Artificiële Intelligentie & Recht
Innovation, Quantum-AI Technology & Law

Blog over Kunstmatige Intelligentie, Quantum, Deep Learning, Blockchain en Big Data Law

Blog over juridische, sociale, ethische en policy aspecten van Kunstmatige Intelligentie, Quantum Computing, Sensing & Communication, Augmented Reality en Robotica, Big Data Wetgeving en Machine Learning Regelgeving. Kennisartikelen inzake de EU AI Act, de Data Governance Act, cloud computing, algoritmes, privacy, virtual reality, blockchain, robotlaw, smart contracts, informatierecht, ICT contracten, online platforms, apps en tools. Europese regels, auteursrecht, chipsrecht, databankrechten en juridische diensten AI recht.

Stanford University Library Creates Permanent RQT Scholarship Repository Of Selected Works
Stanford University Library Creates Permanent RQT Scholarship Repository Of Selected Works

Stanford, CA, July 10, 2025 – Stanford University Library, in a significant move to advance the field of responsible quantum innovation, has established a dedicated digital scholarship repository for the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT), that had its Law School tenure from December 2023 to January 2025. This new collection, accessible via the persistent URL https://purl.stanford.edu/hp536nb5631, will preserve and showcase the influential research and scholarly output of the Center, ensuring its global accessibility for researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders.

The Stanford Center for RQT, founded by Mauritz Kop and part of the Stanford Program in Law, Science & Technology led by Mark Lemley, stands at the forefront of shaping a future where quantum advancements contribute to equitable and beneficial social goals. With a mission to foster interdisciplinary research, education, and collaboration, the Center addresses the profound societal impacts of quantum technologies, promoting competition, transparency, inclusivity, intergenerational equity, and sustainable innovation, all while safeguarding human rights and democratic values. A highlight of the Center's public engagement is its annual Stanford Responsible Quantum Technology Conference, which brings together global leaders to discuss the field's most pressing issues. The creation of this repository marks a milestone in the Center's efforts to disseminate its foundational works, and ensures their longevity.

The Stanford Library Permanent RQT Repository

The initial collection features a selection of the Center's influential publications that underscore its commitment to a holistic and forward-thinking governance approach. The showcased works include:

10 Principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation: Published in IOP Quantum Science and Technology, this seminal paper by Mauritz Kop and his team outlines a guiding framework for the ethical development of quantum technologies, emphasizing principles from safeguarding and accountability to advancing societal well-being.

Towards Responsible Quantum Technology: This foundational paper from the Harvard Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society Research Publication Series, authored by Mauritz Kop, Mateo Aboy, Eline De Jong, Urs Gasser, Timo Minssen, I. Glenn Cohen, Mark Brongersma, Teresa Quintel, Luciano Floridi & Ray Laflamme, lays out a comprehensive vision for the responsible development and stewardship of the quantum ecosystem.

A Project-Based Approach to Responsible Quantum Innovation

In addition to its publications, the Center's work is driven by a project-based approach that tackles critical challenges at the intersection of quantum technology and society. Key projects include:

Regulating Quantum Technology: This foundational project performs a detailed study of how to sensibly regulate second-generation (2G) quantum technology. It aims to design sui generis governance frameworks that offer strategic blueprints for decision-makers, integrating risk management, resource optimization, and safety standards to ensure that the benefits of quantum are distributed equitably.

Quantum Leap: Decoding Quantum Computing Innovation: In collaboration with the University of Cambridge, this empirical project by Mateo Aboy conducts a comprehensive analysis of the patent landscape in quantum computing. By examining patenting trends, the project provides valuable, evidence-based insights to inform policy decisions related to intellectual property, innovation, and regulation in this rapidly evolving field.

Key Stanford Center for RQT Focus Areas

The Center's research and policy advocacy are concentrated on several key areas critical to the future of quantum technology:

Global Governance and Standards: Studying how technical standards, certification, and other governance mechanisms can foster the trust needed for technology uptake and responsible deployment. This includes exploring governance tipping points, geopolitics, smart regulation, dual-use, supply chains, and export controls, all within a framework that advances first-to-market innovation, reinforces human rights and safeguards democratic values.

Quantum Diplomacy and Government Advocacy: Informing policymakers, diplomats, and the judiciary about the principles of responsible quantum technology, and fostering international dialogue and strategic alliances to shape effective global governance strategies.

The establishment of this repository by the Stanford University Library not only provides a permanent home for the Center's vital scholarship but also reinforces Stanford's leadership in the global dialogue on technology governance. It serves as an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand and contribute to the responsible development of the quantum future.

Thanks to Professor Mark Lemley and to Beth Williams, Associate Dean, Robert Crown Law Library & Senior Lecturer in Law, for curating the RQT Repository.

To explore the full collection, please visit https://purl.stanford.edu/hp536nb5631.

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Academics, Quantum ELSPI, Quantum Technology, Stanford RQT, UniversityMauritz KopStanford University Library, RQT Repository, Scholarship, Stanford Law School, Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology, Fellows, Conference, Mark Lemley, Mauritz Kop
Mauritz Kop gives Quantum Governance Seminar at Think Tank CIGI, the Centre for International Governance Innovation
Mauritz Kop gives Quantum Governance Seminar at Think Tank CIGI, the Centre for International Governance Innovation

Honoured to give a Quantum Governance seminar this Monday at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), a leading non-partisan think tank based in Waterloo. We’ll address a critical question: Are our governance frameworks ready for Quantum-AI? https://www.cigionline.org/events/responsible-quantum-ai-governance-from-ethical-principles-to-global-frameworks/

We are approaching a metaphorical ‘Quantum Event Horizon’—an inflection point, or quantum governance ‘tipping point’ beyond which our ability to steer advanced quantum technology and AI towards beneficial societal outcomes, may be lost. In a geopolitical context defined by a winner-takes-all race for the keys to the world’s operating system, the stakes could not be higher. This issue is at the heart of CIGI’s project on the guidance of emerging dual-use technologies.

Responsible Quantum AI Governance: From Ethical Principles to Global Frameworks

My lecture, titled ‘Responsible Quantum AI Governance: From Ethical Principles to Global Frameworks’ explores why traditional governance and quantum diplomacy are not enough to address systemic rivalry and human-machine control problems. Instead, it requires planetary-level thinking and a fundamental shift from reactive oversight to novel paradigms of architectural control. The work builds on ideas we first explored in 'Ethics in the Quantum Age' (Physics World) and 'Establishing a Legal-Ethical Framework for Quantum Technology' (Yale Journal of Law & Technology).

Multi-layered governance strategy

I will make the case for a multi-layered governance strategy. In addition to hardwiring universal values into the technology itself via Quantum-Resistant Constitutional AI, we need robust global legal frameworks and oversight bodies ensuring non-proliferation of dual-use quantum-AI technologies via safeguards implementation (inspired by nuclear governance), including the creation of an 'Atomic Agency for Quantum-AI' and a new international treaty to constitute a ‘Quantum Acquis Planétaire’, or 'Global Quantum Acquis'. This dual approach is grounded in the principles of responsible quantum innovation we've outlined in recent publications with Nature, Harvard Law, Stanford Law, and the Institute of Physics.

I will conclude my talk with emphasizing that building a safe and equitable quantum future requires unprecedented international collaboration, drawing inspiration from successful large-scale scientific cooperation models like CERN and ITER. Now is the critical window for the international community to design and build these innovative governance structures, steering the immense power of quantum science towards beneficial outcomes for all of humanity.

We hope you can join what promises to be a vital discussion.

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Academics, ConferenceMauritz KopCIGI, Seminar, Quantum Governance, Mauritz Kop
Quantum Event Horizon: Addressing the Quantum-AI Control Problem through Quantum-Resistant Constitutional AI
Quantum Event Horizon: Addressing the Quantum-AI Control Problem through Quantum-Resistant Constitutional AI

What happens when AI becomes not just superintelligent, but quantum-superintelligent? QAI agents with both classical and quantum capabilities? How do we ensure we remain in control?

This is the central question of my new article, where I introduce the concept of the Quantum Event Horizon to frame the urgency of the QAI control problem. As we near this point of no return, the risk of losing control to misaligned systems—machines taking over or seeing them weaponized—becomes acute.

A metaphorical Quantum Event Horizon can be thought of as an inflection point, or quantum governance 'tipping point' beyond which our ability to steward advanced quantum technology and AI towards beneficial outcomes for all of humanity, may vanish.

Simple guardrails are not enough. The solution must be architectural. I propose a new paradigm: Quantum-Resistant Constitutional AI, a method for engineering our core values into the foundation of QAI itself. This is a crucial discussion for policymakers, researchers, builders, and industry leaders.

Navigating the Quantum Event Horizon

This paper addresses the impending control problem posed by the synthesis of quantum computing and artificial intelligence (QAI). It posits that the emergence of potentially superintelligent QAI agents creates a governance challenge that is fundamentally different from and more acute than those posed by classical AI. Traditional solutions focused on technical alignment are necessary but insufficient for the novel risks and capabilities of QAI. The central thesis is that navigating this challenge requires a paradigm shift from reactive oversight to proactive, upfront constitutional design.

The core of the argument is framed by the concept of the ‘Quantum Event Horizon’—a metaphorical boundary beyond which the behavior, development, and societal impact of QAI become computationally opaque and practically impossible to predict or control using conventional methods. Drawing on the Collingridge dilemma and the Copenhagen interpretation, this concept highlights the risk of a "point of no return," where technological lock-in, spurred by a "ChatGPT moment" for quantum, could cement irreversible geopolitical realities, empower techno-authoritarianism, and present an unmanageable control problem (the risk of machines taking over). Confronting this requires a new philosophy for governing non-human intelligence.

Machines Taking Over

The urgency is magnified by a stark geopolitical context, defined by a Tripartite Dilemma between the existential safety concerns articulated by figures like Geoffrey Hinton, the geopolitical security imperative for rapid innovation voiced by Eric Schmidt, and the builder’s need to balance progress with safety, as expressed by Demis Hassabis. This dilemma is enacted through competing global innovation models: the permissionless, market-driven US system; the state-led, top-down Chinese system; and the values-first, deliberative EU model. In this winner-takes-all race, the first actor to achieve a decisive QAI breakthrough could permanently shape global norms and our way of life.

An Atomic Agency for Quantum-AI

Given these stakes, current control paradigms like human-in-the-loop oversight are inadequate. The speed and complexity of QAI render direct human control impossible, a practical manifestation of crossing the Quantum Event Horizon. Therefore, governance must be multi-layered, integrating societal and institutional frameworks. This includes establishing an "Atomic Agency for Quantum-AI" for international oversight and promoting Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT) by Design, guided by principles such as those outlined in our '10 Principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation' article. These frameworks must be led by robust public governance—as corporate self-regulation is insufficient due to misaligned incentives—and must address the distributive justice imperative to prevent a "Quantum Divide."

Towards Quantum-Resistant Constitutional AI

The cornerstone of our proposed solution is Quantum-Resistant Constitutional AI. This approach argues that if we cannot control a QAI agent tactically, we must constrain it architecturally. It builds upon the concept of Constitutional AI by designing a core set of ethical and safety principles (a 'constitution') that are not merely trained into the model but are formally verified and made robust against both classical and quantum-algorithmic exploitation. By hardwiring this quantum-secure constitution into the agent's core, we can create a form of verifiable, built-in control that is more likely to endure as the agent's intelligence scales.

Self-Aware Quantum-AI Agents

Looking toward more speculative futures, the potential for a Human-AI Merger or the emergence of a QAI Hive Mind—a networked, non-human consciousness enabled by quantum entanglement—represents the ultimate challenge and the final crossing of the Quantum Event Horizon. The foundational governance work we do today, including projects like Quantum-ELSPI, is the essential precursor to navigating these profound transformations.

In conclusion, this paper argues that for the European Union, proactively developing and implementing a framework centered on Quantum-Resistant Constitutional AI is not just a defensive measure against existential risk. It is a strategic necessity to ensure that the most powerful technology in human history develops in alignment with democratic principles, securing the EU’s role as a global regulatory leader in the 21st century.

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Artificial Intelligence, Guardrails, Quantum Technology, Quantum ELSPI, Quantum-AIMauritz KopQuantum-AI, Control Problem, Quantum-Resistant Constitutional AI, Quantum Event Horizon, Ethics, Law, Geopolitics, Democracy versus Authoritarianism, Abundance, Dual Use, Quantum-AI agents, Machine Consciousness, QAI Hive Mind, Atomic Agency for Quantum-AI, Towards A European Quantum Act, Quantum Acquis Planétaire
Music Law and Artificial Intelligence: From Cloned Artists to AI-Generated Works
Music Law and Artificial Intelligence: From Cloned Artists to AI-Generated Works

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in the music industry is sparking a revolution, profoundly changing how music is created. This development raises complex legal questions concerning AI and copyright, including related rights. How can we protect the creative rights of artists and composers while simultaneously allowing room for technological innovation? In this comprehensive yet accessible legal overview, we explore key issues regarding AI and music. These include whether AI can legally train on copyrighted materials without consent, TDM exceptions, how various rights organizations (such as Buma/Stemra and Sena) approach AI, the status of AI-generated musical works, the threshold of human creativity required, protection against AI voice cloning via privacy laws and moral rights, contractual implications, new obligations under the EU AI Act, differences between European and American law, and ongoing lawsuits. This article is tailored for artists, composers, music publishers, labels, voice actors, producers, and AI companies seeking clarity on their legal standing.

AI Training on Protected Music and Video Materials: Legal Framework and Debate

Can an AI model in the Netherlands and the EU train on copyrighted material (such as music or video) without permission from the rights holders? Generally, using protected material beyond private use or citation requires permission. Scraping or using data for AI training without permission is typically considered infringement unless a specific legal exception applies.

Buma/Stemra’s Opt-Out Policy

In the Netherlands, Buma/Stemra explicitly uses its opt-out rights, requiring prior consent for TDM on its repertoire, thus ensuring fair compensation for composers and lyricists.

EU AI Act: Transparency Obligations and System Monitoring

The EU AI Act, effective from August 2025, introduces important transparency requirements, obliging generative AI model developers to:

  1. Disclose training data used, including copyrighted music or texts.

  2. Maintain policies ensuring compliance with EU copyright law.

  3. Respect explicit opt-out signals from rights holders during training.

The Act doesn't prohibit using protected material for training outright but enforces transparency and compliance through oversight and penalties.

Composition, Lyrics, and Master Recordings: Different Rights Regimes

Music rights in the Netherlands broadly split into:

A. Copyright: Protects compositions and lyrics, managed by organizations like Buma/Stemra.

B. Neighboring Rights: Protect recordings and performances, managed by Sena.

AI-Generated Compositions and Lyrics: Completely AI-generated works often fail to meet traditional copyright criteria, as human creativity is essential.

Neighboring Rights: It remains uncertain whether AI-generated performances and recordings attract neighboring rights, as these typically rely on human involvement.

Copyright Status of AI-Generated Music

In the U.S., fully AI-generated works explicitly do not receive copyright protection. While Europe hasn't clarified explicitly, the prevailing legal view aligns with this stance—AI-generated works likely fall into the public domain unless there's significant human creativity involved.

Hybrid Creations: Music combining human and AI input may qualify for copyright protection depending on the human creative contribution's significance.

AI Voice Cloning: Personality Rights and Privacy

AI voice cloning technology poses challenges regarding personal rights and privacy. Artists may invoke:

  1. Privacy rights under EU law (Article 8 ECHR).

  2. Personality rights.

  3. Potential trademark and image rights analogously.

The EU AI Act mandates transparency in AI-generated content, aiming to mitigate unauthorized use and deepfake concerns.

Music Contracts in the AI Era

Existing music contracts require updates addressing AI-specific matters, including (1) Explicit licensing terms for AI training; (2) Ownership clarity of AI-generated content; and (3) Liability assignment for copyright infringements involving AI.

Conclusion: Balancing Innovation and Rights—Be Prepared

The intersection of AI and music law presents both opportunities and challenges. Stakeholders should proactively:

  1. Clearly define rights in AI-generated music contractually and update existing music contracts.

  2. Specify permissions (licenses) and restrictions (opt-out) regarding AI training explicitly.

  3. Seek specialized music & AI legal advice to navigate evolving regulations.

By strategically addressing these issues, artists, companies, and AI developers can legally and effectively harness AI innovations, maintaining both creative and commercial control.

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Artificial Intelligence, Intellectual Property, Machine Learning, Licenties, Naburige rechten, Privacywetgeving, Entertainment en Kunst, EthicsMauritz KopMusic Law, AI, Privacy, Copyrights, Neighbouring Rights, AI Generated Works, Voice-Cloning, Buma/Stemra, Sena, Opt-out, Music Contracts, EU AI Act, Licensing, Privacy Laws, Intellectual Property, Mauritz Kop
Towards an Atomic Agency for Quantum-AI
Towards an Atomic Agency for Quantum-AI

Stanford, CA May 5, 2025 — Today, Mauritz Kop published interdisciplinary research proposing “A Principled Approach to Quantum Technologies”, and the establishment of an “Atomic Agency for Quantum-AI” on the website of the European Commission. The Atomic Agency essay analyzes emerging AI and quantum technology (including their increasing complementarity and interdependence embodied in quantum-AI hybrids) regulation, export controls, and technical standards in the U.S., EU, and China, comparing legislative efforts anno 2025 to strategically balance the benefits and risks of these transformative technologies through the lens of their distinct innovation systems. The Principled Approach paper posits that quantum technology's dual use character brings with it the need to balance maximizing benefits with mitigating risks. In this spirit, the paper argues that quantum technology development should best be guided by a framework for Responsible Quantum Technology, operationalized by a set of tailored principles to optimize risk-benefit curves.

Towards an Atomic Agency for Quantum-AI

The article analyzes emerging regulation, export controls, and technical standards for both quantum and AI (including their increasing complementarity and interdependence embodied in quantum-AI hybrids) in the U.S., EU, and China and offers novel conceptual frameworks to steward these technologies towards shared global benefit.

Key Takeaways:

1. Converging Need for Responsible Governance: Despite distinct innovation philosophies (market-driven in the U.S., values-based in the EU, and state-driven in China), there's a growing international consensus on the necessity for principled and responsible technology governance for both AI and quantum technologies.

2. The 'Washington Effect' vs. 'Beijing Effect': The U.S.'s security-centric policies are creating a de facto "Washington effect," potentially setting global rules for quantum law but risking premature regulation. Conversely, China's push for state-aligned standardization (e.g., via the Digital Silk Road) signals a "Beijing effect," which could export autocratic norms and fragment global interoperability, a trend exacerbated by unilateral export controls.

3. Potential U.S., EU and China Visions on a Quantum Governance Act: Given the distinct innovation ecosystems and strategic priorities of the United States, the European Union, and China, it is instructive to envision how each might hypothetically structure a dedicated legislative framework for quantum technologies. The research outlines hypothetical "Quantum Governance Acts" for each, reflecting their respective governance philosophies and innovation models, while also considering pathways towards greater international alignment based on shared values:

a. United States: Removing Barriers for U.S. Quantum Technology Act (deregulation, industrial standards-centric approach, Safeguarding through Advancing quantum technology, prioritizing market dynamism, national & economic security, and defense).

b. European Union: EU Quantum Act (harmonized regulation rooted in fundamental rights and societal benefit based on New Legislative Framework while incorporating elements from European Chips Act, renewed focus on defense via “European DARPA”).

c. China: Comprehensive Quantum Law (Safeguarding state control while Advancing state goals, blending elements of authoritarian governance with surveillance capitalism, integration of civilian and military sectors, self-reliance, exporting state norms & values through technical standards).

4. Global Challenges & Opportunities for Alignment: Faced with planetary challenges like disease, inequality and climate change, aligning on Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT) norms and standards is a critical global opportunity. The article cautions against a simplistic zero-sum game or Cold-War redux narrative for quantum competition, arguing it hinders vital international cooperation.

5. Quantum-Relativistic Innovation Theory of Everything: Philosophical thought experiment to understand innovation dynamics by drawing analogies from quantum mechanics (uncertainty, superposition at micro-level) and general relativity (context, structure at macro-level), theories about the fundamental nature of reality.

6. Smart Regulation and RQT by Design: Effective governance must move beyond mere restrictions to actively incentivize responsible behaviors, promoting "Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT) by design" through flexible instruments like Quantum Impact Assessments (QIA), RQT by design metrics, adaptive, modular legislation, & regulatory sandboxes.

7. Harmonized "Quantum Acquis Planétaire": The article advocates for a global body of Quantum Law ("Quantum Acquis Planétaire"), complemented by sector-specific practices. Such a quantum acquis would be anchored in universal ethical values and translated into foundational standards and agile legal guardrails. This requires inter-continental policymaking and strategic "recoupling" between major players like the U.S. and China, based on incentives and shared values (“what connects us” – e.g. human dignity, security, well-being).

8. An "Atomic Agency for Quantum-AI": A central proposal is the establishment of an international agency modeled after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This body would aim to enforce a global acquis, deter a quantum arms race, ensure non-proliferation of dual-use quantum-AI technologies via safeguards implementation (inspired by nuclear governance), and potentially oversee a global UN Quantum Treaty.

9. Need for International Collaboration & Research Platforms: Realizing ambitious goals like fault-tolerant quantum centric supercomputing, and scalable topological qudits unlocking higher-dimensional quantum systems leveraging multi-level logic, requires collective global expertise and collaborative research platforms akin to CERN or ITER, challenging protectionist measures that stifle necessary cooperation. Immediate global actions should focus on leveraging quantum for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), mitigating a 'Quantum Divide,' promoting quantum literacy, and building a skilled quantum workforce.

The research underscores the urgent need for robust global quantum-AI governance structures and calls for a shift from purely competitive dynamics towards pragmatic cooperation and the codification of a harmonized global framework.

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Academics, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Technology, Stanford RQTMauritz KopAtomic Agency for Quantum-AI, Export Controls, AI Governance, Regulation, Innovation Systems, Standards, China, United States, Europe, Law, Ethics, Policy, IAEA, CERN, ITER, NATO, Quantum Treaty, Nuclear, EU Quantum Act, Mauritz Kop, European DARPA, Quantum Governance Act, EU Chips Act, Dual Use, Responsible Quantum Technology, Washington Effect, Beijing Effect, Brussels Effect, Cold-war redux, Quantum-Relativistic Innovation Theory of Everything, Quantum Acquis Planétaire
Mauritz Kop Expert at Eric Schmidt backed von Neumann Commission
Mauritz Kop Expert at Eric Schmidt backed von Neumann Commission

Stanford, CA – Mauritz Kop, the Frm. Founding Executive Director of the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT), has accepted an invitation to serve as an expert on The von Neumann Commission. The announcement, made on February 1, 2025, positions Kop to contribute to a critical global dialogue at the intersection of quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and grand strategy. The Oxford-based, independent research commission is backed by the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation and other key institutions. The von Neumann Commission’s inquiry will be multifaceted, addressing the core technical prospects for quantum acceleration, its strategic implications for the global balance of power, the risks to strategic stability, and the necessary governance frameworks to ensure responsible development. The Commission's investigation is set against the backdrop of a new technological paradigm—the convergence of quantum and AI—and is informed by the historical legacy of its namesake, the strategic vision of its sponsors, and the vital perspectives of its experts.

The Quantum-AI Convergence: A New Technological Paradigm

At the heart of The von Neumann Commission's inquiry is the powerful synergy between quantum computing and artificial intelligence. This convergence is not merely additive; it is a cross-pollination that promises to redefine the boundaries of both fields. To understand this, one must first grasp the fundamental difference between classical and quantum computation.

Classical computers, from supercomputers to smartphones, process information using bits, which can exist in one of two definite states: 0 or 1. Quantum computing, by contrast, operates on the principles of quantum mechanics. It uses qubits, which can exist in a state of superposition—representing both 0 and 1 simultaneously. This property, combined with entanglement, where the state of one qubit is instantly correlated with another regardless of distance, allows quantum computers to explore a vast computational space and perform parallel calculations on an exponential scale.

Professor Kop’s Expertise as a von Neumann Commissioner

As a Commission expert, Professor Kop will contribute a multidisciplinary perspective grounded in his extensive research on the law, ethics, societal impact, and policy of quantum and AI. Professor Kop has advised numerous governments and international organizations on their quantum technology strategies, including the United States (notably the Department of State on its quantum foreign policy, U.S. Senators on quantum governance, and as a Guest Professor at the US Air Force Academy), Canada, the United Kingdom, and The Netherlands, as well as multilateral institutions such as the World Economic Forum (WEF), UNESCO, CERN, and the OECD. He has also provided expert guidance to the European Union on landmark AI legislation, including the EU AI Act and the Data Act. His specific contributions to The von Neumann Commission will draw from his expertise in:

● Geostrategy, Democracy, and Authoritarianism: Analyzing the strategic struggle between democratic and authoritarian models of technology governance. This includes his work in Foreign Policy and the Stanford-Vienna Transatlantic Technology Forum on forming a strategic tech alliance among democratic nations and his lectures at institutions like the Hoover Institution on the impact of quantum technologies on the global balance of power.

● Comparative Regulatory and Innovation Models: Analyzing the legal and policy differences between the US, EU, and China. His scholarship, including his "Ten principles for responsible quantum technology" in IOP Quantum Science and Technology, his “Establishing a Legal-Ethical Framework for Quantum Technology” at Yale University, and foundational articles at Harvard Berkman Klein and Nature, dissects these competing models and provides a crucial framework for navigating global strategic competition.

● China’s Quantum and AI Strategy: Providing in-depth analysis of China's legal, ethical, and policy landscape for quantum technologies. This includes evaluating the country's national strategy, its approach to dual use civil-military fusion, its influence on U.S. and E.U. national and economic security through China’s Digital Silk Road Initiative, and its comparative strengths and weaknesses in the global technology race, as analyzed in his “Towards an Atomic Agency for Quantum-AI” scholarship at the European Commission’s Futurium.

● National and Economic Security: Examining the role of export controls, rare earth and critical mineral supply chain vulnerability as published at the Stanford Program on Geopolitics, Technology, and Governance at CISAC / FSI, intellectual property law as published at Berkeley and the Max Planck Institute, and cybersecurity in managing the geostrategic dimensions of quantum technology. His work in these areas, including his contributions to forums like Tel Aviv University's Cyber Week, provides critical insights into protecting strategic assets.

● Standards and Governance: Contributing to the development of robust standards, certification protocols, and performance benchmarks to ensure the safety, reliability, and ethical implementation of these powerful technologies, drawing from lessons from nuclear governance, and from his conferences and seminars at Stanford, Fordham Law, Arizona State, Copenhagen, the Center for Quantum Networks (CQN) and the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) in Waterloo.

By integrating these insights, Kop will aid the Commission in formulating a holistic understanding of the challenges pertaining to systemic rivalry and great power competition ahead.

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Think Tank, Stanford RQT, GovernanceMauritz Kopvon Neumann Commission, Eric Schmidt, Quantum-AI, Great Power Rivalry, Geostrategic Competition, Game Theory, Law, Ethics, Policy, Philosophy, Stanford RQT, Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Mauritz Kop
Stanford Scholar Mauritz Kop Teaches Quantum Computing & Law at Fordham Law School
Stanford Scholar Mauritz Kop Teaches Quantum Computing & Law at Fordham Law School

New York, NY, January 21, 2025 – Stanford University scholar Mauritz Kop, a leading voice in the intricate nexus of quantum technology, AI, and law, today addressed the legal community at the Fordham Law School Library. His presentation, titled "Here Comes Quantum Computing — What the Legal Community Needs to Know," was a featured event in the Maloney Library's esteemed "Tech Lunch 'n' Learn" series, a program designed to keep legal professionals at the forefront of technological innovation.

Stanford Scholar Mauritz Kop the Quantum Future for the Legal Community at Fordham Law

Kop, the Founding Director of the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology, offered a comprehensive overview of the transformative potential and inherent risks of quantum technologies at Fordham Law. He emphasized that the leitmotif of our time is that "Quantum’s benefits outweigh its risks, if implemented responsibly".

Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT) is a framework designed to ensure that the innovation and implementation of quantum technologies align with societal demands and enhance global welfare. It provides a principled approach to guide quantum technology development.

Responsible Quantum Technology

The core components and objectives of RQT entail:

Compliance and Safety: Developers, vendors, and users of quantum systems must adhere to a range of emerging regional and global requirements. This includes technology-specific rules and industry-specific regulations in sectors like finance and healthcare, supported by standards and certifications to guarantee safe deployment.

Addressing Implications (Quantum-ELSPI): RQT involves engaging with quantum technologies in a way that is consistent with Quantum-ELSPI—the ethical, legal, socio-economic, and policy implications of the technology. This requires a tailored approach that considers the unique and counter-intuitive principles of quantum mechanics, such as superposition and entanglement.

Alignment with RRI: The RQT framework responds to the key dimensions of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI): anticipation, reflexivity, inclusion, and responsiveness.

Ethical Foundation: RQT must align with quantum ethics, which involves identifying the dilemmas inherent in making these technologies ethical through interdisciplinary, context-specific methods.

Legal Frameworks: The framework requires adherence to legal norms like the rule of law and proportionality. It advocates for future legislation that mitigates risks and maximizes benefits, providing legal certainty to incentivize Responsible Quantum Innovation (RQI).

Socio-Economic Considerations: RQT dictates that quantum technology should prioritize society's most pressing goals, such as cybersecurity, economic stability, and managing climate change. It also mandates that the benefits and burdens of the technology should be equitably distributed.

Policy Guidance: RQT serves as a tool for policymakers, helping them learn from the governance of other disruptive technologies like AI, nuclear energy, and the internet. An important policy goal is to foster values-based quantum ecosystems globally.

Operational Principles: The RQT paradigm is put into practice through "10 Principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation". These principles are structured to safeguard, engage, and advance (SEA) quantum technologies, society, and humankind, with the ultimate goal of protecting society by responsibly advancing the technology.

Practical Tools: The framework can be used by policymakers to design regulations and can be complemented by self-regulatory tools like technology impact assessments to monitor, validate, and audit quantum applications throughout their lifecycle using appropriate RQT benchmarks and metrics.

Hardwiring Values: A core tenet of RQT is embedding shared values and standards into the design, deployment, and infrastructure of quantum systems. This includes current work on how to embed values and standards into the architecture and infrastructure of quantum AI systems, products, and services. The goal is to guide these technologies toward collective social and environmental benefit.

Quantum Computing — What the Legal Community Needs to Know

The ‘Quantum Computing — What the Legal Community Needs to Know’ lecture provided an in-depth exploration of second-generation (2G) quantum technologies, which harness the unique principles of quantum physics, such as superposition and entanglement, to solve problems beyond the grasp of classical computers. Kop highlighted recent breakthroughs, including Google's "Willow" quantum computing chip, which completed a complex calculation in under five minutes—a task that would take the fastest supercomputers an estimated 10 septillion years. This, he explained, demonstrates the potential for quantum computers to revolutionize sectors like healthcare, finance, energy, and defense.

Navigating the Ethical and Legal Maze

A significant portion of the talk was dedicated to the ethical, legal, socio-economic, and policy implications (Quantum ELSPI) of this emerging field. Kop stressed the dual-use nature of quantum technology, which, much like nuclear energy, can be applied to both civilian and military purposes. This duality necessitates a robust governance framework to prevent misuse by adversaries and to avoid a new arms race.

Kop advocated for a "Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT)" framework to ensure that innovation aligns with societal values and legal standards. This approach calls for a recalibration of legal frameworks to mitigate risks while fostering responsible innovation. He pointed to the "Collingridge dilemma," cautioning that regulating quantum too early could stifle innovation, while regulating too late could result in irreversible negative consequences.

A Call for Global Cooperation and Responsible Innovation

The lecture underscored the necessity of global cooperation in developing unified quantum interoperability standards to avoid a "quantum splinternet" fragmented along geopolitical lines. Kop argued for a research and development agenda that is "as open as possible, and as closed as necessary" to address national security concerns while fostering international partnerships.

To operationalize the RQT paradigm, Kop and his research group have proposed "10 Principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation," organized to safeguard, engage, and advance (SEA) quantum technologies for the benefit of humanity.

Fordham's Commitment to Legal Tech Education

The "Tech Lunch 'n' Learn" series at Fordham's Maloney Library provides a crucial platform for such discussions, inviting experts to shed light on the evolving landscape of law and technology. These sessions empower students and practitioners to grapple with complex subjects like AI, data privacy, and now, quantum computing.

Kop's lecture at Fordham served as a vital call to action for the legal community to proactively engage with the development of quantum technologies. As he concluded, "As society shapes technology, technology shapes society". The legal profession has a critical role to play in ensuring that the quantum era unfolds in a manner that is secure, equitable, and beneficial for all.

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Workshops, Stanford, Quantum-AI, Quantum ELSPI, Quantum TechnologyMauritz KopFordham Law School, Mauritz Kop, Quantum Computing, Legal Community, Workshop, Teaching
Mauritz Kop Consults UNESCO and OECD on Ethics and Quantum Technology Policy
Mauritz Kop Consults UNESCO and OECD on Ethics and Quantum Technology Policy

Paris, January 9, 2025— As quantum technologies advance at a rapid pace, global institutions are turning to leading experts to help shape the ethical and policy frameworks that will govern this transformative era. Mauritz Kop, a prominent scholar in the field of quantum law and governance Founding Director of the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology, has been actively consulting with two of the world's foremost international bodies: the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). His contributions are helping to build a global consensus on the responsible development and deployment of quantum technologies.

Expert Opinions for UNESCO and its World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST)

UNESCO, through its World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST), is at the forefront of establishing global ethical norms for emerging technologies. COMEST is an advisory body composed of leading international scholars tasked with formulating ethical principles to guide decision-makers beyond purely economic considerations.

Recognizing his expertise, COMEST invited Mauritz Kop to an exclusive Expert Hearing on May 13, 2024. This session was convened to gather insights for the Commission's forthcoming landmark report on the "Ethics of the Research, Development and Deployment of Quantum Computing Technologies." Together with three other experts who each presented different perspectives, Kop was asked to present his research on Responsible Quantum Technology, quantum-ELSPI (Ethical, Legal, Societal, and Policy Implications), and bespoke governance frameworks for Quantum Information Science (QIS). His scholarship - often co-authored with RQT Fellows such as Mateo Aboy, Eline de Jong, Mark Brongersma, and Raymond Laflamme, provides the Commission with state-of-the-art analysis of the ethical and governance challenges, helping to enrich the foundation of their upcoming report.

Stanford Law’s Mauritz Kop Provides Recommendations on UNESCO Preliminary Draft: 'Ethics of Quantum Computing'

Following the request to participate in the expert hearing, Stanford Law’s Mauritz Kop was formally invited to provide written recommendations on the "Preliminary Draft Report on the Ethics of Quantum Computing" on January 9, 2025. This invitation underscores the value of his contributions to the Commission's work. While the draft itself remains confidential, its direction can be understood through its public predecessor, the "Concept note of the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) on the ethics of quantum computing," published on July 24, 2024.

The concept note lays out a comprehensive vision for the ethical governance of quantum computing. It correctly asserts that while quantum technology is still in its early stages, the time to establish ethical guardrails is now, learning from the reactive approach taken with other technologies like social media. The note emphasizes that quantum technology is not neutral; its development and use have profound social and political impacts.

Mauritz Kop Invited by OECD to Speak on Global Policy and National Strategies for Responsible Quantum Technology Development

In addition to his work with UNESCO, Mauritz Kop was invited by the OECD to contribute his expertise to its Global Forum on Technology (GFTech) event, "Future in flux? Global policy issues and national strategies for responsible quantum technology development," held in November 2023. The event was originally scheduled to take place in Tel Aviv, Israel, but was moved to a virtual format due to regional unrest.

Looking Ahead: The International Year of Quantum Science and Technology 2025

The work of UNESCO and the OECD is particularly timely, as the United Nations has officially declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ 2025). This global initiative, led by UNESCO, marks the 100th anniversary of the development of modern quantum mechanics and aims to raise global awareness of the importance of quantum science and its applications.

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Academics, Governance, Innovation, Policy, Quantum ELSPI, Quantum Technology, Quantum Computing, Stanford RQTMauritz KopUNESCO, OECD, COMEST, Stanford RQT, Quantum Ethics, Policy, Governance, Standards, Dual-Use, Urs Gasser, Mauritz Kop
Mauritz Kop Consults U.S. Department of State on Quantum Technology and Foreign Policy Strategy
Mauritz Kop Consults U.S. Department of State on Quantum Technology and Foreign Policy Strategy

Washington D.C. – On December 12, 2024, Mauritz Kop, Founding Director of the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT) and the Stanford Quantum Incubator, was invited to consult with the U.S. Department of State on the pressing challenges and strategic opportunities presented by the quantum era. The analytic outreach event, hosted by the Bureau of Intelligence and Research’s Office of Analytic Outreach (INR/AO), provided a critical forum to discuss the integration of quantum technology considerations into U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy.

This engagement highlights the growing recognition within the U.S. government that understanding quantum technology is no longer the exclusive domain of physicists and engineers, but a crucial imperative for diplomats, intelligence analysts, and foreign policy architects.

Informing Diplomacy with Strategic Insight

The U.S. Department of State is the nation’s lead foreign affairs agency, responsible for advancing the interests and security of the American people. Within the Department, the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) holds a unique mandate to provide independent, all-source intelligence and analysis to the Secretary of State and other senior policymakers. INR’s primary mission is to deliver timely, objective, and insightful assessments that inform decision-making on the full spectrum of diplomatic and foreign policy challenges. It is within this context of providing deep, substantive expertise that the Office of Analytic Outreach convenes leading external experts like Mauritz Kop to engage directly with government analysts and officials.

A Bird's-Eye View of Quantum's Strategic Landscape

While the specific details of the consultation remain confidential, the discussion drew upon Mr. Kop’s extensive research on quantum governance, which offers a strategic framework for policymakers. His analysis emphasizes several key themes crucial for navigating the complexities of the quantum age.

A central theme is the inherently dual-use character of quantum technology. This paradigm holds both immense promise and profound risk. On one hand, quantum advancements are poised to revolutionize sectors vital to human progress; quantum sensors could dramatically improve medical imaging and seismic prediction, while quantum simulation could enhance drug discovery and macroeconomic modeling. On the other hand, this same power presents formidable threats. The advent of a fault-tolerant quantum computer, or "Q-Day," could catastrophically break the classical encryption that underpins global finance, data security, and critical infrastructure, with a potential timeframe of just two to three years.

This governance model is set against a backdrop of intense geopolitical competition. Kop’s research posits the risk of a "Quantum Event Horizon"—a governance tipping point at which one technological bloc could achieve quantum supremacy and with that the keys to the world’s operating system, creating an irreversible, "winner-takes-all" advantage that could destabilize the global order. This makes it a strategic imperative for the United States and its allies to lead in building a "globally leading, values-laden Made in America quantum ecosystem."

Embedding Democratic Values into the Quantum Future

A core pillar of the responsible governance framework presented is the imperative to embed democratic values and human rights principles into the very architecture of quantum systems. Technology is never neutral; it inherently carries the values of its creators. Therefore, the U.S. and its like-minded partners have a generational opportunity to set the "rules of the road" for quantum technology through international standard-setting that prioritizes privacy, fairness, and fundamental freedoms. This involves fostering diverse, interdisciplinary research and development teams to combat inherent biases and ensure outcomes align with the principles of a free society.

Stanford RQT and the Department of State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research

The engagement with the Department of State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research represents a vital step in bridging the gap between the academic frontier of quantum research and the pragmatic realities of foreign policy. The work of the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology remains committed to fostering these essential conversations, ensuring that as humanity prepares to take its next great technological leap, it does so with foresight, responsibility, and a steadfast commitment to democratic values.

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Diplomacy, Governance, Geopolitics, Innovation, Quantum-AI, Quantum Technology, Quantum Computing, Quantum ELSPI, Scholarship, Standardization, Stanford RQT, GovernmentMauritz KopU.S. Department of State, Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology, stanford law school, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Foreign Policy, Quantum Governance, Geostrategy, Rules of the Road, Made in America Quantum-AI, Governance Tipping Point, Winner Takes All, National Security, Nuclear, Values, Democracy, Export Controls, Supply Chains, Quantum Event Horizon, Quantum Race, Dual use, Quantum Talent & Workforce, Freedom, Human Rights, Standards, Ethics, Innovation, Mauritz Kop
Law, Ethics and Policy of Quantum & AI in Healthcare and Life Sciences published at Harvard, Stanford and European Commission
Law, Ethics and Policy of Quantum & AI in Healthcare and Life Sciences published at Harvard, Stanford and European Commission

A collaborative research initiative by scholars from Stanford, Harvard, and MIT, published by the Petrie-Flom Center at Harvard Law School, the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology, and the European Commission, delves into the complex regulatory and ethical landscape of integrating quantum technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) into the healthcare and life sciences sectors. This series of policy guides and analyses, authored by an interdisciplinary team including Mauritz Kop, Suzan Slijpen, Katie Liu, Jin-Hee Lee, Constanze Albrecht, and I. Glenn Cohen, offers a comprehensive examination of the transformative potential and inherent challenges of this technological convergence.

Regulating Quantum & AI in Healthcare and Medicine: A Brief Policy Guide

This body of research, examining the entangled legal, ethical, and policy dimensions of integrating quantum technologies and AI into healthcare, is articulated across a series of publications in leading academic and policy forums. These works collaboratively build a comprehensive framework for understanding and navigating the future of medicine. A related policy guide was also published on the European Commission's Futurium platform, further disseminating these findings to a key international policymaking audience. The specific publications include:

1. A Brief Quantum Medicine Policy Guidehttps://blog.petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2024/12/06/a-brief-quantum-medicine-policy-guide/

2. How Quantum Technologies May Be Integrated Into Healthcare, What Regulators Should Considerhttps://law.stanford.edu/publications/how-quantum-technologies-may-be-integrated-into-healthcare-what-regulators-should-consider/

3. EU and US Regulatory Challenges Facing AI Health Care Innovator Firmshttps://blog.petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2024/04/04/eu-and-us-regulatory-challenges-facing-ai-health-care-innovator-firms/

4. Regulating Quantum & AI in Healthcare: A Brief Policy Guidehttps://futurium.ec.europa.eu/en/european-ai-alliance/document/regulating-quantum-ai-healthcare-brief-policy-guide

by Mauritz Kop, Suzan Slijpen, Katie Liu, Jin-Hee Lee, Constanze Albrecht & I. Glenn Cohen

Forging the Future of Medicine: A Scholarly Perspective on the Law, Ethics, and Policy of Quantum and AI in Healthcare

The research posits that the fusion of AI with second-generation quantum technologies (2G QT)—which harness quantum-mechanical phenomena like superposition and entanglement—is poised to revolutionize precision medicine. This synergy of quantum computing, sensing and simulation with artificial intelligence promises hyper-personalized healthcare solutions, capable of tackling intricate medical problems that lie beyond the grasp of classical computing. The potential applications are vast, spanning from accelerated drug discovery and development workflows and enhanced diagnostic imaging to rapid genome sequencing and real-time health monitoring. For instance, quantum simulations could model molecular interactions to create more effective pharmaceuticals, while quantum dots may offer novel platforms for targeted cancer therapies and treatments for neurodegenerative conditions by overcoming the blood-brain barrier.

However, the authors caution that these groundbreaking advancements are accompanied by significant ethical, legal, socio-economic, and policy (ELSPI) implications. The emergence of Quantum Artificial Intelligence (QAI), Quantum Machine Learning (QML), and Quantum Large Language Models (QLLM) is expected to amplify these ELSPI concerns. The dual-use nature of these technologies, such as their potential application in gain-of-function research, necessitates a principled and human-centric governance approach.

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Dutch Ambassador to the US and Consul General visit Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology
Dutch Ambassador to the US and Consul General visit Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology

Stanford, CA, October 11, 2024— Today, the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology, situated within Stanford Law School, had the distinct honor of hosting a high-level delegation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Stanford RQT Founding Director Mauritz Kop had the pleasure of welcoming Her Excellency Birgitta Tazelaar, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United States, and the Honorable Theo Peters, Consul General of the Netherlands in San Francisco, for a series of critical discussions at the intersection of technology, governance, and international security.

The delegation, which also included Attaché for Innovation, Science and Technology Coen Damen, Senior Advisor for Innovation, Technology & Science Tyrone Pater, and Economic Affairs Associate Jasmijn Al Kenany, engaged with our Center on the most pressing challenges and opportunities presented by exponential technologies. This visit underscores the deepening transatlantic dialogue on responsible innovation and the shared commitment of the United States and the Netherlands to forging a future where technological advancement aligns with democratic values and global stability.

A Delegation of Diplomatic Experience

The breadth of the delegation’s expertise provided a rich foundation for our conversations. Ambassador Tazelaar brings three decades of diplomatic experience in political affairs, human rights, and development cooperation. Her distinguished career includes serving as Deputy Director-General for International Cooperation at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director of the North Africa and Middle East Department, and as a political counselor at the Dutch Embassy in London, where her portfolio included NATO and nuclear security issues. This extensive background in navigating complex geopolitical landscapes proved invaluable to our discussions on international treaties and security frameworks for emerging technologies.

Consul General Theo Peters, who represents the Netherlands across the 13 westernmost states, has a wide-ranging background covering security policy, political affairs, and economic trade. A core part of his mission is to connect the Dutch government and its innovation ecosystem with key partners on the US West Coast, particularly in high-tech sectors. His academic credentials, including an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School, and prior diplomatic postings in Tokyo and as Ambassador to Senegal and several other West African nations, provided a global perspective on innovation models and economic security.

Cybersecurity, strategic competition and innovation policy

The delegation's specialists brought further focus. Mr. Damen's work on innovation policies, space, and cyber, and his professional interest in how state policy can foster balanced and ecologically sound economic growth, directly informed our dialogue on national strategies. Mr. Pater, also a Tech Diplomacy Fellow at the UC Berkeley Risk & Security Lab, focuses on how like-minded countries can collaboratively stimulate research in critical areas like AI and cybersecurity to address international strategic competition and enhance research and economic security. Ms. Al Kenany, who is pursuing a Master of Science in Cyber Governance at Leiden University, contributed a vital perspective on the role of tech diplomacy in strengthening international relations and ensuring that the benefits of emerging technologies are democratized while safeguarding global security.

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