Hybrid Quantum-Classical Adversarial Generator for Faster Training

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing AI systems are vulnerable to adversarial attacks, particularly through adversarial examples generated by adversarial networks, which exploit the distribution of original instances to misclassify inputs, and classical Boltzmann machines face exponential training time challenges.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid quantum-classical computer system utilizes a quantum Boltzmann machine (QBM) to generate adversarial examples by encoding the energy function in a quantum system Hamiltonian, combining with a classical noise generator to maximize misclassification, addressing black-box attacks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a classical Boltzmann machine is used to generate adversarial examples, then the system can learn the distribution of original instances, but the training time increases exponentially

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadversarial example generation capabilityVSAvoidtraining time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the classical Boltzmann machine with a quantum Boltzmann machine, substituting classical computational mechanics with quantum mechanical processes. The quantum system uses quantum annealing to sample from the Boltzmann distribution, leveraging quantum tunneling and superposition to escape local minima and converge to the global minimum much faster than classical systems, thereby resolving the exponential training time issue while maintaining adversarial example generation capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter space from classical to quantum by introducing quantum states and quantum annealing schedules. The quantum Boltzmann machine uses quantum parameters such as transverse field strength and coupling constants that can be dynamically adjusted during training, enabling efficient exploration of the energy landscape and significantly reducing training time compared to classical parameter optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If a quantum Boltzmann machine is used to generate adversarial examples, then training efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraining efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a hybrid quantum-classical architecture where the quantum Boltzmann machine serves as an intermediary component within a larger classical deep learning framework. The quantum system handles only the specific task of sampling from the Boltzmann distribution to generate adversarial examples, while the rest of the system remains classical. This intermediary approach enables productivity improvement through quantum acceleration without requiring a complete overhaul of the entire system, thus managing complexity effectively

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the adversarial example generation system into distinct quantum and classical components. The quantum Boltzmann machine is isolated as a separate module that interfaces with the classical neural network through well-defined input-output interfaces. This segmentation allows the quantum component to be optimized independently for training efficiency while the classical components handle other aspects of the system, thereby improving productivity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4104114B1Hybrid quantum-classical adversarial generator
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 ZAPATA COMPUTING INC
  • EP4104114B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4104114B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4104114B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A method for training an adversarial generator from a data set and a classifier includes: (A) training a classical noise generator whose input includes an output of a quantum generator, the classical noise generator having a first set of parameters, the training comprising: sampling from the data set to produce a first sample and a first corresponding label for the first sample; producing an output of the classical noise generator based on the output of the quantum generator and the first sample; producing a noisy example based on the output of the classical noise generator and the first sample; providing the noisy example to the classifier to produce a second corresponding label for the first sample; updating the first set of parameters such that the first corresponding label of the first sample differs from the second corresponding label of the first sample.