Tag: Quantum

Tech Insight : Microsoft Unveils 1,000 Times More Reliable Quantum Chip

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Microsoft has unveiled Majorana 2, a next-generation quantum chip that it says is 1,000 times more reliable than its predecessor, helping bring forward its target for a scalable quantum computer from 2033 to 2029.

What Is It?

Majorana 2 is Microsoft’s latest topological quantum chip, a processor designed to overcome one of the biggest obstacles in quantum computing, which is keeping quantum bits, or qubits, stable long enough to perform useful calculations.

According to Microsoft, the new chip is 1,000 times more reliable than its previous generation. The company says its qubits have a mean lifetime of 20 seconds, with some lasting as long as one minute. By comparison, many competing quantum systems measure qubit lifetimes in microseconds.

Microsoft attributes much of the improvement to a new materials design that replaces aluminium with lead in its topological superconductor architecture. The company says this provides greater protection against the environmental disturbances that can cause qubits to lose their quantum state and fail.

As Microsoft Technical Fellow Chetan Nayak explains, “Majorana 2 contains qubits that are 1,000x more reliable than those in our previous quantum processing unit”, and that “The new material stack, which swaps aluminium for lead, creates highly reliable topological qubits with operations on the microsecond scale and lifetimes with a mean of 20 seconds, occasionally exceeding one minute.”

Why This Matters

Reliability is one of the most important challenges facing quantum computing because even extremely powerful quantum systems are of limited value if their qubits cannot remain stable long enough to complete calculations.

Microsoft believes the improvement delivered by Majorana 2 is significant enough to accelerate its roadmap towards a scalable quantum computer. The company has now brought forward its target date from 2033 to 2029.

Microsoft’s announcement about the new quantum chip is also notable because the company says AI played an important role in achieving the breakthrough. For example, using its Microsoft Discovery platform, the company says it deployed AI agents to analyse research data, automate measurements, optimise manufacturing processes, identify hidden problems, and help researchers evaluate new materials more quickly.

Although practical large-scale quantum computing remains a major engineering challenge, Microsoft’s announcement suggests that advances in AI may now be helping accelerate progress towards systems capable of solving problems that remain beyond the reach of today’s conventional computers.

Why AI Is Part Of The Story

Although the quantum hardware itself is attracting most of the attention, Microsoft is also keen to place equal emphasis on the role of its Microsoft Discovery platform.

Microsoft Discovery uses teams of AI agents to help researchers analyse data, generate hypotheses, automate experiments, optimise manufacturing processes, and identify problems that may otherwise be missed.

According to Microsoft, AI agents were used to analyse almost two decades of quantum research data, automate complex measurement processes, optimise fabrication techniques, and even identify an uncalibrated temperature sensor that was introducing unwanted noise into the manufacturing process.

Describing the impact, Nayak said: “Agentic AI has permeated almost everything we do – it’s just become kind of a very natural part of our workflow.”

The company’s quantum team also used AI to help identify promising material combinations before conducting physical experiments, reducing the amount of costly trial-and-error testing required.

Zulfi Alam, Corporate Vice President for Quantum at Microsoft, described this as a move from the “old world order” of repeated experimentation towards simulations that identify “where the highly probable target is.”

A Different Approach To Quantum Computing

Microsoft’s strategy here seems to differ from many of its competitors. For example, companies such as IBM and Google largely focus on superconducting qubits, while Microsoft’s topological approach attempts to create a more stable form of quantum computing by exploiting exotic quantum states known as Majorana Zero Modes.

That said, the approach has not been without controversy. Microsoft’s earlier claims regarding Majorana particles attracted significant scientific scrutiny, and some previous findings were challenged by other researchers.

However, the company believes Majorana 2 demonstrates that the underlying approach is now delivering measurable engineering progress.

Support

It seems Microsoft has also attracted support from DARPA, the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency. DARPA has advanced Microsoft into the final phase of its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, one of only two companies to reach that stage.

According to Microsoft, DARPA concluded that the company could “plausibly build a utility-scale quantum computer in a reasonable timeframe.”

What Could Quantum Computers Actually Do?

If Microsoft can achieve its 2029 target, the implications could be substantial. Quantum computers are not expected to replace conventional computers. Instead, they are designed to tackle highly specialised problems that are currently impractical or impossible for classical systems.

Potential applications include drug discovery, advanced materials research, energy optimisation, logistics, manufacturing, climate modelling, and cryptography.

Microsoft says a scalable quantum computer could help solve problems affecting “global health, food supply, sustainability, energy production and more.”

However, significant technical challenges remain before these systems become commercially useful at scale.

The wider quantum computing industry has a long history of optimistic forecasts, many of which have taken far longer to materialise than originally predicted.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

For businesses, the announcement is less about purchasing quantum computers any time soon and more about understanding where things seem to be going in the world of advanced computing.

The most significant aspect of Microsoft’s announcement may actually be the growing convergence between AI and scientific research. Rather than simply helping users write documents or answer questions, AI is increasingly being used to accelerate materials science, engineering, pharmaceutical research, manufacturing, and frontier technology development.

Microsoft’s claim that AI helped reduce its quantum computing timeline by four years highlights how AI is becoming a tool for discovery as well as productivity.

Whether Microsoft’s 2029 target ultimately proves achievable remains to be seen. However, the combination of increasingly capable AI systems and advancing quantum hardware suggests that some of the world’s most difficult scientific and engineering challenges may begin moving faster than many experts previously expected.

For organisations watching emerging technologies, the bigger story may not be quantum computing alone, but how AI is increasingly being used to accelerate the creation of the next generation of technology itself.

Tech Insight : Ultra-Secure Quantum Communications Get Closer

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Toshiba Europe has successfully sent quantum-encrypted messages across a record 254km of standard commercial fibre optic cable, marking a major step towards achieving real-world quantum-secure communications without relying on highly specialised hardware.

A Record-Breaking Achievement Using Everyday Infrastructure

Quantum cryptography has long promised unbreakable security, but practical challenges have kept it largely confined to laboratories. Quantum key distribution (QKD), a method that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to securely share encryption keys between two parties, ensures that any attempt to intercept the key is instantly detectable. Now, researchers at Toshiba Europe have pushed the boundaries by sending QKD messages across an existing fibre optic network spanning Frankfurt, Kirchfeld and Kehl in Germany.

Using Standard Commercial Equipment, Not Specialist Kit

Importantly, they achieved this milestone without the specialised cryogenic cooling or custom-engineered cables typically required. This makes it the first time coherent quantum communication has been performed at this scale using infrastructure similar to what supports today’s internet traffic.

“This work opens the door to practical quantum networks without needing exotic hardware,” said Mirko Pittaluga, one of the lead authors of the study (published this week in Nature).

The experiment managed a secure transmission rate of around 110 bits per second. While modest compared to classical speeds, it represents an essential proof-of-concept for scaling up quantum communications without prohibitive costs.

What Makes This Different From Previous Efforts?

Quantum key distribution has been demonstrated before. For example, China famously linked Beijing and Shanghai via quantum connections, and even launched a quantum satellite, Micius. However, those efforts typically relied on expensive dedicated infrastructure or free-space optical links requiring near-perfect environmental conditions.

However, Toshiba’s work stands out because it used standard telecom-grade fibre optic cables and commercially viable equipment. There was no need for the ultra-low temperatures usually associated with photon detectors in quantum systems.

How?

The team was able to achieve this by using a technology called twin-field QKD, which cleverly sidesteps many of the transmission losses that usually plague long-distance quantum communication.

Robert Woodward, who leads the fibre QKD research team at Toshiba Europe, described the approach as “using commercially viable components to achieve much higher performance,” paving the way for national and even international scale deployment.

Why Quantum Encryption Matters More Than Ever

Traditional encryption relies on mathematical problems that would take today’s fastest computers billions of years to crack. However, quantum computers (which are still in early stages of development) could one day solve these problems in mere minutes.

This looming threat, often called ‘Q-Day’, has prompted governments and industries worldwide to invest heavily in quantum-secure communications.

QKD Is ‘Untappable’

It seems, therefore, as shown by Toshiba’s experiment, that quantum key distribution offers a potential solution. It uses the principles of quantum mechanics to create a shared encryption key between two parties, with the critical advantage that any attempt to intercept the key would immediately be detectable. In short, it’s untappable.

For example, if an eavesdropper tries to measure the photons used in the transmission, the quantum state of the system changes, alerting both sender and receiver to a breach attempt.

Given the stakes (e.g. applications ranging from securing bank transactions and medical records to protecting national secrets), the ability to run QKD over existing telecoms infrastructure could be a game-changer.

A New Frontier in Data Security for Businesses?

For businesses, Toshiba’s breakthrough may offer the tantalising prospect of ultra-secure communication without the need for massive investment in specialist systems.

In sectors where confidentiality is paramount (e.g. finance, healthcare, legal services, and defence), quantum-safe communication looks as though it could become a standard expectation rather than a futuristic luxury. If commercial telecom providers can integrate QKD into their existing offerings, businesses could access quantum-grade security over regular broadband or leased line connections.

This could lead to:

– New premium-grade secure communication services.

– Enhanced protection for sensitive client data.

– Increased resilience against future quantum threats.

– Competitive advantage for early adopters of quantum-safe systems.

As Mirko Pittaluga puts it: “It lowers the entry barrier for industry adoption.”

Speed, Cost, and Infrastructure Risks

Despite the excitement, significant hurdles remain before QKD becomes mainstream. For example:

– The data rates achievable today are extremely low. At 110 bits per second, Toshiba’s demonstration is far from supporting the bandwidth needs of typical modern businesses.

– While the system does use existing fibres, it still requires highly sensitive (though now commercially available) equipment to detect single photons and manage synchronisation over long distances.

– While quantum signals themselves are secure, the underlying fibre network remains vulnerable to physical attacks. As James Millen (an experimental quantum scientist at King’s College London) warned, “using existing optical fibre infrastructure is more cost-effective, but it introduces potential vulnerabilities through attacks on the physical network itself.”

In short, while QKD can detect eavesdropping, it cannot prevent fibre cables being physically damaged, tapped at the hardware level, or sabotaged.

Not All Experts Are Fully Convinced

Despite the obvious promise here, some researchers have expressed cautious optimism rather than unqualified celebration. For example, while Professor Sandrine Heutz of Imperial College London has praised the breakthrough as a “significant advance”, she has also highlighted the need for “practical engineering approaches combining sustainability with performance” before quantum networks can scale.

Others point out that alternative post-quantum cryptography methods (i.e. those based on mathematical techniques designed to resist quantum attacks) may offer a more immediate and scalable solution for many businesses.

That said, QKD appears to offer a completely different security model, i.e. true information-theoretic security, rather than security based on assumptions of computational difficulty.

A Step Closer to a Quantum-Connected Future

Toshiba’s success may be a clear signal that quantum encryption is becoming more than just a theoretical concept. It could also be seen as showing that businesses could soon have access to ultra-secure communications without relying on highly specialised or impractical technology. The real challenge now will be extending QKD into broader networks, scaling transmission speeds, and driving down costs so it becomes viable for everyday use.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Toshiba’s breakthrough brings the vision of ultra-secure quantum communications significantly closer to reality. For UK businesses, particularly those handling sensitive client information or operating in highly regulated sectors, the prospect of deploying quantum-safe communication networks using existing fibre infrastructure is beginning to look far more attainable. It suggests a future where ultra-secure encryption could be a built-in feature of mainstream services, rather than a costly, bespoke solution accessible only to a few.

However, businesses will need to stay alert. Although Toshiba’s achievement shows what is possible, there are still some serious barriers to its practical deployment on a wide scale. For example, current data transmission rates are far too low for everyday commercial needs, and the cost of equipping networks with suitable quantum-ready hardware remains high. Companies that invest early may gain a competitive edge in terms of trust and security, but must also weigh the risks and realities of early adoption.

For telecoms providers, technology firms, and national infrastructure planners, the success of Toshiba’s test sends a strong signal that investment in quantum communication systems is no longer just experimental. As QKD capabilities improve and costs fall, we may start to see broader moves towards building quantum-safe national networks, which is something governments across Europe and beyond are now likely to be very interested in.

At the same time, this new chapter in cyber security brings fresh challenges for infrastructure security and network resilience. While quantum signals themselves are robust against hacking, the physical cables they travel through remain vulnerable to attack. Any future strategy must therefore combine quantum encryption with strong physical and network security measures.

Toshiba’s test seems to be a turning point in that it shows that quantum cryptography is moving out of the lab and into the real world.

Company Check – New Chip Means Quantum Computing In Years, Not Decades

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Microsoft has unveiled Majorana 1, the world’s first quantum chip powered by a ‘Topological Core architecture’, which it claims could enable quantum computers to solve complex, industrial-scale problems within years rather than decades.

The Issue

The Majorana 1 chip could signify a pivotal shift in quantum computing development. Unlike conventional processors, which rely on classical bits (the familiar ones and zeroes of modern computing), quantum computers use qubits, i.e. quantum bits that can represent both states simultaneously. While this promises an exponential increase in processing power, qubits are notoriously difficult to stabilise and control due to environmental interference.

Microsoft’s Revolutionary Approach to Quantum Architecture

In the case of Microsoft’s Majorana 1, instead of relying on traditional qubit designs, the company has taken a more ambitious route by developing a new material called a topoconductor. This breakthrough enables the manipulation of elusive Majorana particles, which were once purely theoretical and only recently demonstrated in laboratory conditions.

The creation of this topological state of matter, a new form distinct from solids, liquids, or gases, has therefore allowed Microsoft to produce topological qubits. The advantage is that these are expected to be more stable, less prone to error, and capable of being controlled digitally rather than through complex analogue mechanisms.

Years Rather Than Decades

Chetan Nayak, a technical fellow at Microsoft, has explained the significance of the innovative technology used in the new chip, saying: “Many people have said that useful quantum computers are decades away. I think that this brings us into years rather than decades.” This optimism appears to be built on the company’s ability to scale its technology, aiming for an unprecedented one million qubits on a single chip.

Industrial-Scale Problems Within Reach

The potential impact of this innovation could be transformative across industries. Quantum computers have the capacity to simulate molecular interactions, design new materials, and solve optimisation problems that would take today’s most powerful supercomputers millions of years to process. Microsoft believes these capabilities could unlock advancements in:

– Pharmaceuticals. Accelerating drug discovery by simulating molecular structures with unprecedented precision.

– Energy storage. Designing better, more efficient batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy.

– Environmental solutions. Developing catalysts to break down microplastics or reduce carbon emissions.

– Advanced manufacturing. Creating self-healing materials for infrastructure, reducing maintenance costs and enhancing safety.

A New Front in the Quantum Computing Race

Microsoft’s announcement about its new chip will, no doubt, have sent ripples across the already competitive quantum technology landscape. Rivals such as Google and IBM have made significant strides with quantum processors using alternative qubit designs. Google’s “Sycamore” processor, for example, made headlines in 2019 for achieving quantum supremacy by solving a problem in 200 seconds that would take classical computers 10,000 years. However, Microsoft’s strategy, though slower in producing short-term results, may prove more scalable in the long run.

While Microsoft’s prototype currently houses eight topological qubits, far fewer than the hundreds achieved by competitors, the company’s promise of a clear path to a million qubits sets it apart. However, experts believe that if Microsoft’s technology can indeed scale as planned, it could actually leapfrog its rivals in the race to build commercially viable quantum machines.

Business and Industry

For businesses and industries poised to embrace quantum computing, this development could radically shift the landscape. For example, being able to solve industrial-scale problems within years rather than decades could lead to:

– Faster innovation cycles. Products designed and tested virtually with quantum precision could dramatically reduce time-to-market.

– Cost reductions. More efficient materials and manufacturing processes could slash production costs.

– Sustainability breakthroughs. Quantum modelling could enable the development of eco-friendly materials and more efficient energy solutions.

Accessing Quantum Capabilities Through The Cloud

Microsoft’s integration of the Majorana 1 chip into its Azure Quantum platform means that businesses will eventually be able to harness these capabilities through cloud services, thereby democratising access to quantum power without the need for prohibitively expensive infrastructure.

A High-Risk, High-Reward Strategy

Microsoft’s focus on topological qubits appears to have been quite a high-risk strategy, given the scientific and engineering challenges involved. For example, until recently, Majorana particles had never been observed in nature and had to be coaxed into existence through precise manipulation of materials at the atomic level.

However, as Krysta Svore (another Microsoft technical fellow) pointed out, the architecture’s simplicity could allow for rapid scalability. Svore said: “It’s complex in that we had to show a new state of matter to get there, but after that, it’s fairly simple. You have a much simpler architecture that promises a faster path to scale.”

The Next Steps for Quantum Computing

Microsoft’s inclusion in the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Underexplored Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing (US2QC) programme signals the strategic importance of this technology. If successful, the company could deliver the world’s first utility-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer, a machine whose computational value exceeds its operational costs.

For now, though, the road ahead remains fraught with technical challenges. Scaling from eight qubits to a million will require solving issues of coherence, error correction, and manufacturing precision on an unprecedented scale.

That said, if Microsoft’s bet pays off, the promise of solving industrial-scale problems within a matter of years could mark the beginning of a new technological era, one where quantum computing transforms everything from materials science to global sustainability efforts.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Microsoft’s unveiling of the Majorana 1 chip represents a potential shift in the trajectory of quantum computing itself. The company’s bold move to pursue topological qubits through the manipulation of Majorana particles looks like being both an audacious scientific gamble and a forward-thinking strategy aimed at overcoming some of the most persistent obstacles in the field.

While rivals like Google and IBM have made headlines with short-term achievements using more traditional qubit designs, Microsoft’s approach seeks to tackle the longer-term challenge of scalability and stability. By leveraging a fundamentally different quantum architecture, the company may ultimately sidestep the fragility that plagues conventional quantum systems. If successful, this could place Microsoft at the forefront of a technological race that has, until now, seemed more theoretical than practical.

It should be noted that, although the signs are good, caution is needed because technical hurdles like maintaining coherence and error correction are not trivial and could be pretty challenging for Microsoft. That said, Microsoft’s confidence, underpinned by integration with its Azure Quantum platform, suggests a readiness to bring quantum capabilities to businesses and researchers sooner than previously imagined.

The implications for industry and society at large could be transformative. From revolutionising drug discovery to enabling breakthroughs in clean energy and sustainable manufacturing, the possibilities of scalable quantum computing extend far beyond academic curiosity. The prospect of solving industrial-scale problems in years rather than decades could accelerate innovation cycles, reduce costs, and unlock sustainable solutions previously out of reach.

Tech News : New Quantum Attack-Proof PCs

Posted on by Paul Stradling

At its Annual Partner Conference 2024, HP announced the world’s first business PCs to protect firmware against quantum computer attacks.

This Issue 

As highlighted by Global Risk Institute research, 27 per cent of experts think there is a 50 per cent likelihood of a cryptographically relevant quantum computer (CRQC) by 2033. HP says that “when that day comes, the security of existing digital signatures on firmware and software will be in question and digital trust will dissolve.” 

If quantum computers reach a point where they can crack our current cryptographic protections, the implications for businesses, societies, and individuals could be profound and wide-ranging. For example, the consequences could include:

– Massive data breaches and privacy loss, compromising everything from financial records to private communications.

– The undermining of financial systems, enabling unauthorised access to financial accounts, manipulation of transactions, and theft of funds. This, in turn, could erode trust in digital banking and financial systems, leading to widespread economic instability.

– National security communications being exposed, thereby compromising state secrets, military operations, plus critical infrastructure, potentially altering the balance of power on a global scale.

– Disruption of digital trust systems like digital signatures and SSL certificates, which underpin the security of online communications and commerce, thereby disrupting e-commerce, undermining the integrity of digital contracts, and eroding trust in online services.

New Cryptographic Standard? 

In response to these potential threats, the security community has been actively developing and standardising quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms. These Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithms aim to secure cryptographic systems against quantum attacks by relying on mathematical problems that are believed to be difficult for quantum computers to solve.

However, HP says that migrating our entire digital world to a new cryptographic standard is a huge undertaking and that while software can be updated, hardware can’t. This includes some of the cryptography that protects PC firmware. HP points out that “with no cryptographic protections in place, no device would be safe – attackers could access and modify the underlying firmware and gain total control.” 

HP’s Answer 

HP’s future-proofing answer is embedding protection against quantum computer hacks in PCs at the chip level via its 5th-generation ESC chip. By isolating the chip from the processor and OS, HP says the ESC provides a hardware platform that reduces the risk of data breaches and improves productivity by preventing downtime.

Start Now Says HP 

HP points out that with typical PC refresh cycles now every 3 to 5 years (and with the wider trend towards extending the life of hardware to improve sustainability), the migration to post-quantum cryptography should ideally start now. HP says that with its 2024 ESC upgrade, the hardware will be in place to protect PC firmware-integrity with Quantum-Resistant Cryptography, thereby delivering a secure foundation ahead of upgrades to software implementations of cryptography within PCs in the future.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The potential of quantum computers being capable of breaking asymmetric cryptography is placing the entire digital world at an increasing risk. For UK businesses, this threat represents both a challenge and a call to action. Research suggests that the arrival of cryptographically relevant quantum computing is not a question of if, but when, with a significant number of experts anticipating its emergence by 2033. This reality necessitates a proactive approach to cybersecurity, particularly in safeguarding digital signatures on firmware and software that underpin the trust and integrity of our digital interactions and transactions.

Currently, the security community is responding by developing and standardising quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms / Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) solutions. These could secure against both classical and quantum computing threats, thereby safeguarding digital assets and communications in the quantum era. However, as HP points out, transitioning our digital infrastructure to a new cryptographic standard is a potentially monumental task, complicated further by the limitations of hardware adaptation.

For UK businesses, this means that relying solely on software updates for future protection may be insufficient. Hardware (particularly PC firmware) that is less frequently updated and often overlooked in cybersecurity strategies, presents a critical vulnerability. This is why HP believes the introduction of the world’s first business PCs designed to protect firmware against quantum computer attacks is a significant development. HP’s idea of embedding protection at the chip level through its 5th generation ESC chip could offer businesses a solution that anticipates the quantum threat and addresses the challenges of hardware security at the same time.

HP also believes its approach of isolating the chip from the processor and operating system could create a more secure hardware platform. This idea may be particularly relevant for UK businesses, where the trend towards extending the lifecycle of hardware for sustainability purposes further exacerbates the vulnerability to future quantum attacks. With the threat apparently just a few years away, HP’s suggestion of starting the migration to quantum-resistant cryptographic solutions now, as part of the typical PC refresh cycle, sounds like it could be a sensible move for businesses.

In short, the message for UK businesses is that the threat of quantum computing to cybersecurity is real and approaching fast and preparing for this issue means adopting a holistic view of cybersecurity that includes both software and hardware considerations. Although HP’s new solution offers one potential answer to quantum threats, there will most likely be other innovative solutions offered by other companies in the near future and it will be a case of businesses choosing the one with the best fit for their individual needs and budget.

An Apple Byte : Quantum-Proof iMessage Update

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Apple says it’s rolling out an update to its iMessage texting platform that can defend against future encryption-breaking technologies such as decryption by quantum computers.

Apple says its PQ3 “groundbreaking post-quantum cryptographic protocol” offers Level 3 security, i.e. it provides protocol protections that surpass those in all other widely deployed messaging apps. Apple says PQ3 (post-quantum cryptography 3) has the strongest security properties of any at-scale messaging protocol in the world and that it has “rebuilt the iMessage cryptographic protocol from the ground up to advance the state of the art in end-to-end encryption”. 

Although Apple acknowledges that quantum computers with the capability to crack classical public key cryptography algorithms don’t exist yet, it says its PQ3 update offers “the strongest protection against quantum attacks” in the future and is “the only widely available messaging service to reach Level 3 security”.