Quantum computing combined with artificial intelligence (AI) could reshape industries with unprecedented computing power, but it also carries significant cybersecurity and privacy risks, S&P Global warned in a report released Tuesday.
“Artificial intelligence and quantum computing each provide the foundation for new technologies and applications that can redefine the limits of computing possibilities,” the ratings and analytics agency said. “Yet it is the combination of AI’s ability to synthesize results from vast amounts of data and the supercharged computing power of quantum computing that promises to be truly revolutionary.”
S&P Global highlighted the potential impact of these emerging technologies in sectors such as healthcare, where quantum AI could accelerate drug discovery, and energy production, where optimization could help sustainability efforts. The combination of AI and quantum computing could also significantly advance cybersecurity by detecting and mitigating threats in real time.
The report warns of risks, however. Quantum computing has the potential to break current encryption methods, which could lead to new vulnerabilities in digital security. While it could enable the creation of quantum-resistant encryption techniques, there are still concerns that the ability to process vast amounts of data at unprecedented speeds could lead to privacy breaches and identity theft.
“As these systems combine and expand, their ability to infer sensitive information from seemingly innocuous data will increase,” S&P Global said. This could potentially expose individuals and businesses to increased risks of privacy breaches.
Despite the potential advances, the report stresses that these technologies are still in their early stages, and expertise in the field remains limited to a small number of individuals and institutions. Developing quantum AI will require specialized human talent, as well as new hardware and algorithms.
For now, widespread commercial adoption of quantum AI is not expected within the next decade, with the report concluding that the technology will remain “the preserve of well-funded institutions” for the foreseeable future.
