The UAE does not tend to feature in amongst the usual suspects: China, Russia or the USA, to name a few, when it comes to discussions which surround quantum computing. The race narrative has long prevailed where nations behind the scenes or in plain sight vie for supremacy and to cement their strategic advantage vis-à-vis their rivals and allies.
If you zoom out and go beyond the well-worn territory of West versus East, democracy versus authoritarianism or any other Cold War-esque dichotomies you can muster that to paraphrase: pit “good versus evil”. Multilayered game of chess aside and behind the rhetorical bluster is us: humanity. Whose perspective do we miss – and further still – who benefits or is it not as zero-sum as we perceive? It is these questions I seek to address as the Gulf nation embarks on a post-quantum world.
Quantum leap: talk is cheap?
For all the hype that swarms around quantum. What is it I hear you say and what the devil is post-quantum cryptography – or even more to the point – why does it matter? Quantum leap it may be but talk is cheap so tell me the stakes and you will get my attention.
The foundations of computing is built on binary: 0 and 1. Data and computers can be be reduced to this concept – so – where does quantum computing fit into all of this? Quantum computing is not new and has been discussed for decades. It has captured attention as it goes beyond 0 and 1 – that is – from a quantum computation perspective it can be in a state of 0 and 1 – at the same time.
In a nutshell, this is where its power lies and unleashes enormous potential to tackle all sorts of tasks faster as well as exploration in realms which have previously been out of reach or not even on our radar. Simply put, it holds a lot of promise and has attracted interest far and wide: academia, industry, government and further afield who are drawn to its innovative capabilities once it is widely deployed. It is a prospect that is closer than policymakers – and even – society at large – realise or can fathom.
Mind sweep to knowledge we seek
Leaders and businesses in the UAE will have surveyed the horizon in light of fast-paced technological developments and are conscious of diversification beyond oil. Minds have been brought together that have not only sought to position the Gulf nation as a key international aviation hub – no doubt under immense strain during the ongoing worldwide pandemic – but also – a digital leader in the region as the UAE jostles to be at the front of the pack on the global stage.
Thus, measures have been taken to address its knowledge requirements that will foster growth whilst in tandem protect the nation’s assets from harm. Dual-use technology will always exist that much is true. The urge to innovate is strong and the need to keep up is even stronger. It acts as a motivator whether they are leveraged for good or ill by state or non-state actors.
If that is the sole driver for UAE’s commitment to innovation it is self-evident – yet – there is always two sides to a coin: enter security. For instance, Peter Shor is a well-known figure in the computer science community who has sounded the alarm on quantum computing in terms of the risk to our data – and – above all – to the very fabric of the Internet’s encryption system.
In essence, it is worth taking the time to reflect on the implications that increased digitalisation and hyperconnectivity alone will have. For the UAE, whether the adversary is in your own regional backyard or on the other side of the world. Distance provides no comfort so geopolitical risk should be a heightened concern and a top priority on security grounds.
In too deep and mission creep
Digital transformation is at the centre of the UAE’s political and economic strategy. It permeates many facets of everyday life and therein lies a responsibility to safeguard. Knowledge is your weapon and to source that beyond your borders – let alone – the region – will leave you vulnerable.
It is imperative to embed the know-how internally so you can start to plan and defences regardless of when the time of a post-quantum world will finally come. Research centres have been established in order to alleviate concerns and are tasked with the mission to create and implement algorithmic buffers – post-quantum cryptography – that will be necessary to withstand the computational power it could bring to bear.
However, in practice it does raise questions. For example, the UAE has not only struck up a partnership with Yale University but also Microsoft which caught my eye. At first glance, it is a win-win relationship: UAE is able to gain knowledge whilst Microsoft is able to share its expertise. Does it highlight asymmetrical power – not just with the predominance of the USA in academic terms – but also corporate? Is there a risk of mission creep? What may have started off as benign goodwill may spell overreliance – or maybe that is no accident.
Humanity: reap or weep?
It would appear the race of nations narrative is impossible to escape. The crux of the matter is whether quantum computing is a distraction or hyped. Needless to say, it has still prompted leaders of the UAE to take action as they await its innovative potential and address the security concerns it raises.
What strikes me is that innovation is an underlying philosophy which is held up for its intrinsic value. It is tied up with progress and no one wants to be seen as behind the curve. The prestige factor to be at the forefront of scientific endeavour and marvel at cutting-edge technologies that will usher in so-called societal betterment. It has normative appeal irrespective of its technosolutionism and utopian vision at its heart.
The UAE as an outlier to the Euro-North American sphere of influence or other advanced economies that lead in technology and STEM in general. The asymmetry and dependence is hard to avoid and locks in lesser technologically developed nations into relational dynamics that are questionable. After all, it is humanity that will reap the benefits or weep from the destruction.
It may or may not be – either or – but you cannot help but wonder what it all means for us? On balance: are we really better off or is it mere folly? Both. UAE – UK – USA. That is irrelevant yet we all play our part in perpetual competition. It need not be good or bad but rather know it is at the core of our DNA so when a post-quantum world does arrive. We have our eyes wide open.