Impenetrable encryption thanks to AI and lasers: Against even quantum computers?

Researchers have created an 'uncrackable' encryption system that can withstand even quantum computers.

Greek scientists have developed a promising optical encryption system that is capable of "disabling" traditional hacking methods, even from quantum computers.

The groundbreaking work combines artificial intelligence (AI) and high-powered lasers to create an impenetrable layer of data protection. Unlike conventional encryption methods that rely on algorithms, the new system takes advantage of the physical properties of light, making it immune to attacks from even the most powerful computers.

Impenetrable encryption thanks to AI and lasers: Against even quantum computers? Picture 1 Impenetrable encryption thanks to AI and lasers: Against even quantum computers? Picture 1

Illustration of the process of encoding and decoding data using lasers and AI.

According to team leader Stelios Tzortzakis, the encryption system uses the phenomenon of chaotic light created when a laser beam interacts with ethanol. This process, combined with thermal turbulence in the liquid, scrambles the original information beyond recognition, making it impossible to decode using conventional methods.

To recover the encrypted data, the researchers turned to AI. The neural network was trained to recognize and decode the scrambled information, achieving an astonishing 90-95% accuracy rate.

'We came up with the idea of training a neural network to recognize the extremely fine details of the scrambled light patterns,' Tzortzakis said. 'By creating billions of complex connections inside the neural network, we successfully recreated the original beam shape, which in turn generated a unique decryption key for each configuration of the encryption system.'

The new system is not only secure but also works well in harsh conditions, including bad weather. In particular, the use of neural networks to generate decryption keys helps increase security to the maximum level, when only the system owner can generate this key.

The technology has been successfully tested on thousands of images. However, to be commercialized, the current high-power and expensive laser system needs to be improved to become more compact and cost-effective.