Quantum Resilience at Davos: SEALSQ Reveals Post-Quantum Secure Robotics’ Future
SEALSQ Corp, a well-known pioneer in semiconductor and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) solutions, has demonstrated its Post-Quantum Cryptography Robotic Concept in a move that represents a paradigm change for the security of autonomous systems. The live demonstration, which featured WISeRobot, a platform created in partnership with SEALSQ’s parent company, WISeKey International Holding Ltd., took place during the Physical AI Roundtable, which was held in Davos in conjunction with the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.
The incident brought to light a critical technological need: current cryptographic protocols, such as RSA and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC), are becoming more susceptible to hacking as quantum computing develops. To combat this, SEALSQ is actively incorporating hardware-based roots of trust and quantum-resistant algorithms into robotic platforms to guarantee the long-term stability of autonomous systems functioning in hostile situations.
The Intersection of Security and Physical AI
Physical AI, which is defined as artificial intelligence embodied in devices that see, make decisions, and act within the physical world, was the emphasis of the demonstration. Physical AI, as opposed to exclusively digital systems, necessitates a special security approach since these devices communicate directly with human infrastructure.
The method used by SEALSQ entails directly integrating trust into secure semiconductors. This is accomplished by:
- Post-quantum cryptography accelerators and hardware-based trust roots.
- At the production step, distinct, unclonable cryptographic IDs are provided.
- Safe key storage and lifecycle management to safeguard AI models and authenticated firmware.
WISeRobot participated in the roundtable as an interactive participant, demonstrating how post-quantum security may be anchored at the firmware, system, and silicon levels. The robot showed real-time, cryptographically protected machine-to-machine and human-machine interactions as well as secure digital identity.
Expert Opinions: The Quantum Horizon in 2028
At the Davos forum, industry experts reaffirmed the urgency of this shift. According to Mark Hughes, IBM’s Global Managing Partner of Cybersecurity Services, quantum computers could be available as early as 2028. Hughes affirmed that IBM is already getting ready for this transition, highlighting the conclusion that the post-quantum age is coming sooner than many had predicted.
While quantum technologies will speed up computation, they also increase systemic risk unless Physical AI is founded from the beginning on verifiable trust and robust cryptographic underpinnings, according to David Shrier, Professor of Practice at Imperial College London.
The human aspect of this technology advancement was also emphasized by Sol Rashidi, the world’s first Chief AI Officer and a well-known AI anthropologist. According to Rashidi, demands for responsibility, transparency, and compatibility with human values become unavoidable as machines engage with people more closely. She cautioned that physical artificial intelligence runs the potential of undermining public trust in the absence of ethical and security safeguards.
Financial Independence with SEALCOIN
The demonstration looked at the economic potential of robotics in addition to security. The function of SEALCOIN in the Physical AI stack was explained by Jonathan Llamas, VP of Decentralized Strategy at WISeKey. As a native settlement and accountability layer, SEALCOIN enables certified computers to carry out financial duties and exchange value without the need for human involvement.
Llamas pointed out that in order for machines to be truly autonomous, they must be able to function as separate economic agents. The last step toward complete machine autonomy can be achieved by incorporating a settlement layer, which allows Physical AI systems to function within “trusted human-defined boundaries” and compensate for services.
Expanding the Quantum-Ready Ecosystem
The WISeRobot program is a component of SEALSQ’s larger effort to protect vital infrastructure, which includes the automotive, defense, medical, and smart energy industries. SEALSQ seeks to make autonomous systems deployed today durable for decades by guaranteeing that software upgrades, AI judgments, and orders stay legitimate in the face of future quantum threats.
The CEO of SEALSQ, Carlos Moreira, summed up the aim by saying that AI and robotics are quickly evolving into essential infrastructure. The business is demonstrating that “trust, security, and human-centric principles can be embedded into intelligent machines from the very beginning” by carrying out these trials, he said.
The Davos demonstration sets a new norm for trusted autonomous systems in governance, healthcare, and industrial automation as the post-quantum age draws near. It also serves as a baseline for how operational reality may match theoretical security.
