Teleportation: The End Game For Nations

Recently, Elon Musk expressed his interest in a ‘teleportation time machine’. While a practical device would be useful, it got me thinking about the realities of developing even basic non-local transfer of matter.

In a repost of Elon’s statement, I said the following:

Imagine if a nation learned how to teleport bunches of electrons/photons to an arbitrary location. It would bypass all defence measures. It would force the nation to take control of the entire planet and prevent any foreign development. It would be the last battle.

I thought I should expand upon this with a quick article outlining the situation as I see it. Theoretically, we are close to teleportation. We already can perform quantum teleportation. Quantum teleportation works as follows:

Quantum teleportation is a process by which the quantum state of a particle (such as an electron or a photon) is transferred from one location to another, without physically moving the particle itself. This is achieved through the use of quantum entanglement, a phenomenon where the properties of two or more particles become interconnected such that the state of one particle instantly influences the state of the other, no matter the distance between them.

In practice, this means that conserved quantities become correlated with each other. By measuring one (and destroying the state), you know the state of the other particle. Not exactly useful, as the outcomes are random and no faster than light communication can occur. We would say that locality is retained in such an experiment.

That said, theories are advancing around QFT, gravity and spacetime. These theories are slowly opening the door to a more practical version of teleportation. This is nothing new, it has been in the works for many decades now, but our engineering skills have advanced to the point where this seems likely to be the next big leap.

But, it comes at a price.

As I mentioned in my repost of Elon’s statement, even the most basic ability to teleport electrons/photons to arbitrary locations would upend the international security regime. The problem is rather straightforward. If someone were able to teleport electrons/photons in sufficient quantities to cause physical damage to biological tissue and/or computing, the defence apparatus of every nation would be exposed.

Imagine the picture if China gained the capability first. It would have direct access to disable everything from satellites to nuclear deterrents of everyone, from India to the US. It also wouldn’t have much time to ponder the issue either. Certainly China would be concerned about being on the receiving end of such technology and would have limited scope of not acting upon the new capability.

The same logic applies to every major nation on the planet. As once said by a wise man, ‘There can be only one’.

As a result, I would say we are entering one of the more dangerous periods in history. One that is defined by powerful international alliances, but with a core defence strategy of ‘everybody for themselves’.

The main contenders and their strengths are listed below:

• Japan: Known for its advancements in robotics and automation.
• United States: Home to tech giants like Google, Apple, and Facebook.
• South Korea: Famous for integrating advanced technology into daily life through companies like Samsung and LG.
• Germany: Leading in precision engineering and manufacturing.
• Singapore: A technological hub in Southeast Asia with strong digital economies.
• United Kingdom: Noted for its progressive tech policies and innovative digital economy.
• Sweden: Known for its contributions to green technologies and life sciences.
• Israel: Renowned for its vibrant start-up scene and innovation.
• China: Significant advancements in smart cities, AI, and biotechnology.
• Switzerland: Highly innovative with strong contributions to pharmaceuticals and med-tech.
• Finland: Major exporter of technology with a strong focus on information technology.
• Netherlands: Notable for its high-tech industries and innovation.
• Norway: Known for its digital competitiveness and high internet usage.
• Denmark: Leading in digital advancements and fast internet services.
• Canada: Significant technological contributions in various sectors.
• Australia: Advancements in multiple technological fields.
• Russia: High internet usage and significant contributions to space and military technology.
• Taiwan: Leading in semiconductor manufacturing and technology integration.
• United Arab Emirates: Noted for its smart city initiatives and digital transformation.
• Hong Kong: Advanced in financial technologies and digital infrastructure.

Eventually, one of these nations will make the breakthrough. Then they have various decisions to make, such as how to secure the planet. Do they use the new weapon? Or do they announce a demonstration, disarm nations and restrict their science?

No doubt, in some cases, there is history and scores to settle. So, it may not be a so benevolent outcome. The winner, as such, will be able to dictate terms and unlike any previous conflict, there will be no resistance on the horizon for the foreseeable future.

While current defence strategies involve a kind of Mexican Standoff, the strategy going forward will be either to slow the development of science, or compromise it thoroughly.