In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has been spreading its tentacles across the global technological landscape, as evidenced by the increase in autonomous and automated technologies and their deployment across industries and sectors. While the world is still recovering from the global impact of AI, quantum computing is gradually emerging. In quantum computing, the principles of quantum mechanics are used to perform calculations, enabling the solution of complex problems faster than classical computers. Some have described the recent AI boom and the soon-to-be fully emerged quantum as the ‘mind’ and ‘muscle’ respectively. If this analogy is true, one can only imagine the resultant effect when the ‘mind’ meets the ‘muscle’, and that is where we are heading.
The collision of these two technologies promised to be the next major technological battleground capable of shaping computing, cybersecurity and even geopolitical power structures. With these two forces, not only will the way we compute be redefined in the 21st century, but also how power, privacy and innovation will be distributed. This is because, while AI algorithms are known to recognize patterns and learning from data that was fed into them, quantum computers are capable of exploring multiple paths simultaneously, making it easy to unlock a computing revolution.
Quantum logic reshaping the internet
At its core of invention, quantum computing goes beyond being just faster computers, but is uniquely designed to create an entirely different universe of processing. Instead of using bits (0s and 1s) as it’s applicable in AI, quantum computers use qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously through the principles of superposition and entanglement. By implication, a well and thoroughly designed quantum system can solve problems in microseconds, compared to classical computers, which could take years to solve the same and similar problems.
This could enable ultra-secure communication through what is known as quantum key distribution (QKD). Consequently, data interception would be made nearly impossible, which could reshape global connectivity, providing faster power and more secure digital infrastructures.
When AI meets quantum power
The concept of AI systems greatly depends on data input into the AI algorithm, which means the more data that is fed into the Algorithm, the better the output. Most AI systems are commonly faced with hardware limitations, and some of the largest AI systems, like ChatGPT and DeepMind’s AlphaFold, among others, are known to be confronted with these challenges. However, with quantum, these limitations are not present. This is because quantum machine learning (QML) is leveraged to perform tasks such as pattern recognition, optimisation and simulation. Additionally, with the concept of QML training, the need to train data in real time with massive data centres will no longer be necessary. In practical terms, the impact of quantum capacity and its application would be felt more than training billions of AI model parameters for minutes, as the expected output will now be achieved in microseconds. For instance, realizing global climate systems in real-time and simulating financial markets can now be achieved in real-time.
The darker side of quantum-AI synergy
As good as this collision is, a dark undercurrent could emerge, where these very brilliant technologies that promise to transform our way of doing things could also be weaponised by state actors or cybercriminals. The malicious attackers can utilize the combination of AI and quantum to actualize quantum-enhanced cyber threats. Researchers are also of the view of the possibilities that cybercriminals will be able to decrypt modern encryptions like elliptic curve cryptography (ECC), advanced encryption standard (AES) and Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA), among others. For instance, RSA and ECC are practical encryption methods used in financial institutions to protect online transactions. When these are compromised, they render the confidentiality of scrambled data exposed, hence allowing unauthorized access to such information. The day that this happened is already tagged ‘Q-Day’, that is, when quantum computers become powerful enough to break today’s encryption standards. Additionally, other security breaches like password cracking, forging digital certificates or even deepfaking (that is, impersonating AI systems) are among others that can be triggered by cybercriminals with the advent of quantum and AI.
Preparing for Q-Day: The cybersecurity paradox
As most systems now employ cryptographic keys to provide confidentiality to their data, Q-Day, the moment when quantum computers become powerful enough to break existing encryption, would render some of these efforts useless. So, organization and government institutions alike are bracing ahead of Q-Day since the internet, government databases, corporate organizations’ databases and even financial systems could easily be cracked. For instance, while the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has outlined a phased approach with a 2035 target set for complete migration across all systems, the US is mandating a similar transition for its National Security Systems by 2,030. These efforts are a proactive defence approach that focuses on developing quantum-resistant encryption models, ensuring the security of cryptographic keys and adaptive cybersecurity policies to withstand the coming quantum age.
Trust: The new currency of innovation
One of the challenges of quantum systems is that they operate based on probabilities, and not certainties. Similarly, the output of AI systems can easily be marred by inappropriate data quality, data bias, lack of explainability and transparency, adversarial threats, ethical concerns and governance concerns. The real battles that the developer of this innovation should concentrate on should not only revolve around their speed, efficiency or building the most potent combination of quantum and AI systems, but trust. Trust is essential as the ultimate expectation of any built system is to generate the expected outcome. Therefore, if AI represents intelligence, and quantum represents uncertainty, then ‘ How do we trust outcomes from systems we cannot fully explain?’
Therefore, trust would need to be built through cybersecurity frameworks and regulations to enhance security, transparency and governance. This would help in addressing the post-quantum cryptography, AI auditing, explainability and ethical oversight, which will form the foundation of resilient digital ecosystems.
The road ahead
Although AI and quantum computing will not replace human intelligence, their fingerprints will be seen all over the place in the not-too-distant future. While it is evident today that AI is already transforming the industries, the future holds that both AI and quantum will further provide innovations beyond what humans can imagine in various sectors such as energy, healthcare, finance and national defence, among others. However, the real question is whether society can adapt to the pace at which these technologies are moving before they control us.
Looking beyond innovation
It is now clear that the convergence of artificial intelligence and quantum computing not only provides technological breakthroughs but also cybersecurity challenges. Putting them together, computation, problem-solving and data analysis will be more effective and efficient at unimaginable scales. Despite positive capabilities, the tendency for them to be threatened and undermine the very foundations of digital trust and privacy that modern societies depend upon is very high. Therefore, as quantum computing is gradually coming up with Q-Day approaching, the urgency to prepare for a post-quantum world becomes increasingly clear.
Consequently, organizations, governments and cybersecurity experts should now start looking beyond innovation and the technological advancement that these technologies deliver and start focusing on resilience. This would involve a massive investment in advancing ethical AI governance, developing regulatory frameworks and regulations, and building post-quantum cryptographic standards in existing systems to maintain security and public confidence. Therefore, the race should not only be focused on developing advanced technologies, but also on creating secure technologies that are not easily prone to attacks by cybercriminals.
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