Quantum computers – definitely the present and the future!
Excellent article in the Financial Times (https://ig.ft.com/quantum-computing/) explaining the A-Z of quantum computers. Do read it for the sake of the SOTF. Everything on the UNSG’s Agenda including especially point 5 “Agree on a vision of digital technology as a motor for human progress that can deliver full benefits while minimizing potential harm”, encourages us to explore new technologies including Quantum technology.
Being the daughter of the former IBM chief of Pakistan and 3 times Information Minister of Pakistan; being Gen X (50 years of age); having had my only son on baby rom at the age of 6 months 26 years back, I have seen computers advance from inside versus just as a user. I remember the family joke. If something was missing at the dining table, the standard response from Papa was “It’s a system’s failure:)” It suggested a lot more than an IBM family’s linguo. It suggested that we were trained from birth on the value of processes. I have always maintained that in my 30 year career, processes are key. Leadership comes and goes; but they need to create sustainable processes /infrastructure/ products/ INSTITUTIONS/frameworks/ for their work to be sustainable beyond themselves.
I was fortunate enough to fire the first SMS of Pakistan as my tech company needed that technology to run its vehicle management systems along with a telecom company of Pakistan as late as Feb 26, 2000. So yes, we have all in our small ways contributed to technological advancements. And this is just one example. Later in my career there were many more innovations and firsts of technology that I was fortunate enough to lead.
At school, I chuckle when I think of how we needed to crawl into the British School of Paris’s small computer room to dabble with our first experiences with PCs or how there was an equally small ‘computer room’ at the LSE library in the early 90s especially reserved for end of term papers! There were no laptops then!
Today we take for granted all the innovations. Change is tough but change is good if change’s output is separated into two. Meaning take the good change and fix the bad change. This brings me to the subject of today’s blog: Quantum computers…. and I quote the FT….
“Many governments view quantum technology as a strategic imperative and have been increasing spending on research and development. Last year, the US committed an additional $1.8bn while the EU pledged another $1.2bn. In March, the UK launched a 10-year programme to invest £2.5bn. But these efforts are dwarfed by China, which has announced total investments of $15.3bn to date.
The first company to develop a reliable quantum computer could generate billions in revenues. McKinsey estimates the four industries most impacted by the development of quantum computing — automotive, chemicals, financial services, and life sciences — could potentially gain $1.3trn in value by 2035.
Quantum technology might help us invent new materials and drugs, develop smarter financial trading strategies and create secure new methods of communication. “The prospect of quantum computing opens up entirely new areas of technology,” says David Cowan, a partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm. “We can unlock solutions that we just couldn’t even dream of achieving in the past.”
As well as being enticed by the economic possibilities, governments are concerned about the security implications of developing quantum computers. At present, the most common method used to secure all our digital data relies on the RSA algorithm, which is vulnerable to being cracked by a quantum machine.”
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Voila… the above says it all. In order to achieve most of what is on the SOTF we need to embrace new technology, invest in it and fix the harm it can potentially cause versus back off from it just because of the potential harm. THE UN is well placed with all its member states and agencies to make a COLLECTIVE GO at the above not just a few Member States individually. That is the way head.
I look forward to an era where we will continue to find solutions to mankind’s basic needs… living dignified, meaningful, purposeful lives… it’s not about consumerism. It’s about leaving behind a legacy for future generations….exciting times always.