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Quantum Computing: What, When, Where, How

2d ago 1:15:13

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with @danboneh @succinctJT @smc90

This episode is all about quantum computing -- explaining what it is, how it works, what's hype vs. reality, and how to prepare for it/ what builders should do.

Specifically, we cover:

What quantum computing is and isn't, and what people are really talking about when they worry about a quantum computer that can break classic computing-based cryptography systems -- a cryptographically relevant post-quantum computer.
When is it happening/ what are the "timelines" for quantum computing becoming a reality -- how many years away are we? -- and when are the U.S. government's deadlines/ NIST standards for post-quantum cryptography?
How will different types of cryptography be affected, or not? What are different approaches and tradeoffs?
Where does quantum computing and post-quantum crypto apply to blockchains -- which are not only more easily upgradable, but also by and large rely on signatures, not encryption, so may be more quantum-resistant in many ways (and not in others).

As always, we tease apart the signal vs. the noise in recent "science-by-press release" corporate quantum-computing milestone announcements.

We also help answer questions on when do builders need to plan their switch to a post-quantum crypto world, what pitfalls to avoid there (hint: bugs! software upgrades!).

Finally, we briefly cover different approaches to post-quantum crypto; and also dig deeper on zero-knowledge/ succinct-proof systems and how they relate to post-quantum crypto.

Our expert guests are:

Dan Boneh, Stanford University professor and applied cryptography expert and pioneer; also Senior Research Advisor to a16z crypto;
Justin Thaler, research partner at a16z, professor at Georgetown, and longtime expert and pioneer in interactive and ZK proof systems.

more resources + papers on topics mentioned:

A Graduate Course in Applied Cryptography by Dan Boneh and Victor Shoup [see also]
Proofs, Arguments, and Zero-Knowledge by Justin Thaler
LatticeFold+: Faster, Simpler, Shorter Lattice-Based Folding for Succinct Proof Systems by Dan Boneh and Binyi Chen
Neo: Lattice-based folding scheme for CCS over small fields and pay-per-bit commitments by Wilson Nguyen and Srinath Setty
"Q-Day Clock" from Project Eleven -- public dashboard to visually track timeline for quantum computing to reach cryptographically relevant capabilities and break widely used encryption algorithms
on hard forks for quantum emergencies
Quantum analysis of AES, Kyungbae Jang, Anubhab Baksi, Hyunji Kim, Gyeongju Song, Hwajeong Seo, Anupam Chattopadhyay
The Google Willow Thing by Scott Aaronson
FAQs on Microsoft’s topological qubit thing by Scott Aaronson
Microsoft’s claim of a topological qubit faces tough questions, American Physical Society

As a reminder, none of this is investment, business, legal, or tax advice; please see a16z.com/disclosures for more important information including a link to our investments.

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