r/computerscience • u/National-Dragonfly35 • 3d ago

IBM quantum computer solves classically intractable problem in 15 minutes

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829035219.htm

"The researchers showed that their method preserves the same computational hardness criteria associated with RCS, meaning the problem remains extremely difficult for classical computers. At the same time, the added structure allows errors to be detected during the quantum computation."

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u/Cryptizard 2d ago

Well I’m a cryptographer so the main thing they would be useful for to me is breaking almost all of the public key encryption that we use to underpin security on the internet today.

In terms of productive uses, they are more speculative. Quantum computers might be better at some optimization problems. They are probably better at simulating atomic and molecular physics, materials science problems, etc. But we don’t know these for sure.

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u/Foreign_Implement897 2d ago

Is there currently any point to all of the post-quantum crypto marketing?

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u/Cryptizard 2d ago

Yes. A huge point. It is one of the biggest challenges facing the internet and technology landscape in the next decade. If anything it is massively under hyped.

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u/kalmakka 2d ago

Absolutely. Any decade now, (maybe even this century!) quantum computers will be able to factor the number 35. And then all encryption based on classical compitsion will be toast.

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u/Cryptizard 2d ago

This is massively ignorant. You can see the progress being made right in front of your face if you care to look.

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u/kalmakka 2d ago

I've seen the progress done in the last 25 years. It is pretty close to nothing.

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u/Cryptizard 2d ago

Like I said, you are ignorant.

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2507.03678

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u/Foreign_Implement897 2d ago

I think you read that wrong. It does not show what you think it shows.