Quantum computing: the next frontiers of 2024

The sphere of quantum computing is preparing to welcome significant evolutions in 2024, subject to the careful analysis of important companies and research institutes. Post-quantum cryptographic standards are expected to be completed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), similar to the preventative measures against quantum threats outlined in the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act signed by President Biden in late 2022. In parallel, a growing concern about possible "harvest now, decrypt later" attacks, where attackers store encrypted data with the aim of deciphering them as soon as quantum technologies allow it.

Security and cryptography in the quantum era

With the next publication of the standards by NIST in 2024, we will see an increase in the formulation of post-quantum security plans by companies, estimated at 10% by Forrester reports. Together, the prospect of implementing cryptography resistant to future quantum threats (PQC) becomes increasingly concrete. Fears and attention focus on the capacity for cryptographic adaptation, essential for a rapid migration from current encryption systems to robust quantum standards. As a result, significant effort is expected in terms of cryptographic agility, indicating the ability of an information system to quickly replace encryption methods or protocols.

Integration between artificial intelligence and quantum computing

The synergies between the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing herald revolutionary results for the near future. Next-generation AI, such as genAI, requires significant computational resources, an area in which quantum systems could excel. Forecasts from industry leaders such as Dell and NVIDIA see an ever-increasing alignment of research and corporate initiatives around the simulation of quantum processors and the development of unified platforms for hybrid and classical quantum computation, a clear sign of a trend towards broader integration of technologies quantum technologies in current computational architectures.

Quantum supremacy and developments in hardware

As far as the hardware domain is concerned, 2024 looks ahead with significant goals to be achieved. Industry leaders predict clear and concrete results in terms of quantum supremacy, with the potential to solve complex computational problems more efficiently and less energy-efficiently than classical systems. Particular attention is paid to the compatibility and integration between quantum and classical hardware, together with the prospect that quantum computing could open up towards artificial general intelligence.