Why Are Google Executives Panicking?

[The Bleeding Edge]( - Drone delivery in just 30 minutes… - We’re adding a new sense to the VR experience… - VCs are doubling down on gaming… --------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Reader, Something is seriously afoot. It’s not normal to see such a sudden sense of urgency within an industry… yet I believe this fervor is well-founded. Executives at Google are warning that encrypted data being sent today is already at risk of not only being stolen, but also decrypted through the use of quantum computers. What’s remarkable about those comments is that they aren’t talking about something several years down the road. The problem, they believe, is now… right now. One of the most important predictions that I made at the end of last year, for 2022, is that one of the major players in the quantum computing industry would announce that they have developed [a 256-qubit quantum computer](. If my prediction comes to pass, it means that cracking today’s standard encryption will be a trivial task. And that means that things like national security documents, health records, financial records, banking systems, etc. will all be at immediate risk. This isn’t hyperbole – it is a clear and present danger. The timing of Google’s warning isn’t a coincidence. And it’s not a general concern. After all, back in the fall of 2019, Google announced that it had achieved quantum supremacy with its 53-qubit quantum computer. Quantum supremacy is the moment in time that a quantum computer is more powerful than the most powerful supercomputer on the planet. Here’s the thing… That was almost three years ago. And Google has been very quiet on its own developments in quantum computing since then. We don’t know how much progress they have made, but there’s one thing I’m certain of… they are two or three generations down the road of development compared to where they were back in 2019. And I suspect that’s why Google has such a strong opinion about how urgent it is that the world upgrade its encryption systems to new standards as soon as possible. Google may very well have already developed the capabilities to crack standard encryption. In other words, they know that if they can do it, others can’t be far behind. At the core of the solution is the need to define new standards for post-quantum cryptography. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is responsible for making this happen. The process of standards development began in early 2016 and seven finalist technologies were selected in July of 2020. And now is the time to decide which direction to go with the standards. We’re expecting decisions in the coming weeks, but we’re already way behind. The reason is that the selection and development of standards is just the first step. The bigger problem is how to take on the Herculean task of upgrading the world’s devices and systems to this new post-quantum cryptography… At least 20 billion devices will need a major software upgrade. Some devices will simply be too old to upgrade. There are more than 7 billion mobile phones alone that will need an upgrade or will have to be replaced entirely. Every computing system will require one as well. Basically, anything and everything that is connected to the internet will need an update. It will take years to reach the majority of devices, and even longer to clean up the long tail of adoption. And that assumes everything moves quickly and stays on schedule. The timing for Google’s recent spin out of its quantum computing assets and into a newly formed company – Sandbox AQ – wasn’t a coincidence. Neither was In-Q-Tel’s investment into Sandbox AQ’s nine-figure raise to launch the company. In-Q-Tel is the venture capital arm of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). As if we needed to add more chaos into the world. Now is not the best time. If a handful of powerful countries and corporations suddenly have the ability to render all current encryption useless, I can’t imagine what would follow. Our only saving grace is that the technology wouldn’t be generally available. The largest risk would be from a nation-state misusing the technology for the explicit purpose of theft of data and/or causing harm. The real wildcard is China. The world just doesn’t know how much progress has been made with China’s quantum computing programs. Unlike what’s happening in the U.S., which is primarily funded by the private markets, China’s initiatives have been mostly backed by the government. Every once in a while, I make predictions that I hope are incorrect. This is one of those times. We need more time to upgrade our systems to post-quantum cryptography before the threat is realized. Fortunately, the most advanced quantum computing systems are being developed here in the U.S. And they are almost entirely focused on solving incredibly complex problems that can’t be solved with classical supercomputers. New materials, molecular compounds, cures for disease, advancements in climate science, answers to the mysteries of our own universe, and so much more await us in the years that follow. These are all positive developments. While there is great cause for concern, we still have so much to look forward to. Recommended Link [Gov’t document reveals Apple’s NEW $10 trillion cash cow]( [image]( A document from the California DMV recently tipped us off to a shocking development... In short, the world’s top tech company — Apple — is getting ready to launch its biggest breakthrough yet. [Click here for the full details on Apple’s $10 trillion cash cow]( -- Drone deliveries are ramping up… Imagine getting a last-minute grocery item delivered to our home in just minutes. This is quickly becoming reality for four million U.S. households… Retail giant Walmart just announced that it is expanding drone delivery services to 34 stores across six states: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. Walmart has been testing drone deliveries in partnership with three small companies over the last two years – Flytrex, Zipline, and DroneUp. And it appears that Walmart has chosen a favorite. Last year, Walmart invested directly in DroneUp. And now the retail giant announced it will be using DroneUp’s services at 34 stores. Here we can see the drone in action: DroneUp Delivery Source: Walmart These delivery drones can make deliveries of up to 10 pounds within 30 minutes. That’s pretty incredible. [Free Pick from Jeff Brown: “Buy S.C.G .”]( At launch, drone deliveries will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time. And they will cost a flat delivery fee of $3.99. That’s not bad considering the convenience, as well as how much time and gas would be saved not having to drive back and forth to a store. Right now, orders must be placed from DroneUp’s website. You can do so [right here](. If any readers would like to check it out, just enter your address to determine eligibility. And if anyone is in a coverage area and tries out the service, please [let me know](mailto:feedback@brownstoneresearch.com). I would love to hear about your experience. A photo would be fantastic as well. And looking at the big picture, Walmart is making even better progress with drone delivery than Amazon and Google right now. Its 30-minute delivery promise will be hard to beat. This latest move by Walmart will definitely light a fire under the competition, which means that an even larger percentage of the country will be gaining access to this kind of quick delivery service over the next year or two. Recommended Link [Worried About the Bitcoin Crash? Do This]( [image]( Since peaking last November, Bitcoin has dropped almost 50%. Is it time to panic? According to Teeka Tiwari (who was voted #1 most trusted crypto expert), no. But he’s also warning that the biggest gains going forward will not come from Bitcoin. [It will come from these NFT plays.]( As Forbes wrote recently: “The NFT explosion has defied a broader crypto market drawback.” That’s why Teeka recently gave an interview where he revealed the truth about NFTs… and even gave away a free recommendation to play this hot trend. [Click here to watch it.]( -- The virtual reality space is heating up… Things are getting very interesting in the virtual reality (VR) space right now. We are starting to see companies develop technology to make VR even more realistic. One way to do this is through [haptics technology]( which provides physical sensations like vibrations and hot/cold sensitivity. We’ve explored various kinds of haptic technology in the past in The Bleeding Edge. And now another company is taking this even further by adding a sense of smell… That’s why an early stage startup called OVR Technology just caught my attention. OVR Technology is based in Vermont. And it has developed “snap-on” technology that integrates with a VR headset to produce specific smells. The “O” stands for olfactory. Here’s a look: OVR Technology Device Source: OVR Technology Here we can see the horizontal snap-on device just below the VR headset’s lenses. That’s the mechanism for delivering smell in a way that is complementary to a VR software program. For example, if a user is walking through a forest, that experience can pair with the smell of pine. Or if the user is walking through a garden and bends down to look at a rose, the software can trigger the release of a rose smell. Then, when the user stands back up, the rose smell stops. OVR has developed a simple cartridge-based system for its smell “factory” that looks a lot like ink cartridges for printers: Scentware Cartridge Source: OVR Technology These are the “scentware” cartridges that plug into OVR’s snap-on device. The cartridges contain molecules that produce specific smells. And when they are empty, users simply replace them with a new cartridge. [Bezos, Musk, and Yellen Planning Behind the Scenes [$150 Trillion]]( To me, this is a fantastic feature. It’s a way to bring any VR experience to life. Of course, there are plenty of entertainment applications here. Those are easy to imagine. But there are also therapeutic applications with this. I can envision meditation programs that inject soothing smells to help users relax more fully. We also know that soothing smells can help treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). That’s another great application. So we’ll keep a close eye on OVR Technology going forward. And bigger picture, developments like this signal that the VR industry is making terrific progress. Companies are now focusing on supplemental technology like this, which tells us that the core VR headset technology is about ready for prime time. And of course, that means we will have some incredible investment opportunities as this technology takes hold. For more information on this major trend, [simply go right here](. Recommended Link [Buy These 27 Items NOW - Before They Sell Out Forever]( [image]( You should plan your next shopping trip around [these 27 items.]( In the coming days, they could skyrocket in price… 10X… 50X… even 500X higher. Investing expert Dave Forest just went on-site at an American superstore to find out what the HECK is going on in America. As he explains in his [shocking video exposé]( — it doesn’t matter if stores in your neighborhood seem fine now, because: “Once this crisis hits cruising speed, these essential items could sell out quickly and never be restocked.” [Click here now to see what’s on Dave’s list (VIDEO).]( -- The smart money is going big on gaming… We’ll wrap up today with some insight from the private markets. Overall, we are seeing a little bit of a pullback in venture capital (VC) funding. It’s still strong, but VC firms are getting more selective with their investments. Yet legendary VC firm Andreessen Horowitz just announced that it is raising a $600 million fund to invest exclusively in the gaming industry. It is calling it the Games Fund One. Raising such a large fund in the face of a tighter VC market is telling. Remember, this comes on the heels of [Andreessen’s historic $2.2 billion fund]( focused on crypto projects and Web 3.0 gaming. So Andreessen Horowitz is doubling down on gaming here. That tells us just how much potential it sees in the industry. And this is largely thanks to the [Web 3.0 “play-to-earn” model]( as well as developments with both augmented reality (AR) and VR. In fact, the gaming industry has nearly doubled in size just in the last 12 months thanks to these technologies. The market size has grown to an impressive $336 billion today. Here’s a breakdown of the market’s segments: Gaming Industry Breakdown Source: Naavik To put this in context, the movie and entertainment industry is worth an estimated $97.4 billion this year… That means the gaming industry is over three times larger. And it’s growing at a double-digit percentage clip as well. We have already added exposure to these developments in some of our portfolios here at Brownstone Research. And as more next-generation gaming companies access the public markets, we’ll be looking to add even more. Regards, Jeff Brown Editor, The Bleeding Edge --------------------------------------------------------------- Like what you’re reading? Send your thoughts to feedback@brownstoneresearch.com. --------------------------------------------------------------- In Case You Missed It… [Goldman Sachs Alum Sounds Alarm on “Next US Crisis”]( Few Believed Nomi Prins when she called the 2008 meltdown well in advance. Now, she’s issuing a new prediction. Most Americans aren’t yet prepared. [Click here to learn more.]( [image]( Get Instant Access Click to read these free reports and automatically sign up for daily research. [The Ultimate Guide to Taking Back Your Privacy]( [The Gold Investor’s Guide]( [The Trader’s Guide to Technical Analysis]( [Brownstone Research]( Brownstone Research 55 NE 5th Avenue, Delray Beach, FL 33483 [www.brownstoneresearch.com]( To ensure our emails continue reaching your inbox, please [add our email address]( to your address book. 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