iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Watching people argue with Dan Bernstein online, it's like: you come at the king, you best not miss

Reposted by Sam Jaques

Faine Greenwood @faineg.com · 31/07/2026

I used to do some work on the ethical use of satellite and drone imagery for aid and disaster response, and it is genuinely hard to express in words what a dangerous, stupid thing Google is doing by making it easy to use GenAI to create faked satellite imagery:

digitaldigging.org

How to plant a nuclear plant in Iran

The question is: what on earth is Google doing?

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Reposted by Sam Jaques

ePrint Updates @eprint.ing.bot · 23/07/2026

The supersingular isogeny problem in time and memory p^(1/3 + o(1)) (Benjamin Wesolowski) ia.cr/2026/1486

Abstract. We prove that under a plausible heuristic assumption (on the smoothness of certain random integers), the supersingular isogeny problem can be solved in time and memory p^(1/3 + o(1)). This improves upon the previous best complexity of p^(1/2) ⋅ (log p)^(O(1)). This problem is arguably the central hard problem underlying isogeny-based cryptography, and the cost of its resolution is a major (and often the only) factor in the choice of secure parameters. The impact on concrete parameter sets remains to be clarified, as the asymptotic advantage of the new algorithm is mitigated by a superpolynomial overhead hiding in the o(1) exponent, and by its high memory requirement.

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Genuinely why are Europeans so scared of air conditioning? This is in a hotel in England. The thing on the wall is undeniably an air conditioner.

Note in the hotel room that says: "Note that our rooms are equipped with an Air Climate Control system (not air conditioning) which is linked to the outside temperature. We understand it may not suit all our guests so portable heaters or fans are available on request."

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

I'm realizing that I haven't given boomers enough credit for living through the ongoing threat of nuclear annihilation and staying mostly sane

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Looks amazing! I have minor quibbles (who wouldn't?) but this has so many advantages over the current system

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Huh, Le Guin invented "skill issue"

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

If you have only a basic understanding of how corruption works, this situation looks fine, if not ideal ("more money for research, no strings attached! yay!")

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Whatever prankster set this up is my hero: scholar.google.com/citations?us...

Screenshot of google scholar showing Lov Grover, with only one paper: the paper that introduced Grover search, with 15,542 citations.

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Reposted by Sam Jaques

Philipp Muens @muens.io · 01/06/2026

Wow! Alfred Menezes just published this 182 page "A Gentle Introduction to Lattice-Based Cryptography" paper. I just skimmed through it, but it looks like an invaluable resource if you want to study lattices and how they're used in (PQ) Cryptography. eprint.iacr.org/2026/1098

eprint.iacr.org

A gentle introduction to lattice-based cryptography

We present the quantum-safe Kyber key encapsulation mechanism (ML-KEM) and the Dilithium signature scheme (ML-DSA). We also develop the mathematical background on lattices needed to understand why Kyb...

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Me: hmm, what's the plural word for emeritus professors? My brain: Emiratis! Me: ... close enough

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Reposted by Sam Jaques

Caitlin G. DeAngelis @caitlindeangelis.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Recently, FamilySearch digitized and uploaded tons of microfilmed records, including many from 18th-century Massachsuetts. They're using some sort of AI to transcribe/summarize the handwritten documents. I've noticed that the AI strips out references to race and enslavement in 18thc documents.

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Reposted by Sam Jaques

Kevin Riggle @kevinr.free-dissociation.com · 13/05/2026

I see that the new MacOS Tahoe 26.5 update releases *EIGHT* new emojis from Apple's strategic emoji reserve. Folks, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that this is a software update that you really want to take somewhat urgently

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Underrated Linux usability barrier: "I have this problem, how do I fix it?" "Post the log file and I can help" Then the log file is thousands of inscrutable lines that may or may not contain sensitive data about how you use your computer, that you as a beginner cannot understand

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

One of the benefits of travelling is seeing other cultures coordinate to effortlessly do something your culture thinks is impossible

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Alex Wellerstein @wellerstein.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

On DOOMSDAY MACHINES, this week I dive into the idea of “atomic bombs” before the discovery of nuclear fission made them actually feasible. I’ve long thought it makes for an interesting case study — a fateful intersection of scientific fact and science fiction. doomsdaymachines.net/p/strange-ev...

doomsdaymachines.net

"Strange even to the men who used them"

"Atomic bombs" before the discovery of fission

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Reposted by Sam Jaques

Fredrik Dahlgren @fegge.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Two weeks ago, Google published a paper proving in zero-knowledge that they had an efficient implementation of Shor's algorithm. Today, Trail of Bits can prove that we have an even better implementation which beats Google's on all metrics! 🫢 blog.trailofbits.com/2026/04/17/w...

A table listing total operations, number of qubits, and Toffoli-gate count for Google's low-gate and low-qubit implementations, and Trail of Bits' implementation. The Trail of Bits implementation beats Google's on every metric.

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Overdue quantum landscape update: sam-jaques.appspot.com/quantum_land... A 2d chart can only say so much. tl;dr new results are still overhyped, but definitely worth taking seriously. This chart is based on surface codes and a big question now is whether new codes can be practical (=>useless chart)

A cluttered and complicated chart relating qubit counts to qubit error rates, comparing today's devices to cryptographic attacks.

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Hot take: IACR submission guidelines should eliminate appendices, bump the page limit to 70 pages, but have an earlier deadline for any paper longer than 30 pages

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Nadim Kobeissi @nadim.computer · 12/03/2026

I was deeply humbled by the unbelievably positive reaction to my talk at Real World Crypto 2026 in Taipei about my experiences teaching applied cryptography in post-crisis Lebanon. The full video for the talk is now available: www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_Hx...

youtube.com

Real World Crypto 2026: Lessons from Teaching Applied Cryptography in Post-Crisis Lebanon

YouTube video by Nadim Kobeissi

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Reposted by Sam Jaques

Martin R. Albrecht @malb.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Fernando is looking for a PhD student www.iacr.org/jobs/item/4164 Fernando is excellent, you should consider applying.

iacr.org

PhD position in Cryptanalysis

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Reposted by Sam Jaques

Mezentine @mezentine.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

We don’t talk often enough about the Superman issue where, fed up with pedestrian deaths from car collisions, he sets out to try and destroy every car in the city.

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Photo memory: a bootleg version of settlers of Catan I made from memory during summer fieldwork in 2012

Photo of a piece of cardboard with a hexagonal grid, rules handwritten on looseleaf, cardboard pieces, and a box of mini wheats labelled "Settlers of Catan"

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Reposted by Sam Jaques

Diego F. Aranha @dfaranha.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

The impact of Alfred Menezes in cryptography is profound. Francisco RH and I are organizing an afternoon session in Latincrypt to celebrate Alfred's career: menezesfest.info If you're coming to Medellín, consider attending!

menezesfest.info

MenezesFest 2025

MenezesFest brings together researchers, colleagues, and friends to celebrate the career and impact of Alfred Menezes.

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Always bothers me when you lose the 1/N factor in a multi-user security proof. Was thinking about how to dodge it; consider this for Schnorr signatures: you are an active adversary against a single challenger, with access to a multi-user adversary.

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Reposted by Sam Jaques

Dr. Abigail Desmond @abigaildesmond.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

Ursula K. LeGuin on technology

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

An out-of-schedule update to my quantum landscape chart: sam-jaques.appspot.com/quantum_land..., prompted by @craiggidney.bsky.social 's new paper: arxiv.org/abs/2505.15917. A startling jump (20x) in how easy quantum factoring can be! Also: much improved web design!

A chart for quantum computers, of number of qubits versus error rate, on a logarithmic scale. Broadly it shows a large gap between current quantum computers in the bottom left, and a curve in the top right of the resources they need to break RSA.

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Seriously embarrassed myself in front of my cat: Middle of the night, cat sits there wanting pets. I can't see a thing, I reach out and try to pet a dirty pair of shorts.

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Reposted by Sam Jaques

Craig Gidney @craiggidney.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

I'm often asked if I'll redo the 2019 quantum factoring estimate. Denser storage by yokes, smaller magic factories by cultivation, slimmer approx arithmetic by Chevignard et al… surely the cost is lower now? Yes, it's lower now. security.googleblog.com/2025/05/trac... arxiv.org/abs/2505.15917

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Almost all good points. I also see too much tendency to conflate moral skepticism of AI (i.e., that AI is doing a lot of harm) with technical skepticism (i.e., that AI is not useful or powerful)

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Dang, AI is really making the Internet suck

Screenshot of "tenderhomeassist.com". It reads "Using a steamer app: There are also several steamer apps available for smartphones and tablets. These apps emit a stream of hot air that can be used to steam iron clothes. Simply download the app and follow the instructions to use it"

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Reposted by Sam Jaques

Simon Willison @simonwillison.net · 29/04/2025

"If you want to prompt ChatGPT 40 times, you can just stop your shower 1 second early." "If I choose not to take a flight to Europe, I save 3,500,000 ChatGPT searches. this is like stopping more than 7 people from searching ChatGPT for their entire lives."

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

My biggest threat model for my online accounts is that I will be in another place, with the wrong sim, or my phone falls in the ocean, and I will need access to an absolutely essential piece of documentation. Single-factor authentication saves me.

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Reposted by Sam Jaques

The Mary Rose Museum @maryrosemuseum.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we thought we'd answer a question that's often asked, "If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?" Allow our scaled diagram to explain...

A light blue diagram depicting the sea, with the water's surface at the top, and just below it is an outline of the Mary Rose, with the depth (12m, 40ft or 6.7 fathoms). There is a line showing the seabed, which takes a rapid dive into the vertical...

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

I think cities should red team their building codes and hire a contractor to build the most unhinged home that is technically up to code

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Spooky thought: most job markets implicitly assume there are at least as many entry level jobs as senior jobs, so that people can get the experience they need to do the senior jobs. But if you can cheaply replace the entry level workers with AI, the balance could flip

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Had a student on a project to do some simulation analysis of errors in Shors algorithm but we hit this problem: how do you even know when things went right, if random noise can factor just as well?

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Here's an argument against area-time cost, and instead for total operation cost: if large portions of a computer are idle during an algorithm, they could just be programmed to mine cryptocurrency instead, to recover costs for the attacker

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Reposted by Sam Jaques

Dr Charlie Harry Smith @chsmith.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Great article! Had no idea how insanely readable COBOL code was until now. Let alone the gendered/gatekeeping dynamics behind its historical denigration or modern downplaying of the number of active coders…

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Reposted by Sam Jaques

Julian Sanchez @normative.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

This jibes with contemporary reporting that the raids hit several residential buildings, in each case killing about 15 people and wounding more. Maybe a little more of the conversation should be about how cavalier we apparently are about bombing civilian homes? www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/...

Signal group chat in which Michael Waltz & JD Vance cheer bombing of a civilian apartment building

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

If Trump+Musk have taught us anything, it's that all press is good press. I fully expect these events to be good for Signal adoption long-term.

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Opsec level: underfunded provincial museum

A mouse on a table with a paper sign "please use this mouse to control the map screen". The mouse cable leads into a dark room behind a door which is slightly ajar

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Sam Jaques @sejaques.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

Suddenly struck with a cursed analogy for memory management: a bunch of blind alien roommates sharing a fridge. Waterloo CS students are lucky I only teach math courses!

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