SandboxAQ Invites Mauritz Kop to Give RQT Lecture and Workshop
On October 25, 2023, SandboxAQ hosted Mauritz Kop, visiting ‘quantum and law’ scholar at Stanford University, for a lecture and interactive workshop focused on the principles of Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT). The opportunity to engage with a leading enterprise at the intersection of artificial intelligence and quantum science was both timely and imperative. The dialogue that unfolded underscored the critical importance of embedding ethical, legal, and societal considerations into the fabric of quantum innovation from its outset.
Appreciation was extended to the SandboxAQ team for organizing this important event, particularly Marianna Bonanome, PhD, Head of External Education Programs; Kayla Quinnies, PhD, Residency Program Manager; Nina Bindel; Amro Imam, and Vice-President Fernando Dominguez Pinuaga. Their commitment to fostering a culture of responsible development is a testament to the company's forward-thinking leadership.
SandboxAQ Invites Mauritz Kop to Give RQT Lecture and Workshop
The SandboxAQ Mission: An Intersection of AI and Quantum
To fully appreciate the context of the discussion, it is useful to understand the unique position SandboxAQ occupies in the technology landscape. The company, which began as an independent research group within Alphabet Inc. and officially launched as a standalone company in 2022, is built on the convergence of AI and quantum technologies, an area they term 'AQ'. This strategic focus allows them to develop commercially viable, enterprise-scale solutions today, without dependency on the eventual arrival of fault-tolerant quantum computers.
Led by CEO Jack D. Hidary, SandboxAQ directs its efforts toward solving complex challenges across several key domains:
Simulation & Optimization: Accelerating the discovery of new medicines and materials by simulating molecular interactions, with applications in life sciences, chemicals, and finance.
Quantum Security: Providing solutions for the transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC), a critical undertaking for protecting sensitive, long-lifespan data from the future threat of cryptanalytically relevant quantum computers. The company emphasizes that "Store Now, Decrypt Later" attacks are an immediate concern, necessitating urgent action.
Quantum Sensing: Leveraging the inherent sensitivity of quantum systems to develop novel sensors for applications in medical imaging, navigation, and material science.
A cornerstone of the company's ethos is its Education (EDU) division. With a charter "To educate the world on AQ so any person or institution can participate in and develop technology to impact the world in positive ways," the EDU team focuses on growing the AQ market, building a diverse talent pipeline, and instilling a culture of ethical and responsible innovation. This commitment to education and responsibility provided a fertile ground for the dialogue on the governance of quantum technologies.
Laying the Foundation: From Quantum-ELSPI to Responsible Quantum Technology
Mauritz Kop, pictured at Stanford Law School
The central theme of the lecture was the proactive governance of quantum technology. The potential for this suite of technologies to be transformative—impacting everything from global security and economic stability to fundamental scientific research—demands a departure from the reactive regulatory postures that have characterized previous technological waves.
The starting point was the concept of Quantum-ELSPI, which refers to the interconnected Ethical, Legal, Socio-economic, and Policy Implications of quantum technologies. This framework serves two purposes: normatively, it acts as a metaparadigm for guiding development; descriptively, it establishes a broad, interdisciplinary research agenda. By examining the successes and failures in the governance of AI, nanotechnology, nuclear, and biotechnology, valuable lessons can be derived for the quantum era.
From this foundation, the concept of Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT) was introduced. This is a comprehensive framework developed by a transatlantic, interdisciplinary team of scholars from institutions including Stanford, Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge, led by Stanford Law School’s Mauritz Kop. RQT integrates Quantum-ELSPI considerations with the established dimensions of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI): anticipation, inclusion, reflection, and responsiveness. Its objective is to ensure that quantum research and innovation efforts are aligned with societal needs and enhance planetary welfare, deliberately steering development toward beneficial outcomes while the technology is still malleable.
Operationalizing RQT: The SEA Framework and Ten Guiding Principles
To move from abstract concepts to actionable guidance, the scholar's research group developed a methodological framework for operationalizing RQT. This framework is organized around three functional pillars, known by the acronym SEA:
Safeguarding: Proactively identifying and mitigating the risks associated with quantum technologies, including dual-use applications and threats to information security.
Engaging: Fostering an inclusive innovation ecosystem by involving a diverse range of stakeholders—from physicists and engineers to policymakers, ethicists, and the public—in the development process.
Advancing: Actively steering the trajectory of quantum R&D toward addressing pressing societal and global challenges, such as climate change, disease, and sustainable development.
A crucial insight of the SEA framework is that safeguarding society and advancing technology are not mutually exclusive; indeed, the most effective way to safeguard against risks is often to responsibly advance the technology toward beneficial ends.
To make this framework tangible, the Ten Principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation as formulated by Kop’s team were presented during the lecture:
Safeguarding
1.Information Security: Consider information security as an integral part of QT, addressing security threats comprehensively.
2. Malicious Use: Proactively anticipate the malicious use of quantum applications, addressing the risks of dual-use technology.
3. International Collaboration: Seek international collaboration based on shared democratic values to address a winner-takes-all dynamic.
Engaging
4. Planetary Context: Consider our planet as the sociotechnical environment in which QT should function, engaging states in this shared responsibility.
5. Open Innovation: Innovate as openly as possible and as closed as necessary, engaging institutions in balancing transparency with security.
6. Diverse Communities: Pursue diverse quantum R&D communities in terms of disciplines and people, engaging a wide array of perspectives.
Advancing
7. Social Goals: Link quantum R&D explicitly to desirable social goals, advancing society as a whole.
8. Sustainable Innovation: Actively stimulate sustainable, cross-disciplinary innovation to advance the technology itself.
9. Ecosystem of Learning: Create an ecosystem to learn about the possible uses and consequences of QT applications, advancing our collective understanding.
10. Stakeholder Dialogue: Facilitate dialogues with stakeholders to better envision possible quantum futures, advancing our collective thinking and education.
The Stanford Center for RQT: Fostering Collaboration
To further these goals, a new multidisciplinary Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology is being established, for which Mauritz Kop serves as Founding Director. The Center’s mission is to bring the quantum community together in diverse, multidisciplinary settings to investigate how society should balance maximizing benefits and mitigating risks. It provides a crucial bridge between academia, industry, and government, fostering the collaborative work needed to build a values-based, competitive, and equitable quantum ecosystem. A highlight is its annual Stanford RQT Conference, which convenes the community to actively shape the future of the field.
RQT Workshop Discussion: From Principles to Practice
The interactive RQT workshop that followed the lecture provided an invaluable opportunity to discuss the practical implementation of these principles with the SandboxAQ team. The questions raised were insightful and reflected a genuine commitment to responsible quantum innovation.
On Mitigating Bias: A key question emerged regarding how individuals and companies can combat inherent biases when building new technologies. The response centered on the need for structured platforms where stakeholders can align on values and goals. The concept of the Daiki platform was introduced, a Responsible Quantum-AI Engine that integrates best practices, ethical codes, and legal requirements into a guided, auditable process. By using such tools, teams can systematically address issues of fairness and bias, with results documented and freed from arbitrary individual or managerial influence.
On Corporate Strategy: When asked what practical first steps a company like SandboxAQ should take, the advice offered was twofold. First, to formally affiliate with academic hubs like the Stanford Center for RQT to engage in high-level, collaborative problem-solving. Second, to begin implementing concrete tools such as company-wide, industry-specific Quantum Impact Assessments (QIAs). These assessments provide a structured blueprint for evaluating the human rights, dual-use, and societal impacts of new projects, enabling a company to innovate responsibly from the ground up.
Conclusion: A Shared Commitment to a Responsible Quantum Future
The engagement with SandboxAQ was a clear indication that leading private sector entities are not only aware of their responsibilities but are actively seeking frameworks and tools to meet them. The transition of quantum science from the laboratory to the marketplace has begun, and with it, a new cycle of technology governance is emerging.
Discussions like the one held at SandboxAQ are essential. They foster the multi-stakeholder, cross-disciplinary collaboration required to navigate the complexities of this powerful new technological era. By embedding principles of responsibility, safety, and societal benefit into the core of R&D, we can collectively work towards a future where quantum technologies create broad and equitable value for humanity. The commitment shown by the team at SandboxAQ is a promising sign for the development of a thriving, global, and responsible quantum ecosystem.