WiseKey’s Sealsq subsidiary plans to bolster the security infrastructure surrounding semiconductors and the rapidly evolving IoT ecosystem by harnessing the capabilities of generative AI such as ChatGPT.

WiseKey is developing trust services that will use developments in post-quantum encryption (PQE) that can be applied in real-world applications of digital signatures and encryptions using PKI and digital certificates, such as secure communication channels (TLSs), key exchanges and S/Mime email security.

These services are based on standards that can be improved to be resilient to quantum attacks and offer backwards compatibility with existing counterparts.

The implementation of PQE by WiseKey is done around the concept of hybrid signatures, which combine in a single X.509 certificate a conventional signature with a second signature using a PQE algorithm. This approach ensures backwards compatibility and opens an horizon of cyber-security services.

“WiseKey’s AI quantum solutions mark a significant milestone in the ongoing battle to protect sensitive information from quantum attacks,” said Carlos Moreira, WiseKey’s CEO. “By combining the power of quantum mechanics and the expertise of our multidisciplinary team, we are confident that these innovations will shape the future of cryptography and cyber security.”

The importance of bolstering the security infrastructure for the semiconductor industry has become increasingly profound, not only from a technological standpoint but also a strategical one. While AI continues to evolve and innovate by creating transformative tools and applications which are becoming central pillars for the modern global economy, the need to rely on sophisticated, high-performance computer chips has become ever more critical.

In a post-quantum world, this technology is crucial as it protects the privacy of data even from quantum computers, which are theoretically capable of breaking many conventional encryption methods. As the number of devices being connected to the IoT increases, the security risks are also amplified. Sealsq’s post-quantum technology, hence, becomes a vital tool in maintaining the privacy and integrity of data in IoT networks.

The integration of Sealsq with GPT capabilities can take several forms, especially for IoT:

• Secure data processing: ChatGPT can analyse and respond to encrypted data using homomorphic encryption. This allows the model to provide insights and responses while maintaining data privacy, critical in a quantum world where traditional encryption methods might not be sufficient.
• Enhanced privacy for user interactions: IoT devices often require user interactions and responses, and integrating ChatGPT with Sealsq can allow these interactions to be securely encrypted. This means even if the interaction data are intercepted, they remain encrypted and secure.
• Secure updates: IoT devices often require updates for their software, firmware and AI models. By using ChatGPT with Sealsq, these updates can be encrypted in a way that is resistant to quantum computing attacks.
• Confidential machine learning: If the machine-learning model itself is integrated with Sealsq, it can offer a new level of privacy-preserving machine learning. Model training can be done on encrypted data, and the model itself can remain confidential.
• Encrypted command and control: In an IoT context, ChatGPT could be used to interpret and respond to encrypted commands. This could allow a user to control IoT devices securely using natural language, with all communications being securely encrypted.
• Secure data sharing: IoT devices often share data with each other and with cloud-based systems. These data can be encrypted using Seal, and then processed or analysed by GPT, without ever having to be decrypted.

Sealsq is a subsidiary of the WiseKey group that focuses on developing and selling semiconductors, PKI and post-quantum technology hardware and software.