唐纳德·特朗普总统周一签署了一对旨在保护国内的行政命令量子计算并加速其技术的发展。
特朗普说:“第一项行政命令启动了一项全国性的努力，以生产能够进行重要科学计算的量子计算机，并在未来五年内开发量子传感器和网络。”。
“我签署的第二项命令指示联邦机构过渡到所谓的量子密码术，”他补充说。
特朗普被各种科技领袖包围，包括谷歌总裁和IBM首席执行官。他称这两项行政命令是美国在该领域迈出的“一大步”，该领域吸引了越来越多的投资。
在签署之前，白宫科技政策办公室主任迈克尔·克拉特西奥斯(Michael Kratsios)表示，第一份行政命令将被称为“开创量子创新的下一个前沿”。
“它呼吁开发有史以来第一台强大到足以进行科学研究的量子计算机，开创一个商业能力的新时代，”Kratsios说，并补充说，量子计算机可能在2028年前完成。
量子计算使用抽象物理原理来增强机器的计算能力，远远超过日常计算机的计算能力。
下一代技术与经典计算或二进制计算形成对比，后者依赖于称为位的微小数据单元。这些位要么是1，要么是0，表示构成计算机执行的任何任务的基本输入的开/关开关。
另一方面，量子计算利用了量子物理学的一个基本概念，称为“叠加”，这意味着单个实体可以同时占据多个状态，南加州大学工程学教授丹尼尔·激光达(Daniel Lidar)说，先前告知ABC新闻。
“在某种意义上，这是一台同时执行许多计算的计算机，”Lidar说。"在标准情况下，你需要许多计算机同时进行计算."
Kratsios说，这项行政命令还将通过增加国内所需材料的生产和加强该行业的劳动力来保护量子产业。
“它呼吁增加我们国内量子基础设施和材料的供应链能力，并通过在国际战线上扩大注册学徒、证书和新的国家量子劳动力发展研究所，确保强大的美国量子劳动力，”Kratsios说。
第二项行政命令将“加速向2031年后量子[密码学]的迁移”，Kratsios表示，这不仅将支持和创新网络安全。
“这些政策将共同推动现有和全新行业的转型增长，包括制造业、药物研发、能源、农业，更多的量子突破意味着创新、经济增长和国家安全，这将在未来几十年惠及美国人民，”他补充说。
一名白宫高级官员表示，由于这些行政命令，政府没有计划与特定的量子公司合作或优先考虑这些公司。
该官员还表示，拜登政府签署的一项与量子相关的行政命令将继续有效，但该官员通过强调加快的时间表来区分今天的命令。
咨询公司麦肯锡&根据一份报告，该公司确定了四个最有可能从量子计算中看到早期经济影响的行业:汽车、化工、金融服务和生命科学报告2023年。
该报告称，到2035年，这四个行业的技术总价值将增加1.3万亿美元。
Trump signs executive orders to 'supercharge' quantum computing
President Donald Trump on Monday signed a pair of executive orders designed to protect domesticquantum computingand accelerate its development of the technology.
“The first executive order launches a national effort to produce a quantum computer capable of performing important scientific calculations and to develop quantum-enabled sensors and networks in the next five years,” Trump said.
“The second order I'm signing directs federal agencies to transition to what is called quantum cryptography,” he added.
Trump was surrounded by various tech leaders, including the president of Google and the CEO of IBM. He called the twin executive orders a “big step forward” for the U.S. in the sector, which has increasingly attracted investment.
Prior to the signing, White House Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Michael Kratsios said that the first executive order will be called "Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation."
"It calls for the development of the first-ever quantum computer powerful enough for scientific research, initiating a new era of commercial capabilities," Kratsios said, adding that the quantum computer could be completed by 2028.
Quantum computing uses the principles of abstract physics to supercharge a machine's computational horsepower well beyond what's found in an everyday computer.
The next-generation technology stands in contrast with classical computing, or binary computing, which relies on tiny units of data called bits. Those bits are oriented as either ones or zeroes, indicating on/off switches that make up the basic inputs of any task performed by a computer.
On the other hand, quantum computing draws on a fundamental concept of quantum physics known as "superposition," which means a single entity can occupy multiple states at the same time, Daniel Lidar, a professor of engineering at the University of Southern California,previously toldABC News.
"In some sense, this is one computer performing many calculations all at once," Lidar said. "In a standard case, you'd need lots of computers performing simultaneous calculations."
The executive order, Kratsios said, would also protect the quantum industry by increasing domestic production of needed materials and strengthening the workforce in the industry.
"It calls for increasing our domestic supply chain capacity for quantum infrastructure and materials, and it ensures a strong American quantum workforce through the expansion of registered apprenticeships, credentials, and new national quantum workforce development institutes on the international front," Kratsios said.
The second executive order will “accelerate the migration to post-quantum [cryptography] to 2031,” which Kratsios says will not only bolster and innovate cybersecurity.
“Together, these policies will drive transformational growth in existing and entirely new industries, in manufacturing, drug discovery, energy, agriculture, and more quantum breakthroughs mean innovation, economic growth, national security that will benefit the American people for decades to come,” he added.
A senior White House official said there are no specific quantum companies that the administration plans to work with or prioritize as a result of these executive orders.
The official also said a quantum-related executive order signed under the Biden administration will remain in effect, but the official differentiated today’s orders by emphasizing the accelerated timeline.
Consulting firm McKinsey&Company identified four industries most likely to see early economic impact from quantum computing: automotive, chemicals, financial services and life sciences, according to areportin 2023.
Across those four industries, the technology could add a combined $1.3 trillion in value by 2035, the report said.
