This article explores the rapid advancement of quantum computing, highlighting its potential to revolutionize complex problem-solving while addressing concerns about its impact on current cryptography.
With investments increasing and research and development well underway, quantum computers are fast becoming a reality. This new approach to computing, which harnesses quantum mechanics, will offer faster ways to solve complex problems than even the most powerful supercomputers currently available. One area of concern is the potential of quantum computers to crack current cryptography that’s widely used to secure digital communications and transactions.
Although largely in pilot phases, quantum computers are in operation today. However, due to the technical difficulty to develop the necessary stable hardware and performance, their levels of capability are, at present, relatively limited. That said, development in this emerging field is accelerating. IBM, which offers access through the cloud to some of its fleet of 10 quantum computers, claims that in 2023, external users were using an average of 13 qubits on its Eagle quantum processors; and this figure jumped to 40 qubits last year as stability improved. Meanwhile, its Heron quantum processor (launched in late 2023) was offering an average of 115 qubits in 2024. Google launched its Willow quantum chip in December 2024, with a claimed 105 qubits; however, Willow also set a record in a benchmark performance test and demonstrated error correction that could be key to scaling quantum systems.Like a binary bit is a basic unit of information in classical computing, a qubit is a basic unit of information in quantum computing. Estimates around the number of qubits needed to crack existing cryptography varies, with Chinese researchers saying it can be done with as few as 372 qubits; other estimates are in the low thousands.includes a prediction that 34% of experts in the field optimistically believe a “cryptographically-relevant quantum computer” will be developed within the next decade (up from 31% in 2023). Meanwhile, 14% estimate it will happen within five years (up from 11% in 2023
QUANTUM COMPUTING CRYPTOGRAPHY SUPERCOMPUTERS HARDWARE DEVELOPMENT FUTURE TECHNOLOGY
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