TOP OF THE DAY
Governance and Legislation
Trump 2.0: Clash of the Tech Giants
(Susan Ariel Aaronson – Centre for International Governance Innovation – 11 December 2024) In 2016, tariff man couldn’t care less about tech. Newly elected US President Donald J. Trump knew that the people who created and ran America’s tech giants were richer and smarter than him. Moreover, they had different values. They embraced openness, accountability and the rule of law in international affairs. Moreover, they generally advocated for increased immigration of skilled workers, open markets and relatively unfettered cross-border data flows. So, not surprisingly, his first term was characterized by disputes with many tech giants, including Facebook and Amazon. But tech leaders and Trump administration officials had a common concern — and “enemy” — China’s innovative tech firms. They deemed Chinese companies’ growing prowess in data-driven technologies as a threat to America’s economic progress and national security. As Chinese companies (most visibly TikTok) gained market share, the Trump administration came to understand that protecting the competitiveness of data-driven sectors was imperative if America were to become “great again.” And in February 2019, Trump signed Executive Order (EO) 13859 on Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence. – https://www.cigionline.org/articles/trump-20-clash-of-the-tech-bros/
Playing to win: A Tale of two cities
(Justin Fanelli, Daniel Sheridan – NextGov – 10 December 2024) In the world of modernization and technology adoption within the U.S. government, we’ve witnessed remarkable feats of execution — breakthroughs that motivate the country and impress the world. Yet, these successes often come from isolated, maverick units and are not sustained or scaled across an entire organization. Our challenge has been turning these isolated victories into widespread, lasting change. For some time, the root of the problem has been our bureaucratic machinery and its excessive emphasis on perfection that often lands much closer to rigid conformity. With thousands of pages of regulations and an ingrained culture of risk aversion, we have too often been paralyzed by the fear of making mistakes. Meanwhile, our adversaries aren’t constrained by these same rules, and this ‘playing not to lose’ mentality has cost us dearly, leading to a troubling erosion of competitive advantages. – https://www.nextgov.com/ideas/2024/12/playing-win-tale-two-cities/401573/?oref=ng-homepage-river
Cybersecurity
Europol Dismantles 27 DDoS Attack Platforms Across 15 Nations; Admins Arrested
(Ravie Lakshmanan – The Hacker News – 12 December 2024) A global law enforcement operation has failed 27 stresser services that were used to conduct distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and took them offline as part of a multi-year international exercise called PowerOFF. The effort, coordinated by Europol and involving 15 countries, dismantled several booter and stresser websites, including zdstresser.net, orbitalstress.net, and starkstresser.net. These services typically employ botnet malware installed on compromised devices to launch attacks on behalf of paying customers against targets of their liking. – https://thehackernews.com/2024/12/europol-dismantles-27-ddos-attack.html
Sophisticated Scam Targets UAE Residents with Fake Police Fines
(Alessandro Mascellino – Infosecurity Magazine – 11 December 2024) A large-scale scam campaign impersonating UAE law enforcement and exploiting citizen trust has been uncovered by security researchers. The fraudulent scheme, which coincides with festive periods like the UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad), involves cybercriminals deceiving victims into paying fake fines via targeted calls, emails and text messages. – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/scam-uae-residents-fake-police/
Cyber Incident Disrupting Krispy Kreme Online Orders
(James Coker – Infosecurity Magazine – 11 December 2024) Krispy Kreme has been hit by a cyber-incident which is disrupting operations including online orders, the firm has reported in a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The US-based doughnut maker and coffeehouse chain admitted that the incident has had and is reasonably likely to have a material impact on the Company’s business operations until recovery efforts are completed. – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/cyber-incident-krispy-kreme-online/
South Korea Takes Down Fraudulent Online Trading Network Used to Extort $6.3M
(Kevin Poireault – Infosecurity Magazine – 11 December 2024) A South Korean law enforcement operation has taken down a large-scale fraud network that extorted $6.3m from victims with fake online trading platforms that were sophisticatedly designed to steal money. Dubbed Operation Midas, this year-long task involved the Korean Financial Security Institute (K-FSI), a South Korean nonprofit, and several South Korean law enforcement agencies. Sung-Wook Jang and Yong-Hyun Kim, from K-FSI, shared their experience for the first time with a global audience at Black Hat Europe in London on December 11. – https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/south-korea-takes-down-fraudulent/
Defense, Intelligence, and War
US military eyes joint technology through Japan space partnership
(Courtney Albon – Defense News – 11 December 2024) The U.S. Space Force hopes its new branch in Japan will spur fresh technology partnerships with the nation, particularly for domain awareness and deep-space observation. The service on Dec. 4 activated United States Space Forces Japan as its sixth service component. The organization will provide personnel and space expertise to U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific. Brig. Gen. Anthony Mastalir, who leads the Space Force’s command in the region, said the establishment of the new component comes as Japan’s Ministry of Defense is prioritizing space in its national defense strategy — pledging to spend billions to improve on-orbit capabilities. – https://www.defensenews.com/newsletters/2024/12/11/us-military-eyes-joint-technology-through-japan-space-partnership/
Pentagon launches new generative AI ‘cell’ with $100M for pilots, experiments
(Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. – Breaking Defense – 11 December 2024) The Pentagon announced it’s setting up a new AI Rapid Capabilities Cell meant to accelerate the military’s adoption of Large Language Models and other forms of generative artificial intelligence. The new AIRCC (pronounced “Arc”) will implement the recommendations [PDF] of Task Force Lima, which was created in 2023 to get a handle on the unexpected explosion of “GenAI” and is now officially disbanded — although some as-yet unnamed members of the Task Force will move over to the accelerator cell, said outgoing Chief Digital & AI Officer (CDAO) Radha Plumb. – https://breakingdefense.com/2024/12/pentagon-launches-new-generative-ai-cell-with-100m-for-pilots-experiments/
Frontiers
UChicago Researchers Report New Architecture Could Scale up Superconducting Quantum Devices
(Matt Swayne – Quantum Insider – 11 December 2024) Researchers at UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering have developed a modular superconducting quantum processor with a reconfigurable router, enabling all-to-all qubit connectivity for scalable and flexible quantum computing. Unlike traditional 2-D grid designs, this processor clusters qubits around a central hub, drawing inspiration from classical computer networks to enhance entanglement and operability while addressing fabrication challenges. The design promises to overcome limitations of planar quantum processors by offering a scalable architecture, aiming to support millions of qubits for fault-tolerant and practical quantum computing applications. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/12/11/uchicago-researchers-report-new-architecture-could-scale-up-superconducting-quantum-devices/
Welcome to The Quantum Memory Matrix — Hypothesis Offers New Insight Into Black Hole Information Paradox
(Matt Swayne – Quantum Insider – 11 December 2024) A new hypothesis suggests that space-time itself stores quantum information, potentially resolving the Black Hole Information Paradox. The Quantum Memory Matrix (QMM) framework embeds data within quantized space-time, preserving unitarity and reconciling quantum mechanics with general relativity. QMM could also inform quantum computing, improve black hole models, and inspire experimental tests through Hawking radiation or gravitational wave observations. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/12/11/welcome-to-the-quantum-memory-matrix-hypothesis-offers-new-insight-into-black-hole-information-paradox/
Oxford Instruments NanoScience Installs Dilution Refrigerators in The NQCC’s Purpose-built Research Labs
(Matt Swayne – Quantum Insider – 11 December 2024) Oxford Instruments NanoScience has installed three ProteoxMX dilution refrigerators at the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), supporting the development of scalable superconducting qubit systems for quantum computing research at the Harwell Campus. The ProteoxMX systems’ modular Secondary Insert design allows the NQCC to optimize experimental workflows by configuring setups outside the refrigerators and swapping them in, enabling simultaneous experiments and maximizing system uptime. Oxford Instruments collaborated with the NQCC to ensure smooth installation, including advising on lab layouts and accommodating temporary facility requirements, marking a milestone in advancing the UK’s quantum computing technology roadmap. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/12/11/oxford-instruments-nanoscience-installs-dilution-refrigerators-in-the-nqccs-purpose-built-research-labs/
Hamburg Consortium to Develop New Quantum AI Methods For Researching The Smallest Material Building Blocks in The World
(Matt Swayne – Quantum Insider – 11 December 2024) A new consortium, including ParityQC, DESY, eleQtron, and the DLR Quantum Computing Initiative, has received funding from the Hamburg Investment and Development Bank to develop a full-stack quantum solution for processing image data in particle physics experiments at CERN. The HQML project combines quantum hardware, advanced algorithms, and artificial intelligence to accelerate large-scale image data analysis, addressing challenges posed by the enormous data generated by the Large Hadron Collider and paving the way for broader applications in fields like medical diagnostics and environmental analysis. Led by ParityQC and supported by DESY, eleQtron, and DLR QCI, the project integrates expertise in quantum algorithm optimization, hardware development, and benchmarking, positioning Hamburg as a global leader in quantum computing innovation. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/12/11/hamburg-consortium-to-develop-new-quantum-ai-methods-for-researching-the-smallest-material-building-blocks-in-the-world/
Agencies look to automation software to usher in next phase of post-quantum security
(Alexandra Kelley – NextGov – 11 December 2024) Agencies beginning the process of preparing their systems for future quantum threats are investigating how automated cryptography software can be incorporated into existing capabilities, the first step in a series of assessments to marry legacy systems with quantum-resilient technology. Leadership at participating agencies spoke with Nextgov/FCW about the path towards creating quantum-resilient networks. Following the release of the first standardized post-quantum cryptography algorithms, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are working with industry partners to spearhead the algorithms’ adoption within federal agencies. – https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2024/12/agencies-look-automation-software-usher-next-phase-post-quantum-security/401597/?oref=ng-homepage-river
Microrobots prove successful in mouse cancer treatment, scientists eye human trials
(Paulina Okunytė – Cybernews – 11 December 2024) A team of scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has developed microrobots that can swim through various bodily fluids, navigate themselves to specific targets in the body, unload therapeutic drugs, and dissolve without causing any damage to health. “Rather than putting a drug into the body and letting it diffuse everywhere, now we can guide our microrobots directly to a tumor site and release the drug in a controlled and efficient way,” said Wei Gao, professor of medical engineering at Caltech and the author of the study. – https://cybernews.com/science/microrobots-drugs-delivery-caltech/
Watch spherical robocops patrol streets in China
(Justinas Vainilavičius – Cybernews – 11 December 2024) Strange spherical machines that look like mini Death Stars and can apparently shoot nets to catch criminals were spotted rolling alongside human police officers. Called RT-G, the machine was developed by the Chinese robotics company Logon Technology, which described it as a “technological breakthrough” in a recent press release. – https://cybernews.com/ai-news/spherical-robot-robocop-patrol-china/
Willow Wows Elon Musk in X Exchange With Sundar Pichai
(Matt Swayne – Quantum Insider – 10 December 2024) After remaining largely silent on quantum computing, Elon Musk signaled newfound interest when responding “Wow” on X (formerly Twitter) to Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s unveiling of Google Quantum AI’s new “Willow” chip. Willow achieves both exponential error reduction and unprecedented computational speed, enabling it to solve problems in minutes that would take the world’s fastest supercomputers 10 septillion years. In their exchange, Musk and Pichai explored not only quantum’s transformative potential but also broader visions of civilization’s future energy use, hinting at a shared ambition to harness advanced technologies for planetary-scale progress. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/12/09/willow-wows-elon-musk-in-x-exchange-with-sundar-pichai/
Pasqal and Riverlane Pursue Real-Time Quantum Error Correction for Fault-Tolerant Neutral Atom Technology
(Cierra Choucair – Quantum Insider – 10 December 2024) Pasqal and Riverlane announced a partnership to advance fault-tolerant quantum computing, integrating Pasqal’s neutral atom platform with Riverlane’s Deltaflow quantum error correction stack. Deltaflow is designed to detect and correct errors in quantum computations, addressing the challenges of noisy small-scale systems and potentially contributing to the progress toward reliable, large-scale quantum computers. The collaboration intends to accelerate real-time error correction capabilities, with potential applications in energy, pharmaceuticals, materials science, and artificial intelligence. Pasqal and Riverlane plan to co-develop business initiatives and pursue funding opportunities, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in overcoming quantum computing’s technical and commercial barriers. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/12/10/pasqal-and-riverlane-pursue-real-time-quantum-error-correction-for-fault-tolerant-neutral-atom-technology/
Arctic Instruments Secures $2.47M to Scale Superconducting Amplifiers for Quantum Computers
(Cierra Choucair – Quantum Insider – 10 December 2024) Arctic Instruments, a spinout from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, secured €2.35 million (approximately $2.47 million) in funding led by Lifeline Ventures to advance its superconducting microwave amplifier technology, essential for scaling quantum computers with accurate qubit state readout. The company’s amplifiers, developed through VTT’s research, are capable of delivering thousands of near-quantum-limited amplifiers consistently, addressing a critical need as quantum computers scale to 10,000 qubits and beyond. Quantum computers with more qubits enable higher performance and can solve complex problems across industries like chemicals, life sciences, and finance, which McKinsey estimates could generate $2 trillion in value by 2035. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/12/10/arctic-instruments-secures-2-47m-to-scale-superconducting-amplifiers-for-quantum-computers/
NRFC Announces $13 Million (AUD) Investment in Quantum Brilliance to Build Australia’s First Quantum Diamond Foundry
(Matt Swayne – Quantum Insider – 10 December 2024) The National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) has invested $13 million in Quantum Brilliance (QB) to establish one of the world’s first foundries for quantum diamond devices, critical components for quantum computing and sensing technologies. The investment will enhance Australia’s leadership in diamond quantum technology, supporting advanced manufacturing, research partnerships with La Trobe University and RMIT University, and the creation of high-skilled domestic jobs. QB’s room-temperature, small, lightweight quantum diamond devices offer unique advantages for large-scale deployment and robust performance, positioning Australia as a global hub for mass-deployable quantum technologies. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/12/10/nrfc-announces-13-million-investment-in-quantum-brilliance-to-build-australias-first-quantum-diamond-foundry/
Google Quantum AI: New Quantum Chip Outperforms Classical Computers and Breaks Error Correction Threshold
(Matt Swayne – Quantum Insider – 9 December 2024) Google Quantum AI’s new 105-qubit Willow chip marks a new milestone in quantum computing for the company, demonstrating enhanced computational power, scalable error correction, and a path toward commercially viable systems. In a benchmark test, Willow performed a calculation in minutes that would take the fastest classical supercomputer an astronomical timeframe, illustrating the exponential advantage of quantum over classical computation. By showing that increasing qubit numbers can actually reduce errors, the Willow chip validates a fundamental approach to quantum error correction, paving the way for large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum machines capable of tackling real-world challenges. – https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/12/09/google-quantum-ai-new-quantum-chip-outperforms-classical-computers-and-breaks-error-correction-threshold/