Maybe no longer ones and zeroes Valdimir

"Quantum computing and AI. Used for good, they will propel us into a brave new world. Used with bad intentions, they would be the end of us all. But Valdimir was correct - cyber will play a big part in the next war, be it digital, quantum and/or AI. We need to be ready."    

Vladimir Putin is rumored to have said that the next world war would be fought with ones and zeroes instead of bullets and bombs. Hmm - seems someone forgot to give both sides fighting the Ukrainian War that memo. Anyhow, he is (or was) maybe correct on that issue. With the proper cyber warfare, you could literally bring a country to its knees. And do it without leaving home.

We (along with others) are rapidly developing broad based quantum computing. With this "spooky" type of computing, we will be able to do amazing things, things which at one time were impossible. Quantum computing will use qubits - which can exist in multiple states simultaneously (told you it was spooky). How good will quantum computing be? You can ditch the ones and zeroes, as they will become "so yesterday".

By the way, regardless if the digital form of computing is used, or if quantum computing is used, FBI Director Wray had a showstopper of a statement yesterday in front of Congress. Seems our good friends the Chicoms have been busy loading our infrastructure up with malware. So much so, should hostilities break out with China, they could shut down our water treatment plants, electrical grid, communications, and distribution systems. Wray said that the Chicoms have put so much effort, do many resources into their upcoming cyber war with America, if we put every cyber asset we had on the Chicom problem, their cyber experts would still outnumber ours 50-1.

But wait - this is not a totally bad news story. We DO have the technology and resources to go toe to toe with the Chicoms. But that expertise lies mostly in our private sector. If we could figure out a way to merge some of that smartness in a private/public partnership, without violating any companies IP, we could be in business. But without that, we will stay in the back seat. If it looks like Taiwan is going to be a flash point - better bunker up.

When we get a normal president, he or she will need to send a direct communication to the Chinese. Should you make our lights flicker, our toilets not be able to flush, our cellphones or internet going dead, our water faucets go dry - we will take that as an act of war. And we will retaliate with everything we have, including nuclear. And the first item on our target list will be your Three Gorges Dam. Let that marinate with the bad guys for just a bit.

Quantum computing and AI. Used for good, they will propel us into a brave new world. Used with bad intentions, they would be the end of us all. But Valdimir was correct - cyber will play a big part in the next war, be it digital, quantum and/or AI. We need to be ready.