CLOUDY podcast | #37 Why are the military, banks, and governments already addressing quantum security today?
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AI in practice: from chess grandmasters to oncology
IBM has been developing artificial intelligence for decades – from the legendary Deep Blue supercomputer to today's watsonx platform. In the podcast, Fridrich Matejik explains how AI is transforming healthcare, particularly in oncology. The system acts as a "second opinion," comparing physicians' decisions with recommendations from leading medical experts whose knowledge the model has been trained on.
Radiology is another area where AI is making a significant impact. "AI can identify and interpret medical images, determining whether a tumour is present or not, with far greater accuracy and much faster than a human," explains Matejik. Beyond healthcare, AI is also being adopted in the public sector, where it automates tasks such as transcribing police interviews and processing residence permit applications, saving countless hours of administrative work.
Quantum revolution: a threat or an opportunity?
Quantum computers are no longer science fiction. IBM currently operates 98 physical quantum computers. These machines run at temperatures close to absolute zero and use qubits, enabling them to process vast amounts of data exponentially faster than today's processors.
While fully capable, large-scale quantum computers were originally expected around 2033, current estimates suggest they could arrive as early as 2029. This raises a critical security challenge: quantum computers will eventually be capable of breaking today's encryption standards.
"Many organisations are already collecting encrypted data today. Even if they cannot access it now, within a few years they may be able to decrypt and use it. This is an issue that governments, banks, and the energy sector will all have to address," warns Matejik.
Post-quantum security and hybrid cloud
The answer lies in post-quantum security - new encryption algorithms designed to withstand quantum attacks. IBM is already integrating these standards into its storage systems and software.
Another important topic discussed in the episode is the resilience of IT systems during crisis situations such as armed conflicts. Lessons learned from Ukraine show that containerisation and hybrid cloud are essential for protecting critical data. With platforms such as OpenShift, entire IT environments can be quickly migrated between data centres or to the cloud, ensuring business continuity and uninterrupted government operations even if physical infrastructure is destroyed.
In this episode, you'll also learn:
Why data sovereignty and on-premises AI are essential for governments and banks.
How quantum computers could accelerate the discovery of new drugs and advanced materials.
Whether a quantum computer could hack Bitcoin.
Which industries should start preparing for the quantum future first.
Listen to the full conversation with Fridrich Matejik on 👉Spotify, 👉Apple Podcasts, or watch the video below.
