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As innovation has progressed through radio, the internet, Wi-Fi, smartphones, and the Internet of Things, we have consistently faced security concerns with each technological milestone. Every new and disruptive technology comes with both opportunities and challenges.

With AI, we are heeding this lesson from the past and proactively addressing the security challenges that will inevitably arise.

Yet while the AI revolution feels like the biggest innovation in a generation, scaled quantum computing is set to disrupt many aspects of technology again and we must prepare for it now.

Quantum computing at scale has the potential to help solve many of the worlds most complex and pressing problems. Whether its addressing food sustainability, developing better batteries, or mitigating climate change via carbon capture, scientists will have unprecedented computing power at their disposal. This transformational computing power capable of driving so much societal good could also be used by bad actors looking to cause disruption and harm. By advancing our security capabilities to meet this moment, people and organizations can reap the profound benefits of quantum computing without succumbing to these threats.

Microsoft embarked on the road to quantum more than 20 years ago and is in a unique position to contribute to a quantum-safe future. The investments we have made in this emerging field help us to understand new risks it may introduce and how to mitigate them early and effectively.

How quantum computing could upend encryption

Today, most security systems in existing IT environments rely on public-key cryptography, which is used almost everywhere from messaging to transactions to securing data at rest. These cryptographic systems are based on mathematical problems that are difficult and time- consuming for classical computers but will be much easier and quicker for quantum computers to solve.

The strength of current cryptographic systems lies in the complexity of certain mathematical problems, one of which involves finding the factor of extraordinarily large numbers a task that would take traditional computers millions of years to solve. This is the core principle behind the RSA algorithm thats been in use since the 1970s. Systems using RSA today range from hardware devices such as smart cards and routers, to software applications such as web browsers and email clients. RSA is also used throughout the supply chain of these systems, from the manufacturing of components to the distribution of software updates.

Yet, the emergence of quantum computers has the potential to dramatically upset this balance. Using Shors algorithm, a quantum computer may be able to unravel these large-number factors in mere minutes, rendering RSA and similar asymmetric algorithms vulnerable. As we progress, algorithm agility, resiliency and flexibility will be needed to easily switch or combine cryptographic approaches a process that will require significant financial investment, changes in existing infrastructure, and timely planning, execution and coordination across supply chains and ecosystems.

Scaled quantum machines are on the way

A quantum machine capable of running Shors algorithm will likely need more than a million stable qubits thousands of times more than todays quantum computers. These powerful scaled machines are on the way and responsible companies will ensure these quantum systems are not used by bad actors.

At Microsoft, our quantum machine will be delivered as a cloud service through Azure. Just as we do with other technologies, Microsoft will deploy technical and operational controls to ensure our quantum machine will not be used maliciously.

But not every quantum machine in the future will be protected in this way. Immediate risks, such as Harvest Now, Decrypt Later scenarios and the potential obsolescence of un-updatable IoT devices, already demand our attention. For these reasons, we must start preparing and acting now, because the transition to become quantum safe for most organizations will take time.Thats why we recommend organizations get ready today, which we explain in more detail below. The risk posed by quantum computers is not imminent nor insurmountable, but the transition to become quantum-safe for most organizations will be a significant undertaking.

Just over two decades ago, the Y2K challenge wasnt insurmountable or unsolvable, but it took a huge, industry-wide effort to get ready for the change. Today cryptographic systems are spread all over the globe, and the distributed and interconnected services, products and platforms handling those systems means there is an immense threat surface that needs to be prepared and updated to become quantum resistant.

The global community is rallying around quantum-safe readiness

The security industry has been preparing for quantum computers and the associated risks to classical cryptography. Governments and the private sector are investing in research, development, and standardization of quantum-safe approaches such as post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms and potential quantum technologies to strengthen security. As a first step toward PQC adoption, the U.S. National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) has been engaged in a years-long effort to solicit, evaluate and standardize quantum-resistant algorithms for broader adoption.

In Europe, the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) is assessing quantum-safe cryptographic protocols and standards and their practical implementation. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is evaluating PQC algorithms and has established a technical committee to build collaboration on international standards for PQC.

Microsoft has been investing in PQC research, development, experimentation and collaborations since 2014, playing a role in the emergence of PQC and public standards globally. We are participating in SC27/WG2 international standards efforts and have been in close collaboration with NIST, supporting and contributing to their National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence project on Migration to Post-Quantum Cryptography, whose goal is to prepare organizations for the PQC transition.

Microsoft is a core member and supporter of the Open Quantum Safe (OQS) project, and we are leading the PQC working group for SAFECode, a global industry forum for business leaders and technical experts to advance industry standards and help organizations prepare for the PQC transition. We have also been focused on quantum technologies and their impact on security with dedicated research and development of tools.

As the ecosystem progresses, we continue to encourage industry and government to invest in the global adoption of harmonized cryptographic standards and additional quantum-safe measures to facilitate secure global trade in the future.

Quantum-safe across Microsofts ecosystem

Given Microsofts unique position and wide perspective developing both hardware and software along with our experience from past efforts transitioning to new cryptographic algorithms we know that the journey to achieve quantum safety will be a significant undertaking.

This will be an iterative and collaborative process, and we are committed to being a trusted partner across industry and government. Transparency and clarity will be key to success, and as we continue to make progress, we will share learnings and recommendations with the broader community.

One of the best ways for an organization to accelerate their quantum-safe readiness is to move to the hyperscale cloud, but not all our customers and partners are using the cloud. With this in mind, we are taking a comprehensive approach across our platforms and systems.

Today we are taking the necessary steps across our own portfolio and ecosystem to ensure our products and services remain secure against potential risks the technology continues to develop.

We have formed a group of experts from across the company to concentrate on this matter with constant input from regulators, industry partners, vendors and legal experts and research teams. We have also started efforts to create, test, and implement practical cryptographic solutions that can resist potential threats posed by quantum computers. We are deepening our knowledge of quantum-safe algorithms and mitigation options for various use cases, considering hybrid encryption schemes to accommodate adaptive updates in cryptography algorithms, creating a cryptographic inventory to identify vulnerable cryptography in our platforms and services, and developing a multi-phase roadmap to address gaps and prioritize crucial areas.

From the cloud to on-premises environments, we are assessing every piece of technology that connects to Microsoft. Our goal is to make this journey as simple and manageable as possible both for us and for our customers and partners.

The time to prepare is now and Microsoft is here to help

It will take time to implement such sweeping changes, but the sooner you start, the safer youll be. It is essential to raise awareness and deepen all of our understanding of the risks and to start now.

If youre wondering where to begin, creating an inventory of critical data and cryptography technologies can reveal areas where cryptography is implemented incorrectly or in a way thats unsuitable for its intended purposes. It is crucial to identify internal standards and processes and assess all options to update those cryptography protocols and libraries to mitigate potential risks.

Based on those inventories and assessments, we recommend prioritizing your systems and services based on criteria such as criticality, dependencies and cost. From there, develop a transition roadmap.

We are already helping several customers and partners, notably those in risk-sensitive industries, in their quest to be quantum-safe by providing resources and transition strategies. Yet, the urgency for all organizations to embark on this journey cannot be overstated. We encourage customers and partners to act now, and were here to support.

As quantum technology continues to advance and change the world, our commitment to the security of our products and customers has never been stronger. We are dedicated to minimizing the efforts required by our customers and partners to become quantum-safe, using our world-leading research and engineering teams to keep our products and services secure.

Related link: Read more about how we build security into everything we build and deliver at Microsoft.

Tags: Azure, Cloud, quantum computing, Security

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Building a quantum-safe future - The Official Microsoft Blog - Microsoft

Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG) has partnered with D-Wave Quantum to research and develop quantum-computing applications for campaign optimization, Marketing Dive can exclusively share. The news is indicative of growing industry interest in technology areas like quantum computing, a field that promises to solve complex, data-intensive problems including those related to generative artificial intelligence (AI) at a faster pace than classical computing methods can achieve.

The deal will combine the software providers Leap quantum cloud services with data drawn from IPG, which is running the program out of its emerging technology group. Together, the companies aim to help clients identify high-value audiences and deliver more tailored messages at the right time and in the right setting, resulting in improved personalization and performance. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

At IPG, we understand that every customer is unique, with very personal passions, behaviors and motivations, said Philippe Krakowsky, CEO of IPG, in a statement. By working with D-Wave and adopting quantum technology as part of our tech stack, we believe we can uncover an even greater collection of data-driven insights to deliver more relevant and effective marketing for our clients, at scale.

Taking a quantum-computing approach to campaign optimization is another example of how advertisers and agencies are thinking outside the box as they contend with the deprecation of identifiers that have been key for targeting ads, including third-party cookies. Google will begin phasing out cookies for a select number of Chrome users starting early next year.

As ad signal loss intensifies, marketers have focused on first-party data acquisition, but struggles persist in effectively managing and deploying troves of customer information. In the D-Wave announcement, quantum computing was positioned as a way to get more utility from a high volume of data.

Were excited to work with IPG to bring the power of quantum to advertising optimization, more efficiently harnessing a massive amount of data to create hyper-targeted campaigns that drive desired outcomes for brands, said Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave, in a statement.

IPG has been piloting the D-Wave capabilities with a top 20 client, applying optimization equations to enhance marketing efforts in a retail environment. The agency declined to share specific outcomes from the experiment but said that the mathematical modeling used was broadly applicable outside of retail, with results that are very promising and repeatable.

At the high level, quantum computers run on quantum bits, or qubits, to operate. Qubits can exist in a state, known as superposition, of one and zero simultaneously. That differs from classical computing, where bits exist in a binary state of either one or zero. The gist is that quantum computings processing power can solve problems that would take classical computers an impractical amount of time to figure out.

Quantum computing has been positioned as a stepping stone to lowering the enterprise costs of resource-intensive and pricey tech like generative AI, which has also been in the spotlight for agencies following the explosion in popularity of ChatGPT. WPP, an IPG rival, on Monday announced a deal with chipmaker Nvidia around a new content engine supported by generative AI that will help its creatives produce and scale advertising assets faster.

D-Wave formed a relationship with IPG in the first quarter of this year, according to an earnings statement. Other customers of the Canada-based firm include Unisys US and POLARISqb.

Founded in 1999, D-Wave bills itself as the first commercial supplier of quantum computers and the only company building both annealing quantum computers and gate-model quantum computers. The firm went public via a SPAC merger last year but has had a bumpy time on the public markets. It was warned by the New York Stock Exchange over a potential delisting in March, The Register reported.

For IPG, the partnership is another way to get a leg up on data and analytics know-how that has become essential for agencies. The ad-holding group in 2018 acquired the data-marketing unit Acxiom for $2.3 billion.

IPG saw net revenue down 2.3% year-over-year in Q1, hampered by weak demand from tech clients and restructurings at some digital specialist shops. The groups media, healthcare and data-marketing offerings, including Acxiom, performed well over the period. IPG more recently was named lead creative partner for pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, a major account win.

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IPG turns on quantum computing to supercharge campaign ... - Marketing Dive

Researchers are leveraging photonics to develop and scale the hardware necessary to tackle the stringent requirements of quantum information technologies. By exploiting the properties of photonics, researchers point to the benefits of scaling quantum hardware. If or when successful, researchers say quantum hardware at scale will enable long-range networks, interconnections between multiple quantum devices, and large-scale photonic circuits for quantum computing and simulation.

An interdisciplinary team of researchers from Denmark, Germany, and the UK is focusing on the best ways to use photonics and exploit its properties to develop a platform that can scale quantum hardware, Phys.Org reported. To this end, the team developed an integrated photonic platform based on thin-film lithium niobate, whose single crystals are important materials for optical waves and are an ideal modulator for low-loss mode.

Then, researchers interfaced the integrated photonic platform with deterministic solid-state single-photon sources based on quantum dots (semiconductor crystals) in nanophotonic waveguides. The resulting photons produced are processed with low-loss circuits, which according to the researchers are programmable at speeds of several gigahertz. Researchers state that fast reprogrammable low-loss optical circuits are key for performing tasks in photonic quantum information processing.

The high-speed platform paved the way for researchers to achieve several key photonic information processing functionalities. The first processing functionality researchers observed during experiments was on-chip quantum interference. Researchers used the Hong-OuMandel (HOM) effect, which is characterized as when two-photon interference is observed. Figure 1 displays the on-chip HOM experiments performed that tested the performance of the platform for photonic quantum information processing.

Another processing functionality the team demonstrated that is key to photonic information processing is an integrated single-photon router. Researchers demonstrated a fully on-chip photon router for the quantum dot-emitted photons. To accomplish this, they leveraged the platforms capability to integrate fast phase shifters with quantum emitter wavelengths to showcase the integrated single-photon router.

The team also implemented a universal four-mode interferometer, made up of a network of 6 Mach-Zehnder interferometers and 10 phase modulators, as shown in Figure 2. Programmable multimode quantum photonic interferometers are paramount for the implementation of essential functionalities of photonic quantum technologies. And, the researchers said they interferometers are able to realize circuits for quantum computational advantage experiments or analog quantum simulation.

In a research paper published by Science Advances, researchers detailed their development of the high-speed, integrated photonic platform based on thin-film lithium niobate. The paper is entitled High-speed thin-film lithium niobate quantum processor driven by a solid-state quantum emitter.

The authors argue the results showed that integrated photonics with solid-state deterministic photon sources is a promising option to scale quantum technologies in multiple phases. Going forward, the platform can be further optimized to reduce coupling and propagation loss. In particular, fault-tolerant quantum computing architectures (with loss levels of 10% per photon) are a step closer to reality.

The interdisciplinary team of researchers all come from international institutions including the Center for Hybrid Quantum Networks (Hy-Q), Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen (Denmark); Institute of Physics, University of Muenster (Germany); CeNTechCenter for Nanotechnology (Germany); SoNCenter for Soft Nanoscience (Germany); Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London (UK); Ruhr University Bochum (Germany); and Heidelberg University (Germany).

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Researchers Develop Integrated Photonic Platform Based on Thin ... - HPCwire

Businesses must be more aware of the data requirements for artificial intelligence (AI), and use this period of focus on AI risks to prepare for the quantum computing threat.

Thats according to John Roese, global chief technology officer (CTO) at Dell, who shines a light on the main challenges businesses face when adopting AI models, and the lessons they can learn from the deployment of generative AI.

Roese acknowledges the computing bottleneck associated with training AI models, but denies this is the main hurdle holding businesses back when deploying the technology.

The bigger issue for an enterprise use of a large language model (LLM) is in order to train it, you have to have access to the right data and provide the data to the training infrastructure, he tells ITPro at Dell Technologies World 2023. Most customers have not done enough work on their data management.

As an example of good data management, Roese cites Dells work over the past four years to eliminate non-inclusive language from its content library and internal code environment. These include labels like whitelist and blacklist.

If an LLM was trained on the firms content repository, Roese explains, it would be unlikely to not incorporate the biases of these words. Firms that dont curate data before using it to train AI models intended for products such as chatbots could inadvertently create services that reflect an inherent racism or misogyny, as demonstrated by Microsofts Tay scandal.

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Roese has been global CTO for products and operations at Dell Technologies since September 2019. He worked in a similar capacity at Dell EMC for the previous seven years, first as CTO between 2012 and 2016, then as CTO and EVP for cross-product operations.

If you want to create a chatbot or an LLM that reflects your dataset, it will reflect your dataset the good, the bad, and the ugly and its important to know that you've created a dataset that is reflecting your values.

Roese also notes LLMs work best with unstructured data, as neural networks seek to create connections of their own rather than relying on arbitrary structures. As a result, he says, businesses need to ensure that their data is sitting in the right place to be used for training to avoid having to spend lots of time restructuring data down the line.

Are the majority of firms aware of these requirements at present? No, they're not, Roese admits. And that's very disturbing to be perfectly honest.

Generative AI has been hailed as one of the most significant technological developments of the century. At Dell Technologies World 2023, CEO Michael Dell compared it to the invention of the internet or PC.

Everybody's talking about generative AI as if it is the destination but it isnt."

In recent months, many have highlighted the risks of generative AI, with analysts calling it an existential threat, and pioneers calling for a temporary development pause.

But Roese recommends businesses use the big upheaval generative AI has triggered as a learning experience to better position themselves for future technologies that will disrupt the sector to a far greater extent.

Everybody's talking about generative AI as if it is the destination but it isnt, Roese stresses, arguing people are so shell-shocked by the headline-grabbing technology that they have failed to give proper thought to what comes next. The answer to that is actually quite simple in my mind, it's quantum, he continues.

The primary use case for quantum, Roese explains, is clear: quantum machine learning. He notes while generative AI is branded as disruptive and sparking fear in some, its just the logical progression of existing technologies.

Imagine if it now ran at five orders of magnitude higher performance. And that, inevitably, is coming.

What is the 'steal now, crack later' threat?

Although we don't expect quantum computers to be widely available for many years, cyber criminals are already stealing encrypted data in the hopes of gaining access in the future.

Read more

Maintaining cyber security in the face of developments in quantum computing is something that will become increasingly important as we approach the 2030s.

Experts suggest its a matter of if, not when, standards such as AES encryption break down, for example. Once encryption is cracked, the security of data will be wholly undermined.

The private sector isnt alone in the race to quantum, as many nation-states have already announced huge investments aimed at proactive quantum development and adoption.

In the Spring Statement, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt announced a 900 million ($1.1 billion) fund for quantum computing research, as part of a wider 2.5 billion ($3.1 billion) investment program for UK quantum.

Companies will have to navigate this disruption in the near future, Roese warns, and would do well to use the choppy waters of generative AI as a dress rehearsal for weathering the coming storm of quantum computing.

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Dell CTO: AI is nothing compared to the oncoming quantum storm - ITPro

Theres no doubt that quantum technology has the power to revolutionize many aspects of life. It might not be what Quantum Leap made it seem, but from finance to computing and cryptography to new drug discoveries, this field of technology holds endless possibilities. It comes as no surprise then that countries such as China, Russia, and the US have dedicated quantum programs to advance their progress further and faster than ever.

In recent times, China has gained the advantage in terms of quantum research. Although some in scientific and political circles dismiss Chinas recent progress, there is growing concern over Chinas quantum domination.

The US is especially worried about recent news of Chinas quantum computing developments. As recently as the turn of the 21st century, the US was well ahead of China in quantum technology. However, reduced federal funding for quantum research between 2005 and 2015 is thought to be the reason for a reversal of power.

The primary concern is Chinas capability to develop a quantum computer that could crack the United States most secure codes. Then theres possible advancements in the Chinese military and the countrys industrial capacities outpacing the US.

Lets take a step back to January 2023 for a moment. Japan and the Netherlands, two of the top manufacturers of equipment for the fabrication of semiconductors, agreed to enforce the semiconductor export constraints on China set by the United States in October 2022. Although the agreement was only made in principle, it stonewalled Chinas advancement of semiconductors and impeded the countrys drive for high-tech self-sufficiency.

Following the restrictions on semiconductors, the Commerce Department shifted its focus towards the next cutting-edge technology it perceives as a potential weapon in the hands of China: quantum computing. Controls on the export of quantum computing equipment, the offering of cloud services to Chinese entities, and error correction software are positioned to become the next battleground in the technological conflict between the United States and China.

In September 2022, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan outlined the policy to protect its advantage over China. He emphasized the need for the United States to maintain a substantial lead over competitors, particularly China, and proposed the implementation of export controls. The aim was to preserve a significant advantage in critical areas such as quantum computing. Without such an advantage, it could potentially grant China military and economic benefits, including the development of cyber weapons and accelerated drug discovery. Consequently, the enforcement of comprehensive independent export controls on China were introduced.

But these constraints have not slowed down Chinas emergence as a quantum mechanics superpower. Today, experts have cautioned that the emergence of a powerful quantum computer could render current encryption methods ineffective. In response, President Joe Biden issued a national security memorandum, mandating federal agencies to transition to post-quantum cryptography by 2035. The objective is to ensure that the United States stays ahead in the realm of cryptography and maintains robust security measures in the face of potential quantum computing advancements.

The implications of Chinas emergence in the quantum computing field could be far-reaching. The threat to National Security is the number one concern. Quantum computing could potentially break encryption algorithms that safeguard classified information and secure communications. If China develops powerful quantum computers capable of cracking encryption, which some say it already has, it could pose a significant threat to U.S. intelligence and military operations.

There is also the economic side of the table. Quantum computing is expected to have a profound impact on industries and economies worldwide. It could provide a competitive edge in areas like finance, logistics, and advanced manufacturing. If China leads in quantum computing, it could gain a significant advantage in these sectors, potentially impacting the U.S. economy and job market.

To combat the national threat, the US must accelerate its quantum program. It must focus on industry participation, policy actions, and near-term defense. Although funding has been cut, $1.3 billion of federal funding was authorized in 2019 across the span of five years. Its goal? To invest in quantum development and research. Most of this money goes to academic universities and national laboratories to research and develop quantum test beds, quantum curricula, and build a quantum workforce.

However, this strategy has some fundamentally flawed assumptions:

In China, meanwhile, quantum physicist Jian-Wei Pan leads the countrys quantum program. In turn, its managed by a co-ordinated orchestra of government, academic, and industry partners. As well as its streamlined program, China has an annual budget that is estimated to be in the billions of dollars, supported by the Chinese Communist Party.

Right now, the US is playing catch up to China in quantum mechanics. The country requires urgent new strategy methods to close the gap and usher in a new quantum era. But, until serious changes are made, China will continue to be a threat to US security and its economy.

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Quantum Computing is the next battle arena for US and China - Tech Wire Asia