DevFest 2025: AI Quantum Clubs | The NIST PQC Standards and The Crypto-Agile Mindset ⚖️

DevFest 2025: Building Safe, Secure and Scalable Solutions with AI and Cloud.

This year at DevFest 2025, we're focusing on how to build safe, secure, and scalable solutions with AI and Cloud. This session, presented as part of our AI Quantum Clubs campaign, dives into the crucial and rapidly evolving world of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC).

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has finalized the first set of PQC standards, and this session is a deep dive into the three selected algorithms: ML-KEM, ML-DSA, and SLH-DSA. We'll explore their mathematical foundations, intended applications, and practical implementation considerations.

Navigating the NIST PQC Landscape: Algorithms, Standards, and the AI Connection 

• The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has finalized the first set of post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards. 
• This session will be a deep dive into the three selected algorithms: ML-KEM, ML-DSA, and SLH-DSA. 
• We'll explore their mathematical foundations, intended applications, and practical implementation considerations. 
• Most importantly, we'll connect this to the role of AI, both as a potential cryptanalytic threat and as a critical tool for building "crypto-agile" systems that can adapt to the quantum era.

Key Themes:

• NIST Standards ✅
• PQC Algorithms 📊
• Key Exchange 🔑
• Digital Signatures ✍️
• The AI Connection 🤖
• Crypto-Agility 🤸

Recommended background: 

A basic understanding of the PQC threat model from Event 1 is recommended. Some familiarity with the concepts of key exchange and digital signatures will be helpful.

Recommended Resources:

• NIST FIPS 203, 204, 205: The official, finalized standards for ML-KEM, ML-DSA, and SLH-DSA.
• NIST PQC Migration Report: Official guidance from NIST on how organizations should plan their transition to post-quantum cryptography.
• IBM's PQC Resources: A collection of articles and tools from IBM's research team on their PQC implementation efforts.
• Cloudflare's Blog on PQC: In-depth technical articles on Cloudflare's experience implementing PQC in their own infrastructure.

What is AI Quantum Clubs?

Building upon the foundations of our AI Study Jams and AI Math Clubs, the AI Quantum Clubs campaign is designed to explore the crucial and rapidly evolving world of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC).

This initiative focuses on equipping developers and enthusiasts with the knowledge to understand and address the looming quantum threat to our digital security. We will provide a clear, intuitive path to learning about new quantum-resistant algorithms and how to implement them in a way that future-proofs our code and infrastructure.

Let's learn together! Strengthen your skills and take the next step on your journey to becoming a future-ready developer.

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