The Quantum Singularity is Coming

Picture this: it’s 1985, and I’m sprawled out on my bedroom floor with a stack of VHS tapes, a Commodore 64 whirring in the corner, and the sweet, static-laden tunes of an audio cassette playing through my boombox. Back then, those tapes and that clunky computer were the height of cool—cutting edge. Fast-forward (pun intended) to now. I can’t help but wonder if, in a few short years, we’ll look at our current, glossy laptops and think, “Huh, remember when these were the best we had?” Because if you believe the latest quantum buzz—and trust me, I do—our beloved PCs could soon be as quaint as that massive VHS collection gathering dust in your parents’ attic.

Why? Because quantum computers are on the horizon, and they’re gunning for the center stage. Imagine your trusty desktop replaced by a quantum wonder-machine that doesn’t just compute—it practically reads reality’s cheat codes. Combine that with an AI superbrain sitting comfortably in the cloud, and boom—every home becomes a portal to near-limitless computational power. Tasks we consider monstrous today? Child’s play in the quantum realm. The speed? Blazing. The possibilities? Mind-boggling.

Let’s pause for a moment and picture what that means for you and me. Medical breakthroughs discovered in a fraction of the time. Engineering feats we can barely dream up right now made real by next week. Climate change solutions conjured like magic from equations running on qubits. It’s all so wonderfully utopian... until you remember the cosmic rule of technology: there’s always a dark side.

That fancy encryption securing your bank account? Decimated. Everything about your life—finances, healthcare records, your embarrassing teenage chat logs—could be cracked open if it’s not quantum-secure. And you know there’s at least one shady syndicate rubbing its hands in anticipation, amassing warehouses of stolen data right now. They’re biding their time until quantum power flips on like a light switch, leaving our once-invincible encryption crumpled like an ancient videotape chewed up by a malfunctioning VCR.

It’s not just about stolen credit card numbers or embarrassing secrets. Once quantum hits, the scale of zero-day attacks and data breaches could make today’s cybersecurity fiascos look downright cute. Every flaw, every overlooked vulnerability, every unpatched system could become a free-for-all for criminals supercharged by quantum-enabled AI. When quantum computing becomes as accessible as the Internet—likely hosted on big tech’s or governments’ super-systems and ironically also sold under the table on the dark web—we’ll find ourselves in a brave new world of unstoppable digital pathogens.

So as we stand here, one foot in the future and one foot still awkwardly stuck in the nostalgic tangle of 80s tech, I’m reminded of how fast innovation reshapes our daily lives—and how quickly all that’s “cutting edge” becomes ancient history. Buckle up, folks, because the quantum ride is just getting started.

Welcome to my newsletter. We’re going to dig deep into this quantum singularity I’ve been predicting, and trust me, it’s going to get wild. You might want to blow the dust off that old VHS player one last time—before our concept of “old” and “new” is flipped on its head for good. Let’s dive in.

The Quantum Boom—Why 2025 Could Be the Year Everything Changes

In November 2022, generative AI exploded into the mainstream overnight. One day, AI was a niche research field; the next, ChatGPT was in everyone’s pocket, disrupting industries at breakneck speed. Quantum computing (QC) might be next. Today, there are more eyes on quantum computing than there were on AI the day before ChatGPT launched. That alone should make you pause and wonder: what happens when the quantum singularity hits?

The Threshold of 2025: From Promise to Reality

For years, quantum computing has been discussed in abstract terms—qubits, superposition, and entanglement—but 2025 will be the year we see real-world results. We are crossing a critical threshold, moving from theoretical promise to practical applications in solving some of the world’s most complex problems.

Take pharmaceutical research: quantum breakthroughs will allow companies to simulate molecular interactions at an unprecedented scale. Drug discovery that once took years could now happen in months. Imagine a cancer treatment modeled in minutes instead of years, thanks to the power of quantum computing.

The Race to Quantum: Progress vs. Skepticism

The tech world is divided. Some, like NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, argue that practical quantum computing is still 20 years away. Others, including D-Wave Quantum CEO Alan Baratz, say he’s “dead wrong.” The rapid development of QC hardware—like IBM’s 1,121-qubit Condor processor and Google’s Willow chip—suggests that real breakthroughs may be closer than expected.

A clear tension exists between traditional AI and quantum computing. AI, built on classical computing, currently dominates investment and research. But if a scalable, stable quantum computer emerges, it could render entire AI models obsolete overnight. The billions spent on GPU-powered AI would instantly pale in comparison to the raw, unimaginable processing power of quantum systems.

The Speed of Quantum Computing

Google’s Willow chip is proof of how fast quantum computing could theoretically become. Using the random circuit sampling (RCS) benchmark, Willow completed a computation in under five minutes that would take one of today’s fastest supercomputers 10 septillion years—a number so massive it surpasses the known age of the universe. This suggests that quantum computation occurs in ways beyond classical understanding, possibly even in parallel universes, if you believe some physicists. If such power becomes scalable and accessible, it will redefine problem-solving across all industries, obliterating the limitations of traditional computing–the way streaming made VHS tapes a nostalgia of the past.

A New Era for Security and Business

Cybersecurity will be both revolutionized and threatened by quantum advancements. Encryption methods that have safeguarded data for will could become obsolete overnight, vulnerable to quantum-powered attacks. At the same time, quantum encryption—harnessing the principles of quantum mechanics to secure communications—will emerge as the new gold standard for protecting sensitive information. We are entering an era where the same technology that creates the threat also delivers the solution.

Businesses will also harness quantum computing for optimization problems at an unimaginable scale. Airlines could re-route entire global networks in seconds, and banks could run millions of risk scenarios in real time. Supply chains, logistics, and financial markets will see levels of efficiency that were once science fiction. Consider the horrific airliner and helicopter collision that just happed right around the corner from me at Reagan National Airport here in Washington, DC. I can see a future where Quantum enabled AI replaces understaffed and exhausted flight traffic controllers, perhaps preventing such catastrophes.    

The Quantum Singularity

In 2017, Google introduced the transformer model, and suddenly AI’s progress accelerated beyond all predictions. What if quantum computing has its own transformer moment in 2025? If that happens, we’ll see quantum systems go from experimental to indispensable, much like ChatGPT made AI a household name overnight.

The research and investment into QC are reaching critical mass. With IBM, Google, and NVIDIA all pushing forward—despite public skepticism—the groundwork for a sudden explosion of quantum adoption is already being laid.

Is the World Ready for Quantum?

If a quantum breakthrough comes faster than expected, the world will not be ready. Encryption standards? Gone. AI models? Outdated. Any government, company, or individual who isn’t preparing for a quantum-driven world now may find themselves irrelevant overnight.

2025 won’t be the year quantum computing replaces classical systems, but it will be the year it proves it belongs in the room. The threshold we’re crossing is one of trust and application—a point where quantum moves from being “promising” to being “essential.”

Buckle up. The quantum future is here.

Now on to the news!

News Roundup

PowerSchool gets Schooled

More on the PowerSchool criminal cyberattack—because apparently, cybercriminals love a school system that doesn’t do its homework. The latest revelation? This breach wasn’t some ultra-sophisticated quantum-level hack; it happened because PowerSchool failed to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) on its support platform. That’s right—one of the simplest, most effective security measures was missing, allowing hackers to waltz in using stolen credentials and access sensitive student and teacher data.

Let this be a loud and clear reminder: TURN ON MFA for everything that matters—email, banking, social media, business accounts, anything tied to your identity. A single password isn’t enough anymore, and cybercriminals know it. As we inch closer to a quantum-powered future, security will only get more complex, but for now, a simple extra authentication step can mean the difference between safety and catastrophe. Don’t be PowerSchool—be smarter.

AI Fast-Tracks Evolution

In a leap that would make Darwin do a double-take, scientists have harnessed artificial intelligence to simulate half a billion years of evolution, creating a novel glowing protein named esmGFP. Developed using the EvolutionaryScale Model 3 (ESM3), this AI was trained on over 3 billion protein sequences, enabling it to design proteins far removed from any found in nature. The result? A fluorescent protein sharing only 58% of its material with its closest natural relative, yet fully functional. This breakthrough not only showcases AI's prowess in accelerating evolutionary processes but also hints at a future where custom-designed proteins could revolutionize medicine and biotechnology. As we stand on the brink of the quantum age, such innovations remind us that the fusion of technology and biology can illuminate paths previously unimagined.

The Natrium Reactor: Bill Gates’ Big Bet on Next-Gen Nuclear

Bill Gates isn’t just busy trying to fix the world’s software bugs—he’s taking on nuclear power with the Natrium reactor, an ambitious sodium-cooled fast reactor with molten salt energy storage. Sounds futuristic, right? The idea is that it can ramp power up and down as needed, making it the perfect partner for renewables. But here’s the big question: can it actually deliver?

TerraPower (Gates’ nuclear brainchild) and GE Hitachi promise that this reactor will be safer, more efficient, and commercially viable. The first test site in Wyoming is set to break ground soon, aiming for a 2030 launch. Of course, nuclear innovation has been “just around the corner” for decades, so for now, we’ll stay cautiously optimistic—because if it works, this could be a game-changer for clean energy. If not? Well, let’s hope it doesn’t blue-screen like Windows ME.

Earth's Potential Holiday Party Crasher

Just when you thought your holiday plans were set, astronomers have spotted a new celestial gatecrasher: asteroid 2024 YR4. Discovered on December 27, 2024, by the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile, this space rock is currently on a trajectory that might lead to an Earth impact on December 22, 2032. Before you start drafting your "End of the World" party invites, remember that space is a vast and unpredictable place. While the prospect sounds like a sci-fi thriller plot, the cosmos has a way of keeping us on our toes. As we continue to advance into the quantum age, perhaps our future tech will not only predict such events with greater accuracy but also devise ways to keep these cosmic party crashers at bay.

The Quantum AI War on "Undruggable" Cancer

Some cancers have been playing hard to get—scientists call them "undruggable," but AI and quantum computing just might change the game. By crunching through molecular complexities that once left researchers stumped, these technologies are unlocking treatments for proteins that were previously out of reach. The future of cancer research isn't just faster—it's smarter, and it might just turn the tide against the toughest diseases.

Ever wanted to be a Keynote Speaker?

Follow me on Instagram and join me on a journey over the next two weeks as I travel on a speaking tour from DC to Bend, Oregon, San Diego, Orlando and Boston. I’ll be showing behind the scenes look with the hashtag #LifeofaSpeaker and giving my readers (and followers) a peek behind the curtain of what it takes to become an elite keynote speaker. If you are dropping into the newsletter - don’t forget to subscribe and while you are at it, gimme a like and follow on Instagram!

Like What You're Reading?

Sign up for Spies, Lies & Cybercrime newsletter for our top espionage, cybercrime and security stories delivered right to your inbox. Always weekly, never intrusive!

Are you protected?

Recently nearly 3 billion records containing all our sensitive data was exposed on the dark web for criminals, fraudsters and scammers to data mine for identity fraud. Was your social security number and birthdate exposed? Identity threat monitoring is now a must to protect yourself? Use this link to get up to 60% off of Aura’s threat monitoring service.

What do YOU want to learn about in my next newsletter? Reply to this email or comment on the web version, and I’ll include your question in next month’s issue!

Thank you for subscribing to Spies, Lies and Cybercrime. Please comment and share the newsletter. I look forward to helping you stay safe in the digital world.

Best,
Eric

Let's make sure my emails land straight in your inbox.

Gmail users: Move this email to your primary inbox

On your phone? Hit the 3 dots at top right corner, click "Move to" then "Primary."

On desktop? Close this email then drag and drop this email into the "Primary" tab near the top left of your screen

Apple mail users: Tap on our email address at the top of this email (next to "From:" on mobile) and click “Add to VIPs”

For everyone else: follow these instructions