My Own 'Superpower' AI Assistant... The Era of Quantum Internet is Coming [Reading Science]

-Quantum Computer Development Accelerates, Google and IBM Release Prototypes
-Leveraging Expertise in Fast Computation, Quantum Internet Combining with Traditional Computers Also Advances
-SpaceX's Satellite Internet Shows Potential for 'Quantum' Evolution
-US and China Build Quantum Internet, Korea 5 Years Behind "Must Strengthen Foundations to Become First Mover"

The artificial intelligence named Jarvis appearing in the movie Iron Man

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The artificial intelligence (AI) assistant ‘Jarvis’ in the movie Iron Man serves the protagonist like a god or sometimes like a mother, fulfilling all their demands. It serves only its master and helps defeat villains by processing vast amounts of information at ultra-high speed under strict security. Scientists believe that such a ‘superpower’ AI assistant is impossible with current digital computers and communication networks. No matter how complex the encryption, it can be cracked, and the data processing and transmission speeds have clear physical limits with existing methods, making it impossible to achieve Jarvis-level capabilities.

The only alternative expected to overcome these limitations is quantum computer and internet technology. Once quantum computers and communication networks are realized, AI assistants that provide any information instantly with impenetrable security and ultra-fast data processing and transmission can become a reality. It is also pointed out that the commercialization of quantum internet is necessary for the full practical application of not only AI but also Internet of Things (IoT) technologies such as connected cars where security is vital, as well as metaverse (extended virtual worlds), complex simulations, and machine learning, which require large-capacity ultra-high-speed data and communication.

Google's quantum computer chip 'Sycamore'.

◇Transistor Technology Reaching Its Limits

To understand quantum internet, one must first know the definition of quantum computers. Quantum computers are a revolutionary concept that can replace existing digital and binary computers by utilizing the unique properties of quantum, the smallest unit of matter in the physical world. Conventional digital computers operate with transistors, which are 1-bit units that turn on when electricity flows and off when it does not. Logical structures like AND and OR enable addition and multiplication. Simply put, a digital computer is a large space where many elementary students who can only do very simple calculations gather to solve very complex problems. Therefore, the smaller and denser the transistors, the faster and more complex calculations can be performed.

The problem is that there are spatial and physical limits here as well. Current high-performance semiconductors have transistors about the size of a few atoms clustered together?about 1/500th the size of a red blood cell. If reduced further, the ‘quantum tunneling’ phenomenon occurs, making it difficult to maintain the basic function of blocking or allowing electricity. No matter how fast the electricity is, since there is only one path, complex calculations with many variables inevitably take a tremendous amount of time.

Quantum computer developed by Google.

◇The Only Alternative: Quantum Computers

Quantum computers are designed using the concept of ‘qubits’ by exploiting the ‘superposition’ phenomenon, where quantum particles simultaneously exhibit wave and particle properties and change depending on observation. The transistors in digital computers operate with 0 and 1, processing only one piece of data per 4 bits. However, one qubit can be 0, 1, or both 0 and 1 simultaneously, allowing it to process 2 to the power of n (number of qubits) pieces of information. If there are enough qubits, complex calculations with enormous variables can be solved instantly. A representative example is Google’s Sycamore quantum computer, which announced in October 2019 that it achieved ‘quantum supremacy’ (computational power surpassing existing supercomputers). Google claimed that Sycamore with 53 qubits solved a problem that would take a supercomputer 10,000 years in just 200 seconds. China also announced in 2020 that it developed a quantum computer using photons and claimed to have solved boson sampling, which would take billions of years, in just a few minutes.

Quantum entanglement is linked to the high security of quantum computers. It is a quantum mechanical state representing the correlation between particles, a phenomenon unexplained by classical physics. Using this principle, new encryption methods surpassing existing computer encryption systems like the public key system (RSA) can be created.

◇What Is Quantum Internet?

If quantum computers refer to the computer hardware itself, quantum internet means the network infrastructure based on quantum. It is a next-generation core technology that, combined with digital internet technology, enables enhanced information security, distributed cloud quantum computing, and quantum IoT through quantum sensing. Quantum internet technology is expected to dramatically improve the security weaknesses of existing digital internet technology. In particular, quantum cryptographic communication technology based on quantum physics can significantly enhance the safety of information transmitted over the internet, and it is anticipated that quantum cryptographic communication will become the standard for 6G networks.

Quantum computers are recognized for their outstanding potential in cryptanalysis, new drug development, resource optimization, ultra-fast data search, and artificial intelligence, but current hardware makes it difficult to perform complex algorithms. Therefore, technology that connects multiple quantum computers to directly transmit and process quantum state information to enhance computing power is gaining attention. This direct transmission of quantum state information is developing into the field of Quantum Secure Direct Communication (QSDC) technology and is expected to be applied to quantum internet.

Professor Ham Byung-seung of the Department of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) explained, "Basically, quantum communication uses quantum computers as nodes (network access devices) and information replication is impossible. It is completely different from current internet methods, and quantum teleportation and quantum repeaters (quantum communication relay devices using quantum interference phenomena) are key."

An SK Telecom employee holding a 5x5mm quantum random number generation chip at the 'Quantum Cryptography Communication National Test Network' located in SK Telecom Bundang Office.

◇Technical Challenges Abound

The early version of quantum computers, quantum simulators, are entering the early stages of commercialization. IBM created a 127-qubit quantum simulator last year and plans to unveil a 1212-qubit system by 2023. The problem is that increasing the number of qubits is physically difficult. The absolute zero temperature of minus 273 degrees Celsius must be maintained, and the more qubits there are, the harder it becomes. Also, all qubits must be in an entangled state for the quantum computer to be meaningful, but due to the natural principle of qubit decoherence, not all qubits remain entangled, and even if they do, the entanglement does not last long enough to perform the desired algorithms. Unless the decoherence of entangled qubits is resolved, quantum computers will struggle to move beyond the laboratory.

Professor Ham said, "Quantum computers may not completely replace electronic computers at present. They should be understood as special-purpose computers that handle NP problems, which are difficult for current electronic computers to solve." He added, "Artificial intelligence, which has become a global topic, essentially aims to solve NP (non-polynomial) problems that are difficult for current Turing-based electronic computers, and quantum computers are a strong (virtually the only) candidate to solve these NP problems."

Quantum computer developed by IBM.

◇Led by the U.S. and China

In a report last year, Morgan Stanley evaluated that Elon Musk’s SpaceX satellite internet project could quickly evolve into a space-based quantum internet, leading radical changes such as connected cars and replacing terrestrial optical communication networks. They highly valued the commercial potential of quantum communication networks and the potential advantages of rapidly deployed space communication architectures. The U.S. Department of Defense signed a contract with SpaceX last year to develop a space-based quantum sensing prototype within the next two years because quantum internet technology could render all existing stealth, encryption, and communication technologies obsolete.

The U.S. has been focusing investment on technology development since 2018 under the White House-led ‘National Quantum Initiative Act.’ China has also increased related investments since President Xi Jinping directly instructed to secure leadership in quantum technology in 2020. The market size related to quantum information technology continues to grow, expected to reach 136 trillion won by 2030. The quantum computing market is projected to grow about 18 times from 6 trillion won in 2020 to 107 trillion won in 2030, accounting for 79% of the entire quantum information technology market.

A portable quantum computer operating at room temperature and atmospheric pressure developed by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST).

◇South Korea Lagging by Over Five Years

Experts point out that South Korea is more than five years behind major countries in quantum computer and quantum internet technology. Due to insufficient research on the fundamental quantum physics, catching up is challenging. Ultimately, if the country focuses only on catching up with advanced countries without investing in basic scientific research, it will be difficult to get ahead. A professor at KAIST said, "First, cooperation with leading countries is necessary, and second, there needs to be reflection on the weaknesses in the overall information and communication engineering field and basic technologies, especially in physics." Professor Ham also said, "The government has recognized this and invested for several years already, but even if we catch up with IBM in five years, we must be prepared for what comes next."