It seems like the big thing that is imminently approaching.

  • vertexarray [any]
    ·
    4 years ago

    Hard to know both where it's at and how it's going :screm3:

  • dpg [he/him]
    ·
    4 years ago

    scared for what it means for encryption, considering state entities will be the main consumers.

    • joshieecs [he/him,any]
      ·
      4 years ago

      I don't think you should be, there are encryption algorithms that are resistant to quantum computers cracking them. They just don't happen to be any of the current ones. The real concern should be limited to data that has been captured in the pre-quantum era can be cracked in a post-quantum era. Will it matter if the NSA can decrypt some data of yours they captured today in 20 or 30 years? Mostly, no. As the quantum era approaches, people will switch to post-quantum cryptography. But I would imagine there could be a certain vein of cold cases that get solved through quantum computing the way there is a vein cold cases solved through the application DNA technology. It will be a real thing, but pretty limited in scope.

      I think the more interesting part will be decrypting intercepted government cables. It's not necessarily immediately useful, but it will be revealing to have, e.g. China or some future WikiLeaks in 2040 posting all the dirty shit they decrypted that he USA was doing in 2020, for example.

  • zongor [comrade/them, he/him]
    ·
    4 years ago

    Microsoft has a programming language called Q#, I took a look at the development kit years ago now, it seemed pretty cool. I know that for communications and optimization quantum computing is going to be great.

    • buh [she/her]
      ·
      4 years ago

      Microsoft has a programming language called Q#,

      👁

    • QuillcrestFalconer [he/him]
      ·
      4 years ago

      Also for simulations of quantum systems, for example quantum chemistry for new materials discovery

  • thefunkycomitatus [he/him,they/them]
    1·
    4 years ago

    It's already out in the wild bro. Big banks use them for security developing risk assessment, investment strategies. Amazon, IBM, Honeywell, Microsoft, and others offer both hardware solutions and you can rent computation time on their quantum computers.

    • dpg [he/him]
      ·
      4 years ago

      can you expand on "big banks use them for security".

      • thefunkycomitatus [he/him,they/them]
        ·
        4 years ago

        Sorry, not security (yet), risk assessment.

        https://www.protocol.com/manuals/quantum-computing/finance-banks-investing-investment-edge

        https://www.americanbanker.com/news/why-banks-like-barclays-are-testing-quantum-computing

        https://www.hsbc.com/who-we-are/hsbc-news/exploring-the-power-of-quantum-computing

    • GVAGUY3 [he/him]
      ·
      4 years ago

      Interesting. I guess I should have figured. I just know like every single security outlet is fucked once they come around.

  • dualmindblade [he/him]
    ·
    4 years ago

    Yeah, it's really interesting. Seems like a scalable general purpose machine (what could break RSA encryption) is a long way off, but probably within our lifetimes. If you're interested in learning it, Scott Aaronson and his students have put together a textbook based on his lecture notes, only prerequisite is basic linear algebra. He's a raging lib but absolutely unmatched when it comes to technical exposition.