Envisioning Responsible Quantum Software Engineering and Quantum Artificial Intelligence

2024-10-31

AI Summary

The convergence of quantum computing, quantum software engineering, and artificial intelligence poses acute ethical, security, and governance challenges—exacerbating digital inequity and concentrating technological power. Method: This paper introduces, for the first time, the “Responsible Quantum Software Engineering” (RQSE) framework, grounded in ethics-by-design and governance-by-default principles. It systematically integrates transparency, inclusivity, and globally equitable access across the quantum AI lifecycle, combining software engineering governance models, AI ethics assessment tools, quantum technology readiness analysis, and multi-stakeholder co-governance mechanisms. Contribution/Results: The framework yields an actionable roadmap for policymakers, developers, and researchers, establishing both a theoretical foundation and a practical paradigm for building trustworthy, accountable, and universally accessible quantum-intelligent infrastructure.

Technology Category

• Philosophy and Ethics of AI: Bias, Fairness & Equity
• Machine Learning: Quantum Machine Learning
• Knowledge Representation and Reasoning: Qualitative Reasoning

Application Category

• Responsible Web: Fairness, accountability, transparency and ethics of web technologies
• Security and Privacy: Data transparency and provenance
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Fairness and ethical considerations in crowd work and in human-in-the-loop AI systems

Abstract

The convergence of Quantum Computing (QC), Quantum Software Engineering (QSE), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents transformative opportunities across various domains. However, existing methodologies inadequately address the ethical, security, and governance challenges arising from this technological shift. This paper highlights the urgent need for interdisciplinary collaboration to embed ethical principles into the development of Quantum AI (QAI) and QSE, ensuring transparency, inclusivity, and equitable global access. Without proactive governance, there is a risk of deepening digital inequalities and consolidating power among a select few. We call on the software engineering community to actively shape a future where responsible QSE and QAI are foundational for ethical, accountable, and socially beneficial technological progress.

Problem

• Address ethical, security, governance challenges in Quantum AI and QSE.
• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration for ethical Quantum AI development.
• Prevent digital inequalities and power consolidation in Quantum technologies.

Innovation

• Interdisciplinary collaboration for ethical Quantum AI
• Embedding ethical principles in Quantum Software Engineering
• Proactive governance to prevent digital inequalities