AI Helped Spark a Quantum Breakthrough. The World 'Is Not Prepared'

New papers from Google and quantum computing startup Oratomic suggest quantum computers capable of breaking internet encryption may arrive sooner than expected, aided by AI. Oratomic's algorithm, developed using AI, reduces the number of atoms required to encode a qubit by 100 times in atomic quantum computers. This development could significantly shorten the timeline for a dangerous quantum computer, leading Cloudflare to accelerate its preparation deadline to 2029. The U.S. National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) has a 2035 deadline, but Oratomic team members briefed U.S. government officials prior to publication. While the paper has not yet been peer-reviewed, experts like Bas Westerbaan warn that the world is "not prepared" for the potential for data leaks and extortion.