WISeKey expands post-quantum cryptography root of trust for AI systems

WISeKey International Holding Ltd (NASDAQ: WKEY), working with the OISTE.ORG Foundation, announced an expansion of its Quantum Root Key initiative into a Post-Quantum Cryptography root of trust architecture targeting AI systems, autonomous agents, connected devices and human operators.

According to a press release dated September 25, 2026, the architecture uses National Institute of Standards and Technology-standardized algorithms, including ML-DSA and ML-KEM, and is designed to issue cryptographically verifiable identities to AI models, AI agents, devices, organizations and human operators. The system is intended to allow parties to verify an AI model's identity, software integrity and authorization chain rather than relying on platform-level assurances.

The proposed trust chain follows the structure: Post-Quantum Root of Trust → Organization → AI Model → AI Agent → Device → Transaction. Each element would carry a cryptographic identity derived from the root.

WISeKey's subsidiary SEALSQ Corp (NASDAQ: LAES) is cited as the hardware component of the architecture, with its semiconductor technology extending the root of trust into secure elements, Trusted Platform Modules and post-quantum semiconductor designs. This is intended to cover AI workloads running on servers, robots, vehicles, industrial controllers, satellites and IoT devices.

The companies also described a framework called HUMAN-AI-T, in which supervisory AI systems would hold independently verifiable cryptographic identities to oversee other AI models, with human governance preserved at the top of the hierarchy.

Carlos Moreira, founder and CEO of WISeKey, stated: "AI should not have to be blindly trusted. AI should be cryptographically verifiable."

The architecture incorporates standard PKI concepts including Root and Intermediate Certificate Authorities, Key Usages, Certificate Revocation Lists and certificate status mechanisms, adapted to include quantum-resistant algorithms.

You May Also Be Interested In

• Bank of America adds two former CEOs to its board
• N-able and SentinelOne expand cybersecurity partnership
• Mattel adds EdgePoint partner to its board of directors