Mauritz Kop Guest Professor at US Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, April 25, 2024. We are pleased to highlight Professor Mauritz Kop's recent engagement as a guest professor at the prestigious United States Air Force Academy on April 25, 2024. Professor Kop, Founding Director of the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT), addressed talented cadets on "Models for Responsible Regulation of Quantum Information Sciences." The class was an integral part of the Law and Emerging Tech program, led by Professor Aubrey Davis.
Professor Kop's lecture provided a comprehensive overview of the rapidly evolving landscape of quantum technologies and the critical need for proactive, responsible governance, particularly in the context of global geopolitical dynamics.
In April 2024, Mauritz Kop was Guest Professor at the US Air Force Academy, where he taught the class ‘Models for Responsible Regulation of Quantum Information Sciences’ to USAFA’s talented cadets.
The Quantum Frontier: Opportunities and Geostrategic Challenges
The session commenced by acknowledging the significant global interest and investment in quantum technologies, noting China's relentless advances in AI and quantum, particularly in quantum networking, which has spurred anxieties about America’s technological supremacy. This technological race brings forth a deeper, existential concern: the potential effects of authoritarian regimes exporting their values into democratic societies through their technology.
Professor Kop demystified the "Addams family" of quantum technologies, explaining that this exotic suite extends beyond the popularly known quantum computing (with its iconic "frozen, golden chandeliers") to include quantum sensing, simulation, networking, quantum/AI hybrids, cryptology, metrology, and fundamental quantum science. He described quantum technology as involving the smallest particles in the universe, harnessing counter-intuitive quantum mechanical effects like superposition, entanglement, and tunneling to create a powerful new technological paradigm with massive global implications for the internet, finance, healthcare, defense, and energy.
Navigating Dual-Use and Embedding Democratic Values
A central theme was the inherent dual-use nature of quantum technologies, which present both unknown benefits and risks. Professor Kop emphasized the urgency of preventing the recurrence of mistakes made with previous transformative technologies like AI, genetics, and nuclear, such as algorithmic bias and threats to democratic institutions. Key risks include "Q-Day," when quantum computers could break current internet encryption, and threats to fundamental freedoms, privacy, data security, and human identity.
In light of these challenges, the lecture stressed that the democratic world must unite its AI and quantum talent, agenda, and capacity to set the "rules of the road," actively embedding shared (culturally sensitive) ideals and values into the various quantum technology domains.
A Strategic Framework for the Free World
Professor Kop outlined six strategic actions for the free world to prevent authoritarianism from gaining ground in the quantum era:
Form a strategic tech alliance with like-minded democratic countries.
Attract and retain top global talent in the U.S. to win the race for technological dominance and quantum advantage.
Embed fundamental rights and freedoms into the design and infrastructure of quantum technologies and Quantum AI, utilizing frameworks like the Stanford RQT model.
Protect intellectual property from theft and abuse through harmonized export controls that do not unduly hamper global supply chains for critical materials.
Prepare for the quantum age by transitioning from current encryption standards (like RSA) to Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC).
Invest significantly in a leading, values-based "Made in America" quantum ecosystem, promoting prosperity and exporting democratic models and standards, including via strategic recoupling with China where appropriate, for example in academic education.
Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT) and Its Operationalization
The discussion delved into the critical concept of Quantum-ELSPI (Ethical, Legal, Socio-economic, and Policy Implications), which must be proactively considered for any emerging technology. Quantum-ELSPI, he argued, should inspire the practice of Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT). The Stanford-led RQT framework integrates ELSPI perspectives into quantum R&D, deployment, and adoption, responding to the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) dimensions of anticipation, inclusion, reflection, and responsiveness (AIRR).
To make RQT actionable, Professor Kop introduced the 10 Principles for Responsible Quantum Innovation, developed by his multidisciplinary research group. These principles are organized under the SEA framework (Safeguarding, Engaging, and Advancing Quantum Technology) and aim to guide regulatory interventions and cultivate responsible practices across precautionary and permissionless innovation systems. Operationalizing these principles requires continuous multi-stakeholder collaboration throughout the lifecycle of quantum systems, involving standard-setting bodies like ISO, NIST, and IEEE, and potentially new oversight mechanisms like an "Atomic Agency for Quantum-AI".
The Role of Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Education
Highlighting the importance of diverse perspectives, Professor Kop, who integrates his background in law, music, and art into his quantum work, emphasized the need to go beyond siloed approaches to solve the hypercomplex matters arising from quantum technology. He referenced the Stanford Center for RQT's work, its multidisciplinary approach to tackling ELSPI, and its mission to foster competitive, values-based, equitable quantum ecosystems. Initiatives like the annual Stanford RQT Conference and the newly launched Stanford Quantum Incubator aim to bring the quantum community together, bridge gaps between academia, government, investors, and industry, and promote quantum literacy.
Professor Kop concluded by underscoring the urgent need for developing robust models for the responsible regulation of quantum information sciences to ensure that these powerful new capabilities benefit humanity and uphold democratic values.