Quantum-Level Computing

We are very used to the regular encryption methods to protect our data like AES, which is a very reliable and secure method used today. However, with the insane power of quantum computing, the standard 128, 196, or 256-bit keys of AES would be rendered useless against a brute-force attack. Quantum computing is much different from normal computing systems as quantum computers use Qubits to perform processes. Compared with normal computers which use the classic 1 or 0 bits to perform their processes. Qubits can be either 1 or 0, both at the same time. Now, why does this make Qubits astronomically faster than regular bits? Well, the increase in computer power is exponential per Qubit rather than linear in normal computers.

Seeing how these Qubits perform just AMAZES me. With their increased potential, you can now start to imagine the capabilities of quantum computing being used by the bad guy.. pretty scary right? To combat this, there must be encryption put forth on the quantum computing level. For now, we are not at the stage of having a fully built quantum computer so we don’t have to be on the defense just yet. In the future, I could only imagine that quantum encryption of our data may be the recourse for effective security.

Various quantum encryption methods have been proven and tested today. Included but not limited to quantum key distribution or QKD which works by sending photon light particles across a fiber optic cable that represent the qubits we mentioned earlier. The photons are individually set to specific positions using polarized filters by the sender. When the photons are received, the receiver uses two beam splitters to read the position of each photon. The sent photon positions are then compared by the sender and receiver to their decoded positions and when there is a group that matches, that group will become the key.

Cybersecurity AI

Picture how revolutionary it will be when quantum computing can be used alongside artificial intelligence. These self-learning programs have been under concept and development since the 1950s! They’ve been around for a long time and have developed into the deep learning algorithms and pattern recognition software we know today! Adding upon these leaps of intelligence, AI would be boosted significantly by a quantum computer. This could prove very helpful in apps that use generative AI similar to ChatGPT as their predictive nature and learning speeds grow exponentially. So, what does all of this mean for cybersecurity?

I believe this means there could be a world in the future where we will have to implement immense limitations on what AI can do and learn. Generative AI today has the power to do pretty much anything you ask it to from writing a realistic essay about any topic to generating a specific type of picture you ask for! If there are no limits placed on AI in the future, Anyone could theoretically use it along with the power of quantum computing to Decode any type of encryption in use today. Not to mention the power to fake anything, video or audio, in perfect detail.

At the end of the day, I think we should be extremely wary of the misuse of AI tools. Current-day AI capabilities have already led to a rash of deepfakes, both audio and visual circulating the internet. Combined with the awesome power of next-generation Quantum computers, we may one day live in a world that is unable to trust anything we see online.

Should there be strict controls placed on these technologies and what steps should be taken to limit the damage they could cause? I definitely think so. Luckily for us though, these technologies can combine forces to protect us from this same danger, provided we use them cautiously.