AI was instrumental in developing the Oratomic team's algorithm, which could potentially shorten the development time of a quantum computer that threatens encryption. Quantum computers are built from quantum bits, or "qubits," which can perform calculations faster than is possible with ordinary computers, posing a threat to internet security. The U.S. National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) has set a 2035 deadline to prepare for the arrival of quantum computers. The Oratomic researchers' algorithm requires just three atoms to encode a qubit, reducing the number of particles required to build an atomic quantum computer by 100 times. The new technology could help in physics, design new drugs and materials, and eventually help run more powerful and efficient AI models. However, the development of a new quantum computer before the transition to post-quantum encryption could lead to data leaks, extortion, and businesses being taken offline.