| By Clarissa Sung |

Beyond AI: Quantum Computing as the Next Computational Frontier

In recent years, the impacts of technological advancements have reverberated around the world, appearing at the cutting edge of business, science, and the arts. Breakthrough developments in artificial intelligence have created a vast array of new opportunities, often leaving governments and international organizations to strategize safeguards and regulations in their wake. As discussions of technology and global impacts continue to rise, another emerging technology has been analyzed as a potential game-changer: quantum computing.

What is Quantum Computing?

Quantum computing is a developing method of computing that uses quantum bits rather than the standard bits of classic computers. In 1994, it was proven that quantum computers could solve problems that are impossible to solve with a traditional computer. Quantum computing’s next-gen processing capabilities pose a variety of both challenges and opportunities that could revolutionize future industries, governments, and societies. 

However, this type of computing is still in its early development stages, and current models face major logistical obstacles, including their significant sizes, the expenses they require, and demanding hardware requirements like extreme cold and specialized semiconductors. Yet, those that first wield this technology could unlock unprecedented abilities from cyberwarfare to new environmental technology. For this reason, actors around the world have invested significant resources into quantum computing: the U.S. government and private firms in the U.S. have already spent over $6 billion in quantum computing development.

One of the most significant implications of quantum computing is its ability to bypass traditional math-based encryption. By performing calculations once assumed impossible, quantum computers can grant users access to sensitive data such as national security information, foreign intelligence, and physical assets, including national energy grids. To mitigate this threat, the World Economic Forum has estimated that over 20 billion devices will need to be upgraded or replaced globally. Further, governments will have to develop quantum computing-resistant methods to encrypt and protect sensitive data to maintain national security. 

Quantum Divides: Investment Gaps and Global Inequities

The U.S. in particular will have to shield its data from China, due to the former lagging behind in the realm of investment. The Chinese government has invested $8 billion into quantum computing research, and private Chinese firms have outspent American firms by over $4 billion. Despite this gap, both the U.S. and China are considered leaders in quantum computing development. Other businesses including the major consulting firm McKinsey have estimated that quantum computing will produce an estimated $2 trillion over the next decade. 

However, the nature of quantum computing both as a development process and as a technological advancement poses great challenges for international cooperation and development. The race to develop and wield this technology can prompt heightened national protective measures such as restrictive measures on exports, foreign researcher visas, or international company ownership, contrary to international commitments to global scientific collaboration such as the UN’s Open Science objective. For instance, in the United States, innovations in quantum computing are spearheaded by private companies such as IBM and Amazon, which have less incentive to adhere to global objectives than national governments.

Further, the costly and resource-heavy process of quantum computing development itself functions as a barrier of access for many nations who lack the advanced technological assets required. These tendencies run the risk of exacerbating technological and global inequalities such as the Global North/South divide. For instance, an overwhelming majority of the top ten countries in quantum computing investment are in the Global North — such as the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada. On an individual scale, quantum computing poses new risks to human rights as capabilities for surveillance, hacking, or limiting access to information increase. Most prominently, individuals’ rights to privacy and freedom of expression may be severely threatened with the development of new decryption technologies that could allow actors to unlock and obtain vast varieties of private data. As a result, quantum computing presents significant challenges that transcend national borders and require new international oversight and collaboration. 

Reconciling Innovation with Equitable Access

Quantum computing will be a dynamic and powerful tool for those able to wield it. However, both its development and use will permanently alter international affairs. The development process generates high barriers to entry that heighten Global North-South divisions and place significant power in the hands of private companies rather than open, global initiatives. Once developed, quantum computing can be wielded to target national security and hack private data, creating new dangers for states and threatening human rights. Meeting these new challenges will require increased international coordination to ensure that quantum computing remains safe and productive, pioneering new capabilities to improve the quality of life on a global scale. 

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The illustrations in this article were created using an AI image generator. All illustrations are ©Intelliwings.