25th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum – Technology and Innovation: 5G, Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing

Markus Pflitsch, CEO of Terra Quantum and a quantum physicist with experience at CERN and in investment banking, discussed the transformative potential of quantum computing. Terra Quantum employs a hybrid approach, combining quantum simulators with emerging hardware, to capitalize on quantum advantages in the present rather than awaiting fully scalable machines. This approach facilitates substantial business improvements: optimization problems can be resolved over 15 times faster, machine learning models achieve 30% accuracy with reduced data, and intricate simulations, such as drug discovery, can be up to 200 times faster than classical methods. Real-world applications have already yielded substantial results, including $240 million in recurring savings for a US investment bank and $6 billion in potential revenue for a European satellite company. Pflitsch emphasized that quantum AI transcends classical AI, offering non-deterministic and potentially creative solutions, unlike current large language models that are deterministic and constrained by historical data.

Regarding cybersecurity, he cautioned that all classical encryption methods including AES, RSA, and SHA are susceptible to quantum attacks, necessitating immediate migration to quantum-safe encryption. Terra Quantum leads in true quantum key distribution (QKD), enabling fully secure communications even against the most formidable quantum machines. Finally, Pflitsch highlighted the geopolitical implications of quantum technology: the global competition among the US, Europe, and China necessitates collaboration to govern its dual-use potential responsibly, ensuring that quantum computing benefits society rather than being exploited for strategic or malicious purposes.