to consider is the technological fields themselves. Essentially, what specific elements for each technology could be sanctioned that would hit China the most and the rest of the world the least? What price - if any - would U.S. companies pay for tightening the noose?

Companies in the quantum computing space might tell you otherwise, but the current approaches to the field showcase the number of potential sanction venues. Should the Biden administration produce sanctions for any kind of quantum computing approach - from superconducting qubits to ion chains? What would it do to the quantum computing research and product market if the sanctions only focussed on certain technologies, disproportionately hitting some companies while leaving others off the hook? What if a new quantum computing (or A.I.) approach surfaces?

Despite the cost and difficulty in perceiving the magnitude of the required U.S. regulatory intervention, China's efforts in the quantum computing space should give the U.S. pause. The number of accusations flying around regarding I.P. and state secret thefts, paired with China's clear interest in leading the space's research and development, open up the doors to immense privacy and national security concerns.

When quantum computing lurches past its current NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum Era), it will enable any actor to field a way to crack currently-applied encryption algorithms. This includes data in motion and data at rest - especially any data that has been already stolen in what is known as a "steal now, decrypt later" attack. Nobody knows the petabytes (?) of intercepted data just lying in wait for the moment that a quantum computer is around to destroy their current encryption schemes. The impact of being the first to crack quantum computing cannot be overstated - especially if it's done by an actor that feels it has a score to settle, even more so when standards for post-quantum encryption are still being discussed.

China has shown incredible resilience despite the ever-tightening sanctions. Even after being cut from the latest manufacturing technologies, the country's OceanLight supercomputer managed to stand side by side with the AMD-made Frontier in disputing the finalist prize for the Gordon Bell award. The award is directly related to A.I. workloads, and China managed to field a supercomputer powered by 14nm-era hardware to perform work deemed relevant enough for prize contention. It's extremely likely that China will continue on this road. As they say: where there's a will, there's a way.

Freelance News Writer

Francisco Pires is a freelance news writer for Tom's Hardware with a soft side for quantum computing.

Title:

Content: Alert
It will not be all DPP Lai Ching-te talking about the premier and the head of the ministry: there are already candidates to think about.
Previous articlePrevious post: The 4th Stage of Cancer Planned Funeral: Don ’ t Want to See These People
Taiwan stocks rose 124 points, the band high transaction value but hit a new low this year...
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
1994 was a turning point in quantum computing. The algorithm of the American mathematician Shue showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be an important early application of quantum computers.
According to Reuters, the world may celebrate “Q-day ” as soon as next year, by which time the current encryption methods will be useless before quantum computers.
In view of this, the United States and China are stealing and harvesting each other ’ s data on a large scale to decipher and intercept messages in the quantum future.
According to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report in May last year predicted that enterprises will profit from quantum computing as soon as next year; by about 2035, quantum data may bring users as much as $850 billion (about NT $26.8 trillion) in benefits, quantum technology will mature in that year.
Quantum computers are expected to be able to crack cryptographic codes in minutes, rather than the thousands of years it would take for traditional computers today.
Industry experts claim that North America is the center of quantum computing.
American companies build quantum processors including IBM, Amazon, Intel, Google, Quantinum, IonQ, Microsoft, QCI and Rigetti Computing.
As of the previous year, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada also had the largest number of startups in the industry, according to the McKinsey report.
As for China, Genyuan Quantum announced in January last year that it had delivered a fully homemade 24 qubit quantum computer to customers and expected to develop a 1024 qubit quantum computer next year. In November last year, Alibaba Group donated the quantum computing laboratory and related experimental equipment of its research institute, Damo Institute, to Zhejiang University.
Baidu also followed suit this month by donating a quantum computing lab and equipment to the Beijing Institute of Quantum Information Sciences, which is supported by the Chinese government.
Others include Guodun Quantum, Guoyi Quantum, Turing Quantum, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the country's top scientific and technological academic institution, each developing quantum computing technology.
However, under this 1 quantum trend, the major countries in the United States and China are preparing for the future, lest in the quantum future, far more powerful than the current fastest supercomputer, will be able to crack the password to protect almost all modern communications.
Tilo Kunz, vice president of QD5, a Canadian security company, said that according to the minutes of the meeting released by the US Defense Information Systems Agency, all countries have tried to steal data, that is, to carry out a "harvest now, decipher later" security attack.
The military will discover that its long history of planning and intelligence has caught the eye of the enemy, that corporate intelligence has been stolen, and that people ’ s health records will be revealed.
However, opinions differ on when the quantum day "big limit" will come.
Quantum computing is still in its early days, and only small quantum computers with limited processing power and error-prone capabilities have been built.
Some researchers estimate that Quantum Day may be approaching by the middle of the century.
No one knows who can get there first.
The United States and China are seen as leaders in the field, and many experts believe the United States still prevails.
Researchers believe that more important than breaking the decryption code, quantum computers use the mysterious properties of subatomic particles, which are expected to bring breakthroughs in science, weapons equipment and industry.
Beijing Information Security Quantum Computing Quantum Computer
Extended reading
US, Japan, and Australia air force combat "Against North 24" joint exercise begins in Guam in early February
US B-21 stealth bomber production and China's "big power competition" intensified
Ying / Tsai Ing-wen Visited the Results of the Quantum Computer Project, Hoping to Contribute to the World
Home Made Quantum Computer by Academia Sinica Tsai Ing-wen: Made in Taiwan is the pride of Taiwanese
Related News
The performance is not as expected … Musk named Tesla ’ s share in the Japanese market is too low 1 reason why it is difficult for him to achieve his wish.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that Tesla ’ s market share in Japan is too low, hoping to at least raise it to a level with other companies.
Will Quantum Day come next year?
Quantum computing threatens global military security
In 1994, the turning point of quantum computing, the American mathematician Shue's algorithm showed that the problem solving ability of quantum computers exceeds that of traditional computers, and breaking decryption code is likely to be a quantum computer.
Japan's Toyota to suspend shipments of 10 cars after diesel engine violations in certification test
Japan ’ s Toyota Motor announced today that it has decided to suspend shipments of 10 affected vehicles because the diesel engine produced by the group ’ s “Toyota Automatic Weaving ” violated the certification test process.
South Korean semiconductor technology leak brothers take over illegal export equipment to earn more than 80 million
A semiconductor cleaning equipment manufacturer in South Korea was prosecuted for illegally leaking related technology to the Chinese side, and one of the suspects even took over the company immediately after his brother was detained and prosecuted for the above reasons.
China 's latest rescue measures boost Asian shares to rise and fall
Asian stocks rose and fell today as the Chinese authorities' latest rescue measures boosted their gains.
International oil prices are rising again in the Middle East, and it is alleged that an attack by a rebel group backed by Iran killed three people.
Semiconductor technology leaks continue! South Korean investigators say technology is flowing to the mainland to reveal secret signals and other methods
South Korean media quoted intelligence agency investigators as saying that the illegal export of semiconductor technology criminals in addition to using code communication to avoid being tracked, their methods are changing day by day, using mergers and acquisitions.
Product recommendation
udn Forum

Title:

Content: Save Your Seat for Crypto Icon’s Insider Summit

On February 8, crypto legend Charlie Shrem will reveal a potential $100 trillion explosion in cryptocurrency — and his #1 way to play it.

Tue, February 8 at 7:00PM ET

7 Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in 2022

Quantum computing offers the potential to harness big data, make intricate predictions and use artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize business operations. Many industries such as automotive, agriculture, finance, healthcare, energy, logistics and space will be affected from the growth in this technology. As a result, Wall Street has been paying significant attention to quantum computing stocks.

Once considered science fiction, quantum computing has made significant progress in recent years to solve complex problems at lightning speed. This advanced technology uses the power of quantum mechanics to represent complex problems. These computers can take seconds to calculate equations that normally take days for machines that use a binary framework.

International Data Corporation forecasts that the global market for quantum computing should grow from about $412 million in 2020 to more than $8.5 billion in 2027. This increase would mean a  compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of an eye-popping 50% between now and 2027. Given such metrics, it’s understandable why investors are thrilled about the future of quantum computing stocks.

While it is currently in its early days, Wall Street has already warmed up to long-term prospects of this technology. Besides several pure-play quantum computing stocks going public in 2021, well-known tech names are pouring significant research dollars to invest in this advanced segment.

With that information, here are the seven best quantum computing stocks to buy in 2022:

  • Analog Devices (NASDAQ:ADI)
  • Defiance Quantum ETF (NYSEARCA:QTUM)
  • International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM)
  • IonQ (NYSE:IONQ)
  • Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)
  • Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA)
  • Supernova Partners Acquisition II (NYSE:SNII)

Quantum Computing Stocks: Analog Devices (ADI)

Source: Shutterstock

52-week range: $142.25 – $191.95

Dividend yield: 1.7%

Semiconductor group Analog Devices manufactures integrated circuits that process analog and digital signals. ADI’s chips are used in data converters, high-performance amplifiers and microwave-integrated circuits.

Analog Devices issued Q4 2021 metrics on Nov. 23. Revenue increased 53% year-over-year (YOY) to $2.34 billion. Adjusted earnings soared from $1.44 per share to $1.73 per share. The company generated a free cash flow of $810 million. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $1.98 billion.

Factory automation has fueled demand for sensors and machine connectivity, which increasingly rely on Analog’s chips. In addition, the automotive industry has also become a key growth driver due to the rising use of advanced electronics in electric vehicles (EVs).

In late August, the chipmaker completed the acquisition of Maxim Integrated. The billion transaction should increase ADI’s market share in automotive and 5G chipmaking.

ADI currently trades just under $160, up 7% over the past 12 months. Shares are trading at 21.5 times forward earnings and 8.9 times trailing sales. The 12-month median price forecast for Analog Devices stock stands at $210.

Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM)

Source: Maxx-Studio/ShutterStock.com

52-Week Range: $42.96 – $57.15

Expense Ratio: 0.40% per year

QTUM is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that focuses on the next generation of computing. It offers exposure to names leading the way in quantum computing, machine learning and cloud computing. The fund tracks the BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index.

QTUM, which started trading in September 2018, has 71 holdings. The top 10 holdings account for less than 20% of net assets of $161.5 million. Put another way, fund managers are not taking major bets on any company.

Among the leading holdings on the roster are the security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), French telecommunications operator Orange (NYSE:ORAN) and IBM.

For most retail investors, QTUM could potentially be a safe and diversified place to start investing in quantum computing. As portfolio companies come from a wide range of technology segments, wide swings in the price of one stock will not affect the ETF significantly.

The fund has gained 8.7% over the past year and saw an all-time high in November 2021. However, the recent selloff in tech stocks led to a 10.7% decline year-to-date (YTD). Interested readers could regard this decline as a good entry point into QTUM.

Quantum Computing Stocks: International Business Machines (IBM)

Source: shutterstock.com/LCV

52-week range: $113.17 – $146.12

Dividend Yield: 4.8%

Technology giant International Business Machines (IBM) needs little introduction. The legacy tech name offers integrated solutions and services, including infrastructure, software, information technology (IT) and hardware.

IBM announced Q4 2021 financials on Jan. 24. The company generated revenues of $16.7 billion, up 6.5% YOY. Net income stood at $2.33 billion, or $2.57 per diluted share, up from $1.36 billion, or $1.51 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $6.65 billion.

After the announcement, CEO Arvind Krishna said, “We increased revenue in the fourth quarter with hybrid cloud adoption driving growth in
software and consulting.”

The company launched its Quantum System One quantum computer in 2019. Around 150 research groups and partner companies currently use IBM’s quantum computing services. These names come from financial services businesses, automakers and energy suppliers.

In June 2021, IBM unveiled Europe’s most powerful quantum computer in Germany. Moreover, the tech giant recently announced a deal with Raytheon Technologies (NYSE:RTX) to provide quantum computing and AI services for the aerospace, defense and intelligence industries.

IBM currently changes hands around $137, up 20% over the past 12 months. Shares are trading at 13.5 times forward earnings and 2.2 times trailing sales. The 12-month median price forecast for IBM stock is $144.50. Interested readers could consider buying IBM shares around these levels.

IonQ (IONQ)

Source: Shutterstock

52-week range: $7.07 – $35.90

IonQ is one of the first publicly traded pure-play quantum computing stocks. It went public via a merger with the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) dMY Technology Group III in late 2021.

The quantum name released Q3 2021 results on Nov. 15. Its net loss was $14.8 million, or 12 cents loss per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $3.6 million a year ago. Cash and equivalents ended the quarter at $587 million. Wall Street was pleased that at the time, YTD contract bookings came in at $15.1 million.

IonQ is currently developing a network of quantum computers accessible from various cloud services. The technology uses ionized atoms that allow IonQ’s machines to perform complex calculations with fewer errors than any other quantum computer available.

The start-up has the financial backing of prominent investors, including Bill Gates and the Japanese telecommunications company Softbank Group (OTCMKTS:SFTBF). In addition, IonQ has been developing strategic partnerships with Microsoft, Amazon’s (NASDAQ:AMZN) Amazon Web Services and Alphabet’s (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google Cloud.

While IonQ is taking steps to become a commercialization-stage name, it is still a speculative investment. With its potential for explosive growth, it could be an attractive quantum computing stock for investors looking to take a risk.

IONQ stock hovers around $12. The recent selloff in tech stocks has led to a 26.7% decline YTD. Yet, the 12-month median price forecast for IONQ stock stands at $23.

Quantum Computing Stocks: Microsoft (MSFT)

Source: rafapress / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $224.26 – $349.67

Dividend Yield: 0.8%

Microsoft is one the largest and most prominent technology firms worldwide. It offers software products and services, including Azure cloud service, the Office 365 productivity suite and the customer relationship management (CRM) platform Dynamics 365.

Meanwhile, the Microsoft Quantum is “the world’s first full-stack, open cloud quantum computing ecosystem” that allows developers to create quantum applications and run them on multiple platforms. The software giant provides quantum computing services via the cloud on Azure.

Management announced robust Q2 FY22 metrics on Jan. 25. Revenue increased 20% YOY to $51.7 billion. Net income surged 21% YOY to $18.8 billion, or $2.48 per diluted share, compared to $15.5 billion, or $2.03 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $20.6 billion.

On Jan. 18, Microsoft announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI), a leading player in game and interactive entertainment development. It will be an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion. Wall Street expects this deal to provide tailwinds for Microsoft’s gaming business and building blocks for the metaverse.

MSFT stock currently trades just under $310, up 27% over the past 12 months. Shares support a valuation of 32.6 times forward earnings and 12.3 times trailing sales. And the 12-month median price forecast for Microsoft stock stands at $370.

Nvidia (NVDA)

Source: Antonio Baccardi / Shutterstock.com

52-week range: $115.67 – $346.47

Dividend Yield: 0.06%

Santa Clara, California-based Nvidia has become an important name in advanced semiconductor design and software for next-generation computing development. InvestorPlace readers likely know the chipmaker is a market leader in the gaming and data center markets.

Nvidia announced impressive Q3 FY 2022 numbers on Nov. 17. Revenue soared 50% YOY to a record $7.1 billion, fueled by record sales in the gaming and data center businesses. Net income increased 62% YOY to $2.97 billion, or $1.17 per diluted share. Cash and equivalents ended the period at $1.29 billion.

The chipmaker provides the necessary processing power that drives the development of quantum computing. Additionally, Nvidia recently released cuQuantum, a software development kit designed for building quantum computing workflows. It has partnered with Google, IBM and other quantum computing players that rely on cuQuantum to accelerate their quantum computing work.

Given its growing addressable market in cloud computing, gaming, AI, and more recently the metaverse, NVDA stock deserves your attention. Share are changing hands around $245, up nearly 80% over the past year. However, despite an 18% decline YTD, shares are trading at 46.5 times forward earnings and 25 times trailing sales.

Finally, the 12-month median price forecast for Nvidia stock is $350. As the company gets ready to report earnings soon, investors should expect increased choppiness in price.

Quantum Computing Stocks: Supernova Partners Acquisition II (SNII)

Source: Dmitry Demidovich/ShutterStock.com

52-week range: $9.62 – $12.75

Our final stock is Supernova Partners Acquisition II, a SPAC. It is merging with Rigetti Computing, a start-up focused on quantum computer development. As a result of the merger, Rigetti Computing was valued at about $1.5 billion and received $458 million in gross cash proceeds.

Rigetti designs quantum chips and then integrates those chips with a controlling architecture. It also develops software used to build algorithms for these chips.

Rigetti recently announced business highlights for the nine months ended Oct. 31, 2021. Revenue came in at $6.9 million. Net operating loss declined 3% YOY to $26.2 million.

“We believe the time for quantum computing has arrived,” said founder and CEO Chad Rigetti. “Customer demand is increasing as Rigetti quantum computers begin to address high-impact computational problems.”

The start-up launched the world’s first scalable multi-chip quantum processor in June 2021. This processor boasts a proprietary modular architecture. Now Wall Street expects the company to move toward commercialization.

Rigetti collaborates with government entities and technology to advance its quantum processors. For instance, it boasts strategic partnerships with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. It also works with data analytics firm Palantir Technologies (NYSE:PLTR) and electronics manufacturer Keysight Technologies (NYSE:KEYS).

SNII stock is currently shy of $10, down about 4% YTD. As investors’ interest in quantum computing names grow, shares are likely to become hot.

On the date of publication, Tezcan Gecgil holds both long and short positions in NVDA stock. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

Tezcan Gecgil has worked in investment management for over two decades in the U.S. and U.K. In addition to formal higher education in the field, she has also completed all 3 levels of the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) examination. Her passion is for options trading based on technical analysis of fundamentally strong companies. She especially enjoys setting up weekly covered calls for income generation.

Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2022/02/7-best-quantum-computing-stocks-to-buy-in-2022/.

©2022 InvestorPlace Media, LLC

Title:

Content: BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

The Silent Quantum Threat To Web3 Cyber Resilience

Following
New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories.

If you are worried about DeFi’s war with cyber-hackers and the cyber-marauders at the gates of Web3, take a deep breath. Quantum computing is coming and could render today’s digital cryptography used in DeFi and Web3 useless.

The emerging generation of quantum computers currently under development will have the potential to hack Web3, very quickly. The cybersecurity and financial consequences of this could be unprecedented. The solutions are not straightforward and forthcoming and require complex work and most importantly, community consensus.

The Next Generation Of Computing - Quantum

Quantum computing is the next generation of computing machines and techniques that are very different from current computers, known in the jargon as classical computers. Quantum computers are more powerful for certain calculations. This means that calculations that would take thousands of years on today’s supercomputers are accomplished instantly by quantum ones.

Amongst these calculations are very useful applications like simulating drugs and their effect in organisms over time avoiding lab tests, financial forecasting and better predicting market behaviors to better avoid crisis, and many innovations across business and society.

Nevertheless, the most attractive application to cyber-criminals and the most concerning to society, is the capacity of these computers to hack the current cryptography of the Internet, telecommunications, and blockchain networks, jeopardizing our Web3 identities, digital assets, and their stores of value.

What Makes Quantum Computers So Different And Powerful?

Today’s classical computers are binary because their basic units of information are bits which can be either in a 0 or 1 value. The equivalent in quantum computing is quantum bits, or qubits, a basic unit of information. Qubits leverage two phenomena from quantum physics: entanglement, and superposition, and are used to do parallel computing exponentially faster than a classical binary computer.

For calculations that can be modelled, 50 computations on a quantum computer could achieve a result that would require a staggeringly large number of computations, 1,125,899,906,842,624 on any of today’s computers and at a millennium’s pace (N2^N=2^50) for all of you math enthusiasts.

Web3 is an emerging concept that assembles different constituent technologies, protocols, and principles. One of these principles is the use of RDF, OWL, XLM and other languages and protocols to enable a machine-readable web suitable for AI, which was defined as the “Semantic Web” over two decades ago by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web’s founding father.

A big constituent of Web3 is the use of blockchain technology for decentralized and trusted peer-to-peer interactions and value exchanges. Digital wallets as personal, private, and portable key, data, and asset management tools are a key constituent to using the blockchain. Different combinations of these technologies, protocols, and principles are being used by a new generation of applications and platforms, which together are the main constituents to Web3.

Among the most popular use cases emerging in the world of Web3 commerce are cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, DAO’s, and NFT’s. Soon we will be using different forms of tokenized money including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and we will be trading and investing in tokenized real-world assets like real estate, gold, and automobiles in real time – amongst all sorts of other things – everything that can be tokenized will be tokenized in Web3.

We will be able to own and present ourselves from our digital wallets with our “digital ID”, driver’s license, health records and certificates, and diplomas which will be verifiable against secure blockchain networks. Many Web3 applications use blockchain networks as an additional layer of the Internet protocol, something which Berners-Lee is less enthusiastic about.

Blockchain networks allow for cryptographic proofs of off-chain data and information, like real estate, to be immutably recorded and universally verifiable, making use cases compelling for government and business registries. Blockchain technology also allows for assets and value to be represented by on-chain tokens so they can be traded against each other or against any form or tokenized money eliminating any post-trade settlement and clearing process.

Blockchain Technology – The Weakest Link With Quantum Computing?

As appealing as it all sounds, blockchain networks are today possibly the most vulnerable technology to attacks by quantum computers. In 2016, the National Institute for Standards in Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA) began to warn about the seriousness of the quantum threat.

NIST warns, “If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use.”

“A sufficiently large quantum computer, if built, would be capable of undermining all widely-deployed public key algorithms used for key establishment and digital signatures,” echoes the NSA.

Public-key cryptosystems and algorithms referred to by NIST and NSA are essentially the mechanisms that we use to encrypt our telecommunications over the phone or the Internet and to control our assets in blockchain networks.

In simple terms, when we send any communication over the Internet such as an email, a transaction from our wallet to a node, or a communication between nodes, we are encrypting the information with the recipient’s public key so the recipient can decrypt it with their private key. Similarly, when we send a transaction to a blockchain we sign it with our private key, so we can for instance, prove that we are the owner of certain amount of bitcoin we want to transfer.

Marcos Allende Lopez, CTO of LACNet, says, “What NIST and NSA warnings reflect is that quantum computers can discover any of those private keys from our public keys. Most prominent blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, rely on an Elliptic Curve public-key algorithm. This algorithm, as well as others such as RSA and Discrete Logarithm frequently used to encrypt communications over the Internet, are already proven to be breakable by quantum computers.

Allende is a quantum physicist who leads the technical work in blockchain, Web3, and quantum technologies at the Inter-American Development Bank and has designed and piloted an implementation of a quantum-resistant blockchain. Addressing the delegates and the Necker Blockchain Summit this summer, Allende warned, “If quantum hacking has not happened already is only because quantum computers are not large enough yet.”

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, pitched, “If you have bitcoins in an address you never use they are safe, otherwise, anyone can steal them.”

This happens when someone makes a transaction, and their public key is exposed to the entire network. However, in July at the Eth 2.0 conference, Butterin admitted that, not only is there not a plan or roadmap for Ethereum to become quantum-resistant, but that the solution is not even know yet and the problem is being postponed to solve more urgent matters such as scalability, interoperability, or costs until quantum computers are ready.

The New Quantum Digital Space Race

Since 2000, private and public entities have competed in a race to develop quantum computers that could scale. At present, IBM leads the race with 127 qubits, however, the number of qubits for breaking current cryptography and being relevant for other disruptive applications is estimated to be in the order of thousands, and at least between 1,000 and 3,000, or more.

Current implementations do not achieve “error correction”, meaning that errors are propagated without the control that is necessary to scale, however, many experts predict quantum computing at scale is just around the corner.

China has invested as much as $11 billion in quantum between 2019 and 2021 followed by $5 billion by the E.U. and $3 billion by the U.S. Every global superpower understands that this may be the next most valuable technology on the road to digital dominance.

The truth is that the quantum threat is in general not well understood in the Web3 world, and the solutions are very complex to implement. Replacing current cryptographic algorithms with one of the new quantum-resistant public-key algorithms that NIST has recently standardized in July 2022 would be almost impossible.

Alternatively, adding a quantum-resistant signature into every transaction might be more feasible but requires consensus, is technically difficult to implement, and could have very negative consequences such as reducing processing throughput, considerably.

“As difficult as it might seem, the time to act is now. By using blockchain technology we are already exposed to the hack today, crack tomorrow practice,” asserts Allende in an industry call to action.

Being realistic, are we really expecting those that achieve building large quantum computers to disclose their projects and users? A strategist might posit that cyber-criminals will silently use quantum computing to strategically hack communications and assets without being noticed as a quantum computer. It is not an enigma to find out cases when this has happened in the past.

As devotees of the Netflix series Game of Thrones know, “winter is coming.” When is the right time to start making Web3 quantum cyber-resilient if not now? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn

What are the potential threats of quantum computers?

threatening national security through breaking encryption

What fields can quantum computers advance?

What are the potential threats of quantum computers?

threatening national security through breaking encryption

What fields can quantum computers advance?

What are the potential threats of quantum computers?

threatening national security through breaking encryption

What fields can quantum computers advance?

What are the potential threats of quantum computers?

threatening national security through breaking encryption

What fields can quantum computers advance?

What are the potential threats of quantum computers?

threatening national security through breaking encryption

What fields can quantum computers advance?

What are the potential threats of quantum computers?

threatening national security through breaking encryption

What fields can quantum computers advance?

What are the potential threats of quantum computers?

threatening national security through breaking encryption

What fields can quantum computers advance?

What are the potential threats of quantum computers?

threatening national security through breaking encryption

What fields can quantum computers advance?

While the United States and China are currently leading, countries like Japan and those in Europe are making strategic investments to establish their positions in this critical field.

As the technology continues to develop, collaboration between academia and industry, along with continued government support, will be essential for advancement.

Title:

Content: embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT - Embedded.com

embedded news week: podcast, new GPU, quantum IP, smart building IoT

A roundup of this week’s embedded news includes embedded edge with Nitin podcast featuring a brand new GPU, quantum computing developments and IoT for smart buildings, plus usual product news including automotive, tools and software.

In our latest embedded edge with Nitin podcast, we have highlighted a new GPU, developments in quantum computing, and IoT for smart buildings. In the show, Andrew Girdler of Imagination Technologies told us about the company’s new flagship GPU that brings desktop-quality ray tracing to mobile for the first time and is industry’s first Level 4 RTLS ray tracing architecture. He said, “It’s the most advanced ray tracing architecture out there today, giving you the ability to enable advanced ray trace gaming effects, in a low power budget in a mobile phone device.” Listen to the full interview on the podcast.

I also spoke to two companies looking to help democratize quantum computing with the work they are doing. First, Bob Coecke of Cambridge Quantum took us into the background to the company’s launch of the world’s first toolkit and library for quantum natural language processing, which allows sentences to be converted into a quantum circuit. Then I spoke to Pauls Wells of sureCore, who’s leading a seven-member consortium that has received a UK£6.5 million government innovation grant to jointly develop advanced cryogenic semiconductor IP; this is intended to dramatically accelerate the growth of the quantum computing industry by reducing the constrains associated with interconnects thus enabling efficient qubit/system scaling.

Finally, the podcast features an interview with Bruno Johnson of Cascoda, who talks about his company’s module recently certified for the OCF running over Thread network protocol – this is said to be a true internet protocol-based connectivity solution that is extremely low power that provides IP connectivity right down to the end node and with the Open Connectivity Foundation secure PKI X 509 grade security for end-to-end encryption. This gives smart building and building automation “banking grade security” for IoT devices.

We’ve been attending various events in person over recent weeks, and next week you can catch us at the CW International Conference. The agenda for this year’s event is somewhat topical, especially given that we also had the COP26 global UN climate chance conference this week. The CW conference will consider the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximize wireless’ potential to improve the future, including the reduction of wireless’ environmental impact.

News & Products

SensiML Corporation, a developer of AI tools for building intelligent IoT endpoints, has teamed with onsemi to deliver a complete machine learning solution for autonomous sensor data processing and predictive modeling. The collaboration combines SensiML’s analytics toolkit development software with the RSL10 sensor development kit from onsemi to create a platform for edge sensing applications such as industrial process control and monitoring. The ability to support AI functions in a small memory footprint along with advanced sensing and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity enables sophisticated smart sensing without the need for cloud analytics of highly dynamic raw sensor data.

Allegro MicroSystems has expanded its automotive lighting portfolio to include two new offerings for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) applications. The A80803 is a switch-mode, constant-current controller for high-power LED automotive lighting applications that addresses many common pain points for headlight designers to help bring advanced functionality to mainstream vehicles. The A80804 is Allegro’s first four-channel linear driver for high-power LEDs. In addition to targeted applications such as DRL/position and stop/taillights, it gives lighting designers increased design flexibility for popular features such as sequential turn signals, animation effects, and theater-style transitions.

[insert image]

Tata Elxsi and Green Hills Software are working together on a driver monitoring system (DMS) platform that combines advanced DMS software (V.O.E.O.S.Y.S – vehicle operator environment observation system) and AUTOSAR adaptive from Tata Elxsi integrated with the safe and secure INTEGRITY real-time operating system (RTOS) from Green Hills Software, optimized to run on the latest families of automotive-grade microprocessors. This flexible and standards-based DMS platform enables OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to reduce the time, cost, and complexity of developing and deploying their DMS-compliant ADAS systems while meeting mandatory global safety and security requirements.

Infineon Technologies has joined the FiRa Consortium as a contributor member to support the expansion of the UWB ecosystem. The company’s VP digital security & identity, Bjoern Scharfen, said “UWB has a great potential to enhance Infineon’s offering in security, connectivity and computing. With this, the technology fully supports our vision of linking the real and digital world.” With the acquisition of Cypress in 2020, Infineon said it acquired significant expertise in connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) as well as in microcontrollers.

Wireless Telecom Group said that SmartSky Networks has selected the CommAgility high-performance telecommunications systems software and tools for its next-generation air-to-ground (ATG) network. Deployed in SmartSky’s inflight connectivity, CommAgility is providing a full protocol stack and physical layer (PHY) for SmartSky’s aircraft base radio (ABR), which is the user equipment (UE) on board the aircraft. The ABR connects to a ground base station and provides broadband inflight connectivity for the operational needs of the aircraft, passengers, and crew. SmartSky’s patented beamforming and spectrum re-use technologies have been tested and proven, and the network is now rolling out across the USA for aviation operators and passengers.

MicroAI has announced MicroAI Launchpad, a quick start development and deployment tool that helps organizations simplify and accelerate the design, development, testing, and deployment of smart systems that run embedded MicroAI software on MCUs and microprocessors (MPUs) in edge and endpoint devices. Launchpad makes it simple to handle customers with SIMs around the world and manage and reconfigure device profiles. A single pane of glass gives access to customizable dashboards for account creation, authentication, mobile SIM or LoRaWAN connectivity activation, credit card billing for global SIM connectivity, and onboarding of MicroAI’s embedded software libraries. Its embedded software, AtomML, enables OEMs to deploy personalized, edge-native AI models, without needing to develop static edge-AI models first in a cloud or laptop and then port them to the embedded device.

IAR Systems said that its latest version of IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm adds support for the Arm Cortex-M55 processor. In addition, version 9.20 of the toolchain includes support for the latest MCUs from several semiconductor vendors. The toolchain delivers optimization capabilities to assist developers in getting the most out of the performance of the MCU and yet stay as energy efficient as possible. To ensure code quality, code analysis tools are completely integrated with IAR Embedded Workbench.

Teledyne Test Tools has launched the T3DSO3000, a new series of premium economy oscilloscopes, which feature four channel models with analog bandwidth options from 200 MHz to 1 GHz. Each model offers a maximum sample rate of 5 GSa/s, and a maximum memory depth of 250 Mpts in half channel mode. All models incorporate two 5 GSa/s ADCs and two 250 Mpts memory modules. The oscilloscopes employ a new generation of high-speed display technology for excellent signal clarity, fidelity and performance. The series comes with a minimum vertical input range of 500 μV/div, an innovative digital trigger system with high sensitivity, low jitter, and a waveform capture rate of 500,000 waveforms/sec (sequence mode).

Kontron has launched the 3.5-inch SBC-R39, a compact 3.5-inch single-board computer suitable for integration into (open source) embedded systems in entertainment, digital signage, facial recognition, smart retail, smart classroom, smart office and industrial applications. The 3.5-inch SBC-R39 is built on a Rockchip RK3399(K) processor with ARM big.LITTLE microarchitecture. This includes two processors embedded in a single, fully integrated silicon chip. The LITTLE cluster consists of a quad-core Cortex A53 processor, which is typically used to perform routine tasks at low power consumption. The large cluster is a dual-core Cortex-A72 processor, which handles compute-intensive high-performance tasks. This architecture enables the SBC-R39 to dynamically assign tasks to the respective processor according to the performance requirement.

People and Funding

Velodyne Lidar announced the appointment of Theodore “Ted” L. Tewksbury, Ph.D. as chief executive officer, who joins after serving as CEO of Eta Compute. Prior to Eta Compute, Tewksbury, a technology executive with over 30 years’ leadership experience across public and private companies, held several chief executive and board positions, including Entropic Communications and Integrated Device Technology. He is an accomplished engineer, with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from MIT. He has held a variety of engineering and management positions in his career, including introducing over 180 innovative new product families during his time at Maxim Integrated Products.

Events

The CW International Conference (CWIC), one of the key annual events for the wireless industry in the U.K., is back both as a physical live event at IWM Duxford, Europe’s largest air museum, as well being available online. Taking place on 9th November 2021, this year’s theme considers the value of the wireless network within digital and circular economies, exploring innovations and ideas that maximise wireless’ potential to improve the future. Full agenda and details are here.

Nvidia GTC takes place online from 8-11 November 2021, which will include a live-streamed keynote by Jensen Huang, plus talks from AI research and industry leaders on deep learning, data science, high-performance computing, robotics, data center/networking and graphics. Speakers include Fei-Fei Li, professor of computer science, Stanford University, Lindsay Edwards, responsible for AI at in respiratory and immunology, AstraZeneca, and Kay Firth-Butterfield, head of AI and ML, World Economic Forum. Details here.

The 58th DAC (Design Automation Conference) is takes place both physically in San Francisco and virtually between 5-10 December 2021. Keynote speakers include Jeff Dean of Google Research and Google Health, Bill Dally of Nvidia, and Missy Cummings of Duke University. For the first, DAC attendees will also have access to SEMICON West and the RISC-V Summit. Details here.

Title:

Content: Image: © luchschenF/Stock.adobe.com

What skills do you need to start a career in quantum?

2 hours ago

Quantum combines quantum mechanics with physics, maths and computer science to innovate and solve problems. It’s an exciting area to break into.

Quantum tech is perhaps not as well-known as other areas of tech, but there is no doubt that its influence is growing – and that means it is a good area to look into if you’re an ambitious person with an aptitude for computers and maths.

Lots of Big Tech companies are betting on quantum as a driver of innovation for the future. Currently, much of the quantum knowledge is evolving in the academic world, but businesses are beginning to sit up and take notice of the tech’s potential thanks to industry-academia collaborations.

In Ireland, Trinity College Dublin has recently formed an alliance for quantum computing skills with industry players IBM and Microsoft. Smaller companies have joined the alliance, too, including Horizon Quantum Computing, a Singapore-based quantum tech company headed up by Irishman Dr Joe Fitzsimons. He spoke to SiliconRepublic.com last year when his company expanded into Ireland, announcing several new jobs for Dublin.

So, what kind of skills do you need if you want to break into quantum computing and how difficult is it to establish a career in the sector?

To answer the second question first, you will most likely need a university qualification – possibly to postgraduate level. Quantum is complex and even academics who work on advancing research in the field are sometimes stymied by problems in the field.

That said, Irish universities’ determination to make quantum skills accessible for everyone means there are a lot of postgraduate programmes that have been developed in consultation with the likes of IBM.

If you’re looking to brush up on your skills casually, Google has made its Quantum Virtual Machine available to the public free of charge so everyone can learn quantum programming skills. There is also the option of online courses, available from the likes of Skillnet Ireland, as well as Udemy and edX.

Technical, mathematical and soft skills

Maths is definitely a skill you need for quantum. Specifically, linear algebra, probability theory and statistics. Computer science skills such as algorithms, programming and data structuring are required in combination also.

It goes without saying that you need to know the quantum lingo, too. This means a decent grasp of quantum theory and mechanics. Keep up with developments that are happening in quantum science and know how the industry is using the tech for different purposes. Specialist publications like Quantum Zeitgeist are good for this. If you are able to talk the talk with quantum, you can explain to businesses how they can benefit from the tech but you have to understand it first, so know your stuff – and your qubits.

Because quantum is such a complex area, it can be easy to put all of the focus on technical skills, but like any other career area it demands soft skills, too. Communication is important. Analytical and creative skills are definitely an asset, as are research skills for this fast-growing, young technology.

10 things you need to know direct to your inbox every weekday. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of essential sci-tech news.

By Blathnaid O’Dea

Blathnaid O’Dea joined Silicon Republic in 2021 as Careers reporter, coming from a background in the Humanities. She likes people, pranking, pictures of puffins – and apparently alliteration.

Loading now, one moment please!

For students at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, this represents both a challenging and exciting field with growing career opportunities across multiple sectors including aerospace, defense, finance, pharmaceuticals, and information technology.

What fields can quantum computers advance?