As Quantum Computing and IoT Merge
This post is also available in: 
עברית (Hebrew)
Quantum computing is still in a development stage but it is expected to accelerate us into the future by impacting the landscape of artificial intelligence and data analytics. In fact, the overall quantum computing market is expected to grow from $93 million by 2019 to $283 million by 2024 at a CAGR of 24.9%, according to marketandmarkets.com.
Quantum computers use quantum bits or qubits instead of using binary traditional bits of ones and zeros for digital communications, thus gaining extensive power and great speed in comparison to current supercomputers.
IoT technologies – those relating to connected devices, sensors, people, data, and machines – are currently in the midst of a global growth. Business Insider Intelligence forecasted that “by 2023, consumers, companies and governments will install 40 billion IoT devices globally.”
In the new digital economy, both edge devices and data are proliferating at amazing rates. The challenge now is how do we monitor and ensure quality service of the IoT?
According to forbes.com, quantum technologies will influence: optimization of computing power, computing models, network latency, interoperability, artificial intelligence (human/computer interface), real-time analytics and predictive analytics, increased storage and data memory power, secure cloud computing, virtualization, and the emerging 5G telecommunications infrastructure. For 5G, secure end-to end communications are fundamental and quantum encryption (which generates secure codes) may be the solution for rapidly growing IoT connectivity. Currently, cryptographic algorithms are being used to help secure the communication (validation and verification) in the IoT. But because they rely on public key schemes, their encryption could be broken by sophisticated hackers using quantum computers in the not so distant future.
Quantum computing has the ability to create an almost un-hackable network of devices and data. The need to securely encrypt and protect IoT connected devices and power them with exponential speed and analytical capabilities is an imperative for both government and the private sector.
As quantum computing and IoT merge, there will also be an evolving new ecosystem of policy Issues. These include, ethics, interoperability protocols, cybersecurity, privacy/surveillance, complex autonomous systems, best commercial practices.
