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Today, when researchers set out to design new drugs for diseases like cancer or Alzheimers, they know the process will be slow and sporadic at best. Traditional approaches to scientific research face bottlenecks arising from the process, cost, and complexity of the work, along with the amount of time it takes for classical computers to analyze massive amounts of data.

But what if instead of attempting to discover and design new drugs and medicines using simple binary digits, we could use something that dramatically changes how we analyze data and what can be discovered from it? Something that could bring new therapies and cures much faster to patients in need.

Technological advances lead to conceptual leaps in knowledge and the discovery of previously unimagined new paradigms. Thats one of the promises of quantum computing, a rapidly emerging technology that harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics to explore problems that are too complex for classical computers to solve. Quantum computers hold the potential to run vast simulations to design better drugs and treatments at breathtaking speeds.

When most Americans learn about technologies like quantum computing, they probably assume that it comes from Silicon Valley. After all, were accustomed to innovation taking the form of digital apps and platforms designed by programmers who work in front of a keyboard. That model has produced countless advancements in recent yearsbut it isnt the only way groundbreaking progress can be made.

The truth is that many of our most vital breakthroughs in health and medicine have emerged not from the coasts, but from the heartlandwhere, for more than a century, Cleveland Clinic has stood at the forefront of innovation. From discovering serotonin in the 1940s and pioneering bypass surgery in the 1960s to identifying how the microbiome benefits human health in the past decade, Cleveland Clinic teams of researchers and clinicians have investigated the problems of our patients and innovated solutions.

These discoveries have impacted health care. But they have come with a steep cost: Time. On average, it takes more than 15 years for a scientific discovery in a biomedical research lab to become a tangible therapy or diagnostic test available to patients. Not to mention, this process can take up to $100 million. With emerging technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and cloud, we can change this. What once took decades could now be achieved in months and can become more affordable and less time-intensive for research teams.

Thats why IBM is partnering with Cleveland Clinic to introduce the first quantum computer ever deployed on site in the private sectorand the first in the world dedicated to biomedical and health research. Unveiled this week at its permanent home on Cleveland Clinics campus in Ohio, IBM Quantum System One is part of a groundbreaking effort to significantly speed up the pace of scientific breakthroughs.

For researchers at Cleveland Clinic, it means the chance to develop more precise, targeted, and effective medicinesand more accurately predict which patients will encounter life-threatening and chronic diseases.

For people across the country, it means the potential to make major leaps forward in the fight against complex diseasesand a new technology platform that can serve as a model for every region to make breakthroughs of their own.

For Clevelanders and Northeast Ohioans, it means well-paying jobs in cutting-edge fields. It strengthens the citys position as a globally recognized hub of innovation. And it sends a clear message to the nation and the world that the American heartland is a place where the future is being written.

We dont yet know precisely which breakthroughs quantum computing will help us achieveand which medicines, models, vaccines, and therapies they could make possible.

But we do know that by working to dramatically reduce the time it takes to investigate the most complex mysteries of human health, this effort will close the gap between imagination and discoverybetween the impossible and the possible. Quantum and other advanced computing technologies will help us expedite progress toward new treatments and cures for our patients.

We are grateful to the city of Cleveland, the state of Ohio, and all of the local, state, and national leaders who have made this work possible by investing in pioneering research and in our scientific infrastructure.

We are excited to embark on this journey of discoverydelivering more jobs to the heartland, more opportunities to the nation, and more medical breakthroughs to the world.

Serpil Erzurum, M.D., is Cleveland Clinics chief research and academic officer. Daro Gil is IBMs SVP and director of research.

The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs ofFortune.

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Quantum computing by its very nature is set to revolutionize how we think about computers and how we use them. But if the tech world knows one thing down to the chill in the marrow of its bones, its that every opportunity brings the shadow of a threat in its wake and vice versa.

In September, 2022, UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres included quantum computing among his list of perceived techno-threats for the times in which we live, claiming it could destroy cybersecurity.

The idea of any single breakthrough being able to destroy the whole notion of cybersecurity sounds like the plot of an as-yet-unmade James Bond movie (Hey, Eon Productions Ltd call us).

We sat down with Dr Ali El Kaafarani, a research fellow at Oxford Universitys Mathematical Institute, and founder of PQShield, to ask him whether the sky was really falling in.

THQ:

What exactly is the threat of quantum computing? Among everything else there is to worry about, whats the scope and the scale of the quantum threat? Why should we take it seriously?

AEK:

Quantum computers will have the power to solve computational problems that were previously thought impossible for a standard computer to crack. While this presents many opportunities, it also poses a significant security risk as it renders the traditional encryption methods used to protect virtually all of the worlds sensitive information obsolete.

Important and sensitive data, even when encrypted, is constantly being stolen and stored by bad actors who hope to decipher it one day. This is known as a harvest now, decrypt later attack. When powerful quantum computers arrive, all our data will be vulnerable to this kind of retrospective attack.

According to the US National Academy of Sciences, an initial quantum computer prototype capable of breaking current encryption methods could be developed in the next decade.

THQ:

Well thats pretty chilling.

AEK:

For nation states, the intelligence value of reaching this threshold is almost impossible to quantify. NIST says that once this threshold has been crossed, nothing can be done to protect the confidentiality of encrypted material that was previously stored by an adversary. Thats why data needs to be protected with quantum-resistant encryption today, even before these machines are a reality.

THQ:

So, when the Secretary-General said quantum computing could destroy cybersecurity, there wasnt even a hint of hyperbole in there? Any idea when within the next decade this could happen?

AEK:

According to Booz Allen Hamilton, the anticipated cracking of encryption by quantum computers must be treated as a current threat. Only late last year, top former US national security officials including the Deputy Director of National Intelligence, warned the world that the danger of these types of attacks was immediate.

THQ:

Well its been nice sleeping at night. So, for instance, how do businesses that want to outlive this development assess their vulnerability to quantum attack? What stages does such an assessment come in?

AEK:

There are many who recognize the seriousness of the quantum threat but dont actually know how to go about protecting themselves against it, or who feel overwhelmed thinking about the overhaul associated with migrating their systems to meet a new set of standards.

THQ:

We can imagine the overwhelm, certainly.

AEK:

However, if you break it down into smaller steps, the migration process is not so daunting.Transitioning from cryptosystem to cryptosystem is no trivial task, which is why it is best to start as early as possible.

As the NIST National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) points out: It is critical to begin planning for the replacement of hardware, software and services that use public-key algorithms now, so that the information is protected from future attacks.

Switching from one cryptosystem to another within a given security solution is unlikely to be a simple drop-in task, particularly for businesses that havent even begun planning for the post-quantum transition, which is likely to be the biggest cryptographic transition in decades.

THQ:

So were thinking this is not a particularly straightforward job?

AEK:

Well, the ease or difficulty with which certain cryptographic algorithms can be switched out in embedded hardware and software will determine the speed with which a transition can be achieved. Crypto-agility allows for a smoother transition between standards. If a system is crypto-agile, it means it is built with flexibility and futureproofing in mind, with cryptographic algorithms that are easy to update and replace over time with minimal disruption to the overall system.

THQ:

So the more agile a business is and the sooner it starts getting to grip with the invisible ticking clock of the quantum threat the more likely it is to be able to ride out the new paradigm?

Once businesses have an understanding of their quantum computing vulnerability, what can they actually do about it?

AEK:

We dont yet know for certain that a high-functioning quantum computer exists, because it is not unfeasible that a bad actor would choose to conceal its existence in order to maintain its technical advantage along with the element of surprise. The prudent way forward is to start preparing for the worst now because its a question of when, not if.

Post-quantum cryptography standards were announced in July last year. The first draft standards will be published in the next couple of months, with the final versions ready in the first half of 2024. In the meantime, it is possible and advised to use hybrid cryptography libraries that can support both classical and post-quantum standards in the transition phase.

In the meantime, businesses can ensure that their cryptography is FIPS 140-3 compliant. FIPS 140-3 is a good stopgap to aim for until more tailored standards are introduced, and because it is a mandatory standard for the protection of sensitive data within US and Canadian federal systems, it is a prerequisite for any contractors that want to do business with these governments.

Another place to look is the Department of Homeland Security, which published a post-quantum cryptography roadmap a useful guideline for establishing a transition plan before standards are finalized.

THQ:

Are we confident that NISTs new cryptographic standards are sufficient to meet the quantum threat of today? And is the threat likely to evolve as we go forward?

AEK:

Because the future capabilities of quantum computers remain an open question, NIST has taken a variety of mathematical approaches to safeguard encryption. Each mathematical approach has different advantages and disadvantages in terms of its practicality, implementation and design.

The logic to all this is that future research may discover new attacks or weaknesses that can be exploited to render any one particular algorithm obsolete. Its why NIST may ultimately choose multiple algorithms to standardize and hold another handful close at hand as backup options.

THQ:

If, as we gather, the threat is likely to evolve, how do we prepare now to meet it? Whats the scope for quantum cryptographic security over, say, the next five years?

AEK:

Meeting the threat relies on implementing post-quantum cryptography. So, naturally, in the next five years, well see different sectors moving to adopt post-quantum cryptography. In some cases, this wont be by choice they will be following mandatory timelines set out by the US Government and others.

Remember, according to the US National Academy of Sciences, a quantum computer prototype capable of breaking current encryption methods could be developed within the next decade.

By 2030, it will surprise no-one if there are fully functioning quantum computers already.

Dr Ali El Kaafarani, CEO of PQShield.

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More than a year into Russias war of aggression against Ukraine, there are few signs the conflict will end anytime soon. Ukraines success on the battlefield has been powered by the innovative use of new technologies, from aerial drones to open-source artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Yet ultimately, the war in Ukrainelike any other warwill end with negotiations. And although the conflict has spurred new approaches to warfare, diplomatic methods remain stuck in the 19th century.

More than a year into Russias war of aggression against Ukraine, there are few signs the conflict will end anytime soon. Ukraines success on the battlefield has been powered by the innovative use of new technologies, from aerial drones to open-source artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Yet ultimately, the war in Ukrainelike any other warwill end with negotiations. And although the conflict has spurred new approaches to warfare, diplomatic methods remain stuck in the 19th century.

Yet not even diplomacyone of the worlds oldest professionscan resist the tide of innovation. New approaches could come from global movements, such as the Peace Treaty Initiative, to reimagine incentives to peacemaking. But much of the change will come from adopting and adapting new technologies.

With advances in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, the internet of things, and distributed ledger technology, todays emerging technologies will offer new tools and techniques for peacemaking that could impact every step of the processfrom the earliest days of negotiations all the way to monitoring and enforcing agreements.

Although the well-appointed interiors of Viennas Palais Coburg and Genevas Hotel President Wilson will likely remain the backdrop for many high-level diplomatic discussions, the way parties conduct these negotiations will undoubtedly change in the years ahead. One simple example is the need for live language interpreters. The use of automated language processingas exemplified by Googles language-translating glassescould smooth negotiations, reducing the time spent on consecutive interpretation.

While some tools will speed negotiations, others will better inform diplomats ahead of talks. As Nathaniel Fick, the inaugural U.S. ambassador at large for cyberspace and digital policy, recently quipped, briefings generated by the AI-powered ChatGPT are now qualitatively close enough to those prepared by his staff. As large language models improve, AI will be able to search and summarize information more quickly than a team of humans, better preparing diplomats to enter negotiations.

Although these systems will need some degree of human oversight, allied parties can also compare notes, leveraging their respective AI systems. As more and more parties develop their own AI, we could see AI hagglebotscomputers that identify optimal agreements given a set of trade-offs and intereststake on a key role in negotiations. Ever more sophisticated AI systems may even one day reach a level of artificial general intelligence. Such systems could upend our understanding of technology, allowing AI to become an independent agent in international engagements rather than a mere tool.

As negotiations begin, parties may augment their delegations with AI, providing real-time, data-informed counsel throughout discussions. IBMs Cognitive Trade Advisor has already assisted negotiators by responding to questions about trade treaties that might otherwise require days or weeks to answer.

New technologies also allow countries to solicit citizen input more easily in real time. More than a decade ago, Indonesia pioneered a platform called UKP4, allowing everyday citizens to submit complaints about anything from damaged infrastructure to absent teachers. Although technology can be misused for manipulation and misinformation, artificial intelligence can also serve as a powerful tool to identify these misbehaviors, creating an ongoing struggle in the arms race between AI that will help and AI that will harm.

Intelligent systems can also help negotiators test various positions and scenarios in a matter of minutes. During the first round of Iran nuclear negotiations, a team at the U.S. Energy Department built a replica of an Iranian nuclear site to test every permutation of Iranian nuclear enrichment and development. In the future, an AI system will be able to run similar scenarios and virtual experiments faster and at a much lower cost.

When I worked on then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerrys team negotiating the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2014 and 2015, diplomats would meet in a variety of configurationsfrom large plenaries to one-on-one sessionstrying to discover the intentions behind the positions each side took and discern even minor differences among individual negotiators. While traditionally the privy of the espionage community, computer vision can now aid in this effort, identifying micro-expressions and other emotions by analyzing videos of negotiations. Even if diplomacy remains an art, it will increasingly rely on hard science.

When negotiators reach an agreement, they need to secure the support of their capitals and leadership, creating the need for secure communication. Negotiators have long faced the risk of spies and leaks and are now more exposed than before to the threat of intercepted calls and cybersecurity breaches.

New technology can both secure communication and put it at risk. Most strikingly, powerful quantum computers are likely to one day crack present-day encryption. The furor caused by the WikiLeaks revelations would pale in comparison to the bedlam that could unfold as foreign intelligence agencies decrypt thousands of confidential diplomatic cables.

As of today, many intelligence agencies are likely already intercepting and storing cables with the hope of decrypting them once they develop the requisite technological capabilities. In response, countries have developed new techniques to ensure the integrity of diplomatic communication through post-quantum encryption. In a December 2022 demonstration, French President Emmanuel Macron sent the French diplomatic services first quantum-secure telegram.

After parties announce a deal, technology can still play a role in ensuring their agreement enters into force. When the JCPOA went into effect in January 2016, the United States had difficulty releasing Iranian assets frozen after the revolutionbanks were still afraid to transfer money for fear of running afoul of the sanctions regime. In the end, the U.S. government delivered $1.7 billion in cash to Iran, flying $400 million on pallets to Tehran through Switzerland.

Distributed ledger technology has the potential to transparently ensure parties receive compensation and could be used to openly transfer funds while keeping in place sanctions for other purposes. Already, blockchain is showing its promise across a variety of use cases, including transferring information securely out of Ukraine. Working together with social enterprise company Hala Systems, a lab at Stanford University has used blockchain to document Russian war crimes, ensuring that original evidence of war crimes cannot be manipulated.

After agreement and implementation, monitoring is key to ensuring an agreement holds. In 2015, Iran agreed to a monitoring regime of unprecedented rigor. As Kerry explained at the time, Irans nuclear program will remain subject to regular inspections forever. In the future, the internet of thingsor the ability for items of daily use to be connected to the internetmay make such inspections far more effective by creating many new data points. Teams at Los Alamos National Laboratory, for example, have already used AI to detect signs of nuclear explosive tests by relying on data from international sensor networks.

Remote sensing can also play a role in ensuring parties follow through on their commitments. For example, once the exclusive domain of intelligence agencies, a team at Stanford has now used open-source geospatial imagery to monitor activity at Irans nuclear facility in Natanz. Once quantum sensing matures, it will become even more difficult for malicious actors to disguise their activities. Quantum sensors have already proven successful at mapping underground tunnels and identifying seismic activity. Granted, some of these applications are still far in the future; in any upcoming negotiations, monitoring will have to rely on more traditional methods. But the promise of these new technologies is vast.

Although our ways of waging war have evolved, our ways of waging peace have not yet made similar strides. Ukraines defense has laid bare the importance of bringing innovation to the battlefield. Its success at the negotiating table will be in no small part a result of technological innovation too.

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From ChatGPT to Quantum Computing, New Tech Could Reshape ... - Foreign Policy

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