Disruptors

Harvest Now, Decrypt Later: The Quantum Era's Encryption Challenge

Episode Summary

Quantum computing is accelerating — and putting today’s encryption on a clock. John Stackhouse goes inside Xanadu’s Toronto lab with Christian Weedbrook to meet Aurora, a networked quantum computer built to push scale in the right direction and speaks with Photonic’s Dr. Stephanie Simmons about “harvest now, decrypt later,” fault-tolerant quantum, and why every organization needs a post-quantum cryptography (PQC) transition plan. It’s not all doom and gloom. Simmons also lays out what quantum could unlock as it scales: new possibilities in materials, chemistry, and discovery that are moving from theory toward real-world impact.

Episode Notes

Quantum computing is accelerating — and putting today’s encryption on a clock. John Stackhouse goes inside Xanadu’s Toronto lab with Christian Weedbrook to meet Aurora, a networked quantum computer built to push scale in the right direction and speaks with Photonic’s Dr. Stephanie Simmons about “harvest now, decrypt later,” fault-tolerant quantum, and why every organization needs a post-quantum cryptography (PQC) transition plan.

It’s not all doom and gloom. Simmons also lays out what quantum could unlock as it scales: new possibilities in materials, chemistry, and discovery that are moving from theory toward real-world impact.

In this episode:

• Inside Xanadu: Aurora and what “networked quantum” looks like in the real world
• What “fault-tolerant” quantum means — and why it matters
• “Harvest now, decrypt later” and the trust implications for institutions
• Post-quantum cryptography (PQC): where leaders should start
• Quantum upside: materials, chemistry, and faster discovery

Read:

Quantum Explained

RBC – Thought Leadership