Quantum News Briefs: April 9, 2024: Press release summaries below:
New Keyfactor Research Signals Greater Need for Digital Trust as Quantum Threat Looms
Keyfactor, a leader in identity-first security solutions, and Vanson Bourne have unveiled the 2024 PKI & Digital Trust Report, spotlighting the current and impending challenges in establishing digital trust amidst the transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). With the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) set to finalize PQC standards later in the year, the report highlights organizations’ struggles in managing public key infrastructure (PKI)—a cornerstone in securing digital communications. Despite the critical nature of PKI, an overwhelming 93% of surveyed organizations admit to facing difficulties crafting an effective PKI and certificate management strategy, even as they perceive their PKI maturity to be high. This disconnect signals a broader issue in digital trust, particularly as quantum computing advancements threaten to compromise existing security protocols. The report also sheds light on the slow pace at which organizations prepare for the quantum era, with a mere 23% having commenced work on PQC readiness. Moreover, the findings underline the significant impacts of improper PKI management, including potential customer trust erosion, brand reputation damage, and revenue losses. Chris Hickman, Chief Security Officer at Keyfactor, emphasizes the urgent need for robust PKI infrastructures to navigate the post-quantum landscape and the evolving threat dynamics in today’s interconnected world.
Quanmatic Successfully Solves NP-hard Combinatorial Optimization Problem with Unprecedented Scale Using Annealing Technology
Quanmatic Inc., a Tokyo-based firm established in 2022, has made a new achievement in quantum computing by solving NP-hard optimization problems exceeding 100 million bits using quantum annealing technology, surpassing previous records by significant margins. This milestone, achieved in February 2024, underscores Quanmatic’s pioneering use of “revolvers” technology, drawing inspiration from the iterative problem-solving approach akin to historical figures in the American West. The company’s success in leveraging quantum computing, classical optimization, and artificial intelligence reflects a significant advance in practical quantum computing applications. Quanmatic’s collaboration with ROHM Co., Ltd. in December 2023 to introduce factory floor allocation products for complex LSI production environments further illustrates the real-world impact of its technologies. With proprietary software enhancing output stability and problem-solving capacity, Quanmatic is at the forefront of addressing complex business challenges through quantum computing and AI, garnering interest from industries and academic circles alike as it navigates partnerships with gate-based quantum computing providers and expands into sectors such as materials and food.
In Other News: Investor Place article: “The 3 Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in April 2024”
Quantum computing is poised to initiate a more transformative computing revolution than generative AI, with companies like International Business Machines (IBM), IonQ, and Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) leading the charge, highlights a recent Investor Place article. With its longstanding commitment to quantum research, bolstered by increased free cash flow at the end of 2023, IBM continues to develop its cloud-based quantum computing services. IonQ stands out as the only pure-play quantum stock, boasting the development of the world’s most powerful quantum computer. It aims to enhance accessibility to its quantum computing power through major cloud platforms. Alphabet’s investment in quantum computing has yielded “quantum supremacy” with its Sycamore processor, and the company is fostering innovation through a $5 million competition for the development of new quantum algorithms. These advancements highlight quantum computing’s potential to solve complex problems unmanageable by classical computers, offering investors lucrative opportunities in this cutting-edge technology sector.
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry is the Managing Editor at Inside Quantum Technology and the Science Communicator at JILA (a partnership between the University of Colorado Boulder and NIST). Her writing beats include deep tech, quantum computing, and AI. Her work has been featured in National Geographic, Scientific American, Discover Magazine, New Scientist, Ars Technica, and more.