ACM Honors Bennett and Brassard for Quantum Information Breakthroughs

Turing Award Recognizes Foundational Contributions to Secure Communication and Computing

Mar. 18, 2026 at 10:09am

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The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) has named Charles H. Bennett and Gilles Brassard as the recipients of the 2025 ACM A.M. Turing Award, often referred to as the "Nobel Prize in Computing." The $1 million prize recognizes their essential role in establishing the foundations of quantum information science and transforming secure communication and computing.

Why it matters

Bennett and Brassard's pioneering work in quantum cryptography and quantum teleportation laid the groundwork for modern quantum information science, a field that is now driving major advancements in secure communication, computing, and networking. As the world moves toward large-scale quantum computers, their breakthroughs are crucial for protecting digital infrastructure from emerging threats.

The details

In 1984, Bennett and Brassard introduced the first practical protocol for quantum cryptography, known as BB84, which demonstrated how two parties could establish a secret encryption key with security guaranteed by the laws of physics. Their subsequent work on quantum teleportation in 1993 showed how an arbitrary quantum state could be transmitted between distant parties using quantum entanglement and classical communication. These discoveries have underpinned ongoing efforts to build quantum networks and a quantum internet.

  • The ACM A.M. Turing Award was announced on March 18, 2026.
  • The award recognizes Bennett and Brassard's contributions over the past four decades.

The players

Charles H. Bennett

An American physicist whose research has shaped the foundations of quantum information science, quantum cryptography, and quantum teleportation, and who has played a central role in establishing quantum information science as a rigorous scientific discipline.

Gilles Brassard

A Canadian computer scientist widely recognized as the first in the world to have delved into the uncharted territory of quantum information science.

Alan M. Turing

The British mathematician who articulated the mathematical foundations of computing and was a key contributor to the Allied cryptanalysis of the Enigma cipher during World War II.

Claude Shannon

The mathematician and computer scientist who proved in 1949 that perfect secrecy in communications is only possible between parties who share ahead of time a secret key that is at least as long as the message itself.

Peter Shor

The computer scientist who showed in 1994 that the mathematical problems underlying public-key cryptography become insecure when a full-size quantum computer is available.

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What they’re saying

“Bennett and Brassard fundamentally changed our understanding of information itself. Their insights expanded the boundaries of computing and set in motion decades of discovery across disciplines. The global momentum behind quantum technologies today underscores the enduring importance of their contributions.”

— Yannis Ioannidis, President of ACM

“Charles Bennett and Gilles Brassard's visionary insights laid the groundwork for one of the most exciting frontiers in science and technology. Their work continues to influence both fundamental research and real-world innovation. Google is proud to support the ACM A.M. Turing Award and honor the pioneers shaping the future of computing.”

— Jeff Dean, Chief Scientist, Google DeepMind and Google Research

What’s next

As research advances toward large-scale quantum computers, governments and industry are reassessing the long-term resilience of widely deployed public-key cryptographic systems. Quantum cryptography, alongside emerging, hopefully quantum-resistant classical approaches, represents one pathway toward securing digital communications in the decades ahead.

The takeaway

Bennett and Brassard's pioneering work in quantum information science has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of computing and communication, laying the foundation for a new era of secure, quantum-powered technologies that will transform industries and protect critical infrastructure in the years to come.