Timeline milestone
Shor’s algorithm reveals a transformative quantum advantage
From The Road to Useful Quantum Computing: From Qubits to Error Correction
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Algorithm
Shor’s algorithm reveals a transformative quantum advantage
Peter Shor devised a quantum algorithm for factoring large integers efficiently, threatening widely used public-key cryptography in principle.
Shor’s algorithm gave the field a concrete high-impact application and made fault-tolerant quantum computing strategically important. Existing machines remain far too small and noisy to factor cryptographically relevant keys, but migration to quantum-resistant cryptography takes many years.
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