A Bold Prediction about Quantum Computing
September 6, 2021
IBM’s big sales person once thought the market for computers was limited. Obviously that wizard was not channeling musk-scented Teslas. Now the NSA is going out on a digital limb. “NSA Doesn’t Think Quantum Computers Can Break Public Key Encryption” offers a viewpoint which I found interesting. The US government is interested in quantum computing. Heck, even big time intelligence conference attendees show some desire to backfill their technical understanding of the discipline which mucks around with space-time.
Here’s a statement from the write up I circled:
“NSA does not know when or even if a quantum computer of sufficient size and power to exploit public key cryptography (a CRQC) will exist,” said the security agency in response to whether it is worried about the potential of adversarial use of quantum computing.
If I were motivated, I would try to extract from the budget for the new US government fiscal year exactly how much money is allocated to quantum computing at DARPA, government research labs, three letter agencies, grants to universities research outfits, and miscellaneous funding in other US government-linked entities.
But I am not.
My thought is that this statement, as colorful as it may be, is a bit of a red herring. Who knew that red herrings were popular in quantum circles? Will the cyber dogs pick up the scent?
Stephen E Arnold, September 10, 2021
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