Today's point of view
Our reporter Liu Xia
A few weeks ago, senior Pentagon official Michael Griffin and scientists at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio discussed the future of US military quantum computing. Griffin is the deputy director of research and engineering defense at the Department of Defense. He included quantum computers and related applications in the list of R&D investments that the Pentagon must conduct.
The US space network reported in a July 16 report that the US military sees quantum computing as a 'game rule changer' with the potential to change the face of information and space warfare. The Pentagon fears that with the rapid advancement of quantum computing technology, the United States needs Strictly waiting.
US military pays attention to quantum communication and navigation
The US Air Force pays special attention to the field of quantum information science. Michael Hayduk, head of computing and communications at the Air Force Research Laboratory, said: 'We think this is a very disruptive technology.'
Hayduk delivered a speech at a meeting of the US Defense Innovation Commission (DIB) last week. The committee is a panel of technology company CEOs and scientists to advise the Secretary of Defense.
Haiduk believes that artificial intelligence algorithms, highly secure encryption for communication satellites, and precise navigation without GPS signals are areas where quantum computing can make a difference. He said: 'We have invested a lot of manpower, material and financial resources. Research laboratories hope to play a key role in developing software and algorithms for driving applications.'
The Pentagon is particularly interested in developing secure communications and inertial navigation systems (an autonomous navigation system that does not rely on external information and does not radiate energy externally) in environments that reject GPS and compete with GPS, Haiduk says: 'Some of these technologies take years to achieve. In terms of timing and sensing, we will develop prototype systems in 5 years.'
For example, in the case of multi-weapons and multi-spacecraft, such as multi-weapons and multi-spacecraft, quantum clocks are considered as a viable alternative to GPS. 'We are seeing GPS-like accuracy in GPS-rejected environments, GPS It usually takes multiple updates in a day to keep the platform in sync. We hope to go beyond this, so if we are in a rejected environment, we can still keep up.
Increased global competition in the field of quantum computing
At the same time, the Pentagon is also continuing to pay attention to the dynamics of other countries in this field. Haiduk said that China attaches great importance to the field of quantum computing, and it is expected that China's investment in quantum computing will reach 10 billion in the next five years. The dollar has increased to $15 billion, and China has developed quantum satellites that cannot be attacked.
Haiduk said: 'China has demonstrated outstanding technology; in the United States, we already have a key part. But what we are focusing on is not only imitating what China has done in terrestrial satellite communications. We are concerned about the entire ecosystem - Ground, air, space, and building a real quantum network.'
Other countries are also beginning to get involved in this area. The UK is planning a $400 million quantum technology-based sensing and timing project; a similar project in the EU is expected to invest $1 billion in 10 years; Canada, Australia and Israel also have A fairly large scale plan.
Hayduk said that what these projects have in common is that they are national plans, which is quite different from what is happening in the United States.
The US Congress has proposed a $800 million budget for the Pentagon's quantum project for the next five years. Hayduk said that money is important, but the Department of Defense also needs human capital. 'There are thirst for quantum physicists around the world. We Need quantum development engineers, and researchers who can apply quantum technology. Another problem is the lack of a domestic supply chain (most of the current suppliers are not in the US) and test laboratories focused on quantum science.
Quantum technology for artificial intelligence to provoke controversy
In the military's use of artificial intelligence, a focus of widespread debate is how quantum technology can be applied to artificial intelligence.
Although the technology industry has a distrust of the military's intention to use artificial intelligence - which prompted Google to stop working with the Air Force to develop machine learning algorithms, DIB Chairman Eric Schmidt has been pushing the Pentagon to embrace artificial intelligence, Schmidt Is the former executive chairman of Google's parent company 'Alphabet'.
The Pentagon announced this month that it will set up a joint artificial intelligence center led by Dana's chief information officer, Dana Dish. Dicky said the center will coordinate the entire Department of Defense research in the field of artificial intelligence, and with the private sector and universities. Contact other laboratories.
At the DIB meeting, Schmidt said that the new artificial intelligence center is 'the beginning of a very large plan that will affect everyone in a good way.'
Moreover, given the recent ethical issues surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in military operations, the Pentagon has asked the committee to help develop the 'Artificial Intelligence Principle' for defense.
For years, defense and intelligence officials have been complaining that commanders in the field have been hampered by work due to the lack of timely data and reliable communication systems. Artificial intelligence technology is believed to help analyze data and provide accurate guidance to leaders in real time. The necessary conditions for information.