@Xyler94

And then there's Cloudflare.

While not truly random, their way of getting seeds for their random generator is a wall of lava lamps in the lobby of their headquarters. A camera watches the lamps, and the raw bits from the sensor is what seeds the randomness. Because of the unique way a lava lamp works, it is super randomized. Plus, it being in the lobby, people walking around is actually another form of the randomness. 

Love the simple concept.

@Goldgazzelle

I saw a thing where the internets encryption is based on lava lamps in like California?

@themissingsamurai

so this is what the d&d crowd is working on huh?

@Madison1676

Finally we can get good shuffle on Spotify

@Enzander

I have one laying around. But that is keeping myself big as hell

@erikanybody4298

These aren't better randomness than what is available now.

Current true RNG use decay of various radioactive particles to get random numbers. They are absolutely random. The problem is that they can't generate them quickly, so it takes awhile to produce long strings of truly random numbers. 

The Qbit method appears to be able to generate large amounts of random bits quickly. We're still not sure they're as random as paticle decay though. 

But that probably "good enough".

@LyrelGaming

Details for those curious:
- All random generators are deterministic algorithms, and produce exact same output from same input
- These "pseudo-random" generators use time, since you cant rewind time. Unless time machine lol
- Quantum theory states that particles (qbits) have inherent randomness, and can't theoratically be "knowable". Aka u cant tell its precise position. You can only tell an estimate (with probability)
- Quantum computers use qbits for computation, and now they've used that randomness to make random numbers.
- Science is cool

@DuderofDudeness

That thing is arguably more dangerous than a nuke

@spicysmooth2

The quantum qubit version of achieving randomness feels like something Rick Sanchez would do out of spite after visiting Cloudflare’s office lava lamps.

@newzefa8834

It is good to differentiate "true randomness" and the unknowable.
We have no guarantee that quantum physics are random; we just can’t calculate or predict these specific interactions yet.

Hell, we have no guarantee that randomness is a thing at all, and time has shown us that less and less things we thought of as random are, in fact, not.

@hockeypayt

Remember, companies like apple have made the randomizer on their music app actually not be random. It used to be but they said that "if felt less random than if they actually made it choose"

@EdrickIvan

Finally I'll get some use out of my "56-qubit Quantinuum H2-1 trapped ion quantum computer" that thing takes up the whole basement.

@Julzaa

I think the story is rather about being random AND secure, but some things like VRFs on blockchain can (almost?) do that already

@noahbaden90

I can make a truly random number with a Geiger counter, some fiesta-ware, and a mic. You don't need the fancy quantinuum stuff.

@Baekstrom

The good old Mersenne Twister is good enough for almost everyone.

@rmt3589

Wait until they learn about a Geiger counter.

@IM2MERS

"How dare you lie in front of jesus!" 😂 that random number generator execution was hilarious.

@Dghjk-f3i

That's a reminder of how physicalism undermines free will necessary for reliable reasoning

@TheGlitchyMario

Cloudflare: trillions of dollars and the latest evolution in technology, or 50 bucks worth of thrift store lava lamps?

@Chronologist89

There are good true random number RNGs in smaller form-factors already. They use small photonic chips. Using an entire quantum computer is not only overkill, it isn't even any better.