Dumbstruck

Written 55-G27 [2024-01-31], Edited 55-G27 [2024-01-31]

Image credit: Twitter Twemoji

“And that’s when I knew that quantum computing would revolutionize all sectors of the economy,” said Meyers the futurist. He stroked his blond hair briefly and continued. “The real question is whether the powers that be will be able to maintain their grip on power, because once quantum computers become commonplace, all our existing cryptography will become obsolete.”

“Fascinating,” said the journalist. “So today, our encrypted messages on Signal, WhatsApp, Telegram and others are safe from prying eyes, so long as whoever’s on the other side doesn’t squeal. But you’re saying in the future with quantum computers, messages you send could be readable to anyone with a quantum device.”

“Let’s be clear,” said Meyers with a smile. “Classical computers will still have their place in the world. Now I’m not a computer scientist but the people I talked to at TSMC, IBM and Samsung said they expected a quantum co-processor to coexist with other processors.”

“That’s neat,” said the journalist. “But on the topic of Telegram…”

Meyers kept talking “So your computer today has a classical central processing unit or CPU, and a graphics processing unit or GPU, and an AI card, that’s all what we see now. And in addition to that, in the future there will be a quantum processing unit, an analog unit, a photonic unit, and even a chemical unit.”

“Okay,” said the journalist, “and regarding Telegram…”

“And that’s not all,” Meyers interrupted. “Because while mainstream science is still ‘getting around to the idea', there are some in the intelligentsia who believe that consciousness itself is a quantum system which quantum computers will be able to replicate. So the quantum revolution isn’t just about breaking encryption, it’s about making it possible for machines to become thinking, feeling beings capable of originality.”

“Riiiiiight,” said the journalist. He rolled his eyes but they were out of the camera’s view. “And Mr. Meyers, on the topic of originality-”

“You can hear all about it in my newest video essay on YouTube, Masters of the 22nd Century Two Point Zero Point Three colon The Reckoning colon Quantum and Consciousness” Meyers said.

“Mr. Meyers,” the journalist. “Can you comment on the investigation by fellow YouTuber FBombergurl that twenty of your YouTube videos and eight chapters of your book were plagiarized from tiny blogs and from other books which you didn’t cite?”

Meyers' calm face cracked like an egg 5 minutes before breakfast. “Twenty of my…” he said. His mouth was agape, his eyes were wide and his mind, quantum-enhanced or not, was totally dumbstruck.

The journalist finally had the opportunity to speak without interruption, so he bared his fangs and pounced. “And can you also comment on the recent Telegram leak containing messages to what appears to be a harem of teenage prostitutes living in your fourth bedroom?”

“I… Telegram… robots… Dyson spheres…” Meyers said, as he were a machine generating buzzwords and running out of RAM.

“Excuse me,” he said. He fled the scene before he could hear a response.