Quantum Meets Ai Next. Quantum meets AI: The next cybersecurity battlegroundIn recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has been spreading its tentacles across the global technological landscape, as evidenced by the incre
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.
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.
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.
However, 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.
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. Therefore, it is recommended that organizations and government institutions start preparing for a post-quantum world by investing 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.
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. Therefore, trust would need to be built through cybersecurity frameworks and regulations to enhance security, transparency and governance.
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.
This article aims to highlight the potential benefits and risks associated with the convergence of AI and quantum computing. It is essential to be aware of these challenges and to take proactive steps to address them.
Please refer to [source](https://www.csoonline.com/article/4103288/quantum-meets-ai-the-next-cybersecurity-battleground.html) for further information.
