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Democratization of Quantum Technologies

Seskir, Zeki C. ORCID iD icon 1,2; Umbrello, Steven ; Coenen, Christopher 2; Vermaas, Pieter E.
1 Fakultät für Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften (GEISTSOZ), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
2 Institut für Technikfolgenabschätzung und Systemanalyse (ITAS), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)

Abstract:

As quantum technologies (QT) advance, their potential impact on and relation with society has been developing into an important issue for exploration. In this paper, we investigate the topic of democratization in the context of QT, particularly quantum computing. The paper contains three main sections. First, we briefly introduce different theories of democracy (participatory, representative, and deliberative) and how the concept of democratization can be formulated with respect to whether democracy is taken as an intrinsic or instrumental value. Second, we give an overview of how the concept of democratization is used in the QT field. Democratization is mainly adopted by companies working on quantum computing and used in a very narrow understanding of the concept. Third, we explore various narratives and counter-narratives concerning democratization in QT. Finally, we explore the general efforts of democratization in QT such as different forms of access, formation of grassroot communities and special interest groups, the emerging culture of manifesto writing, and how these can be located within the different theories of democracy. In conclusion, we argue that although the ongoing efforts in the democratization of QT are necessary steps towards the democratization of this set of emerging technologies, they should not be accepted as sufficient to argue that QT is a democratized field. ... mehr


Verlagsausgabe §
DOI: 10.5445/IR/1000155773
Veröffentlicht am 08.02.2023
Originalveröffentlichung
DOI: 10.1088/2058-9565/acb6ae
Scopus
Zitationen: 7
Web of Science
Zitationen: 4
Dimensions
Zitationen: 11
Cover der Publikation
Zugehörige Institution(en) am KIT Institut für Technikfolgenabschätzung und Systemanalyse (ITAS)
Publikationstyp Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Publikationsdatum 01.04.2023
Sprache Englisch
Identifikator ISSN: 2058-9565
KITopen-ID: 1000155773
HGF-Programm 46.24.01 (POF IV, LK 01) Applied TA: Digitalizat. & Automat. Socio-Technical Change
Erschienen in Quantum Science and Technology
Verlag Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd (IOP Publishing Ltd)
Band 8
Heft 2
Seiten Art.-Nr.: 024005
Vorab online veröffentlicht am 07.02.2023
Schlagwörter democratization, quantum technologies, quantum computing, theories of democracy
Nachgewiesen in Web of Science
Scopus
Dimensions
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