On Wednesday, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) achieved a significant technological breakthrough by generating and certifying truly random numbers with a quantum computer, a pioneering step with potential implications for enhancing security and trading systems. The achievement, which was documented in a scientific paper published in Nature, was accomplished using a quantum computer developed by Honeywell (NASDAQ:HON)’s Quantinuum.
The team of researchers from JPMorgan, alongside collaborators from Argonne and Oak Ridge national laboratories and the University of Texas at Austin, successfully demonstrated through mathematical proof the production of genuine randomness. This development is critical as most random number generators currently in use are not genuinely random but are instead pre-determined sequences. Traditional computers operate on a set of programmed mathematical operations that invariably produce the same results, which poses a risk that hackers with advanced computing power could potentially breach encryption codes.
Random number generation is a vital component for encrypting sensitive data, and the authenticity of randomness is essential for maintaining the security of these encryptions. Until now, the lack of truly random number generators has been a vulnerability in data security, particularly with the advent of more powerful computing capabilities that could exploit this weakness.
Quantinuum, the company behind the quantum computer used in this research, already markets its random number generation products for applications in data centers and smart meters. However, the certification of randomness achieved by JPMorgan and its partners provides verifiable assurance that the numbers generated are indeed random. This certification is expected to enable industries with high stakes in security, such as critical infrastructure and financial services, to begin implementing these quantum-generated random numbers in their applications, potentially leading to more robust security systems.
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