Latest news with #Chamath
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Billionaire Chamath Palihapitiya has a blunt warning about quantum computing
Billionaire Chamath Palihapitiya has a blunt warning about quantum computing originally appeared on TheStreet. Billionaire investor Chamath Palihapitiya has warned that Google revealed breaking common encryption might be closer than we thought. 'If this is even remotely true, combined with everything else happening rn, the only safe trade are hard assets and, dare I say, gold,' Chamath posted on X. 'Sheesh.' In a blog post on May 23 titled 'Tracking the Cost of Quantum Factoring,' Google researchers announced they've drastically lowered the bar for what it would take to break RSA encryption, one of the most widely used security systems on the internet. 'Yesterday, we published a preprint demonstrating that 2048-bit RSA encryption could theoretically be broken by a quantum computer with 1 million noisy qubits running for one week,' wrote Craig Gidney and Sophie Schmieg from Google Quantum AI. Just five years ago, that number was 20 million qubits. Before that? A billion. RSA encryption is a form of asymmetric cryptography, which is basically a way to lock and unlock data using two separate keys: a public one and a private one. It's used in everything from HTTPS connections to secure emails, logins, and financial transactions. Google credits a combination of algorithmic improvements and more efficient quantum error correction. 'The reduction in physical qubit count comes from two sources: better algorithms and better error correction... On the algorithmic side, the key change is to compute an approximate modular exponentiation rather than an exact one.' They pointed to work by Chevignard, Fouque, and Schrottenloher from 2024 that enabled '1000x more operations than prior work,' which Google then optimized down to just 2x overhead. 'On the error correction side, the key change is tripling the storage density of idle logical qubits by adding a second layer of error correction,' the post added. This layered correction, plus a new technique called magic state cultivation, means quantum computers may now require far fewer resources to do serious damage. While RSA is not used in Bitcoin, the underlying principles matter. Bitcoin's cryptography, specifically, ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm)—is also vulnerable to quantum computing, just like RSA. And the threat isn't just theoretical. As Google notes: 'For asymmetric encryption, in particular encryption in transit, the motivation to migrate to PQC is made more urgent due to the fact that an adversary can collect ciphertexts, and later decrypt them once a quantum computer is available, known as a 'store now, decrypt later' attack.' That line is especially chilling for crypto. Anyone who's ever sent Bitcoin using a public key is technically exposed in a future where a powerful enough quantum computer exists. And the only thing standing between that and billions in value being drained is time and preparation. At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $105,574, down 1.8% on the day, mirroring a broader pullback across the crypto market, with most major tokens in the red. Billionaire Chamath Palihapitiya has a blunt warning about quantum computing first appeared on TheStreet on May 30, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Express Tribune
18-02-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Was Delta plane crash pilot a DEI hire?
A Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis to Toronto crashed on Monday as it attempted to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The CRJ900 twin-jet aircraft flipped upside down and caught fire, but fortunately, all 80 people on board survived. Twenty-one passengers sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital, with most released by Tuesday morning. This crash is part of a series of recent aviation tragedies, including a midair collision near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people and a medevac crash in Philadelphia that claimed six lives. President Donald Trump, during a January 30 briefing about the American Airlines collision, described the incident as a "real tragedy" and suggested that government DEI policies and employee mental health were factors contributing to the crashes. A key detail from the Delta crash was that video footage did not show the usual "flare" maneuver typically performed by pilots before landing. This maneuver involves pulling the nose of the plane up just before touchdown to expose the wings to more air resistance, which slows the aircraft down and helps with a smoother landing. The lack of this flare led some aviation experts to speculate about potential issues with the pilot's actions during the landing attempt. As the investigation continues, one aspect of the Delta crash has sparked considerable online debate: Was the pilot a 'DEI hire'? The term "DEI hire" refers to individuals hired based on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, often implying that racial or gender quotas are being prioritized over qualifications. Every black/female/queer pilot right now, hoping that delta pilot was a white male — Chamath's Neglected Legs (@ChamsNegLegs) February 18, 2025 Delta Air Lines, which has been publicly promoting its diverse workforce, has faced scrutiny over its DEI policies. In a TikTok video showcasing its diverse crew, some social media users speculated that the Delta pilot involved in the crash was hired based on these initiatives. The pinned video on Delta's TikTok account: — Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 18, 2025 This speculation led to a viral online conversation, with critics accusing Delta of prioritizing race and sexual preferences over merit. Many users took to social media to discuss their concerns, often in disparaging terms. This is from Delta's DEI website. An airline OBSESSED with the race and sexual preferences of their workers. Think the passengers who almost died in Toronto give a flying FUCK about if the pilot blows dudes or the flight attendant's great grandma was a non binary Native American?… — Tyler Fischer (@TyTheFisch) February 18, 2025 However, Delta has emphasized its "skills-first" approach to hiring, which focuses on a candidate's skills, background, and experience rather than solely on education or academic pedigree. The airline has stated that its goal is to close representation gaps and ensure a more equitable workforce. As for the crash itself, aviation experts have noted that the aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ900, was designed to withstand hard landings, allowing for the quick evacuation of passengers. A flight path recording revealed that air traffic control had cleared the flight to land, but warned of a potential air flow issue due to another plane ahead. Despite this, the crash's cause remains under investigation. While no official statement has identified the pilot, online discussions have continued to speculate. These ongoing debates surrounding DEI in aviation have fueled further controversy, even as the focus should remain on investigating the crash itself and ensuring passenger safety.
