Quantum researchers from JPMorgan Chase, Quantinuum and others have achieved a major milestone in cybersecurity by generating certified random numbers using a quantum computer.

The team's work, recently published inNature, showcases how quantum systems can create randomness that is mathematically proven to be unpredictable-an essential leap forward in securing systems like online banking and digital voting.

Traditional computers rely on pseudo-random algorithms to mimic randomness, which are ultimately deterministic and vulnerable if the algorithm or seed is uncovered.

By contrast, the team used Quantinuum's 56-qubit trapped-ion quantum processor to produce over 70,000 certified random bits. The process is so complex that replicating it with current supercomputers would be practically impossible.

The results were independently verified, confirming that no algorithm was involved in generating the sequence.

The breakthrough goes beyond theoretical exercises often associated with quantum computing and demonstrates practical, real-world impact in cryptography, where random numbers must be truly unguessable to keep digital systems secure.

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