Technology
Quantum Machine Rolls God’s Dice: First Ever Truly Random Number Generated
Quantum Machine: In today’s digital age, where billions of data packets are transferred over the internet every second, security has become a serious concern. Be it online banking, cloud storage or personal chats—everything needs strong encryption. But have you ever wondered how important a role ‘random numbers’ play in strengthening these encryptions?
Until now, we relied on computer programs or special hardware to generate random numbers. But these methods do not have true randomness—because they are also based on physical laws and algorithms that only a powerful enough supercomputer can decode.
But now, a revolutionary technology has changed all this.
Quantum machine throws ‘God’s dice’—first time certified random number generated
Recently, scientists from the US and the UK have used a quantum machine to generate a number that can be called ‘truly random.’ This number was so random that no supercomputer—even the world’s fastest computer—could predict it in advance.
The experiment used Quantinuum’s 56-qubit quantum computer. Scientists programmed it to generate a number based on its “quantum dice,” or qubits, which are not bound by any fixed law of nature.
Quantinuum President and CEO Rajib Hazra called it “a historic step towards the practical use of quantum computing.”
Randomness of quantum physics vs. the predetermination of classical physics
When we usually throw dice or think of a number from one to ten, it is not completely random. Whether it is a candle flame or the rotation of a lava lamp—every process, no matter how complex, follows the laws of physics. That is, theoretically, they can be understood and predicted.
But quantum physics completely changes the game. Here the behavior of particles is uncertain. In which direction an electron will move or what the state of a photon will be—it is not determined by any rule. This uncertainty makes quantum computing so powerful.
‘Quantum dice’ machine made using 56 qubits
Two computer scientists from Texas University—Scott Aaronson and Shih-Han Hung—put forth an idea in 2018: if a quantum computer is used in a particular way, it can generate numbers that can be called ‘certifiably random.’
Based on this idea, scientists implemented a special protocol in Quantinuum’s machine. The machine used 56 qubits simultaneously to perform computational tasks whose answer was based only on randomness.
Supercomputer also accepted defeat—real randomness was proved
To prove the authenticity of this random number, scientists tested it on several supercomputers. The combined capacity of the computers that tested it was 1.1 exaflops—that is, one million trillion operations in one second.
These computers also accepted that this number cannot be repeated or predicted in any way. This proves that this number produced by a quantum computer is an example of true randomness.
Will common people also be able to take advantage of it in the future?
The most exciting thing is that all this happened through a quantum computer connected to the Internet. Quantinuum’s System Model H2 is now available online; that is, in the near future you and we will also be able to throw this ‘God’s dice’ through the Internet.
Rajib Hazra says, “Our quantum machine not only gives high-level randomness, but it can bring a new revolution in areas like finance, manufacturing and cyber security.”
Conclusion: Quantum randomness will change the security of the digital world
This research has not only given birth to a technological marvel but also shows that quantum computing is no longer limited to laboratories. In the future, this technology can prove to be extremely useful in the field of encryption, password generation, secure transactions and digital identity.
This “true random number” generated by a quantum computer proves that the technology of the future is now knocking on the door—and with it comes a new era of data security.
FAQs
Q. What is a ‘truly random number’ and why is it important?
A. A truly random number is completely unpredictable and cannot be reproduced. It’s vital for secure encryption, as predictable numbers can be hacked by powerful computers.
Q. How are random numbers usually generated?
A. Traditional methods use algorithms or physical processes, like dice rolls or electronic noise. But these follow patterns and are not 100% random—they can be predicted with enough computing power.
Q. What makes quantum-generated numbers different?
A. Quantum-generated numbers come from unpredictable particle behavior. Since quantum particles don’t follow fixed rules, the numbers they produce are genuinely random and impossible to predict.
Q. How did scientists generate this truly random number?
A. They used a 56-qubit quantum computer from Quantinuum and ran a special program that used quantum uncertainty to produce randomness. Even the world’s fastest supercomputers couldn’t predict it.
Q. Will the public be able to use this technology?
A. Yes! Quantinuum’s quantum computer is now available online, making it possible for businesses—and eventually the public—to access this high-level randomness for cybersecurity and more.
