[TLS] Re: Improving the quality of the discussion on the TLS email list

[Paul Romer <[e-mail]>]

Mark,

You are right that I should have referred to Fermi estimation. Thx.

To me, this sentence from the security section of the suggests more than
the rule you recommend, "if Y, implement. if N, don't implement."

    Implementers must evaluate their specific security, performance, and
    operational constraints when deciding whether to deploy standalone
    ML-KEM or a hybrid construction.

I don't see how the sophomoric snark about LLMs contributes to the
discussion.

Best,
Paul





On Thu, Jul 30, 2026 at 8:51 PM <[e-mail]> wrote:

> Hi Paul,
>
> Both drafts have a “recommended to implement” flag, where the hybrid draft
> is “Y” and the other draft is “N”. I believe the intention is for
> implementers to look at these flags. It appears to me to be easier to
> understand than several paragraphs of LLM output, but that’s just my
> perspective.
>
> Your usage of “downgrade” along the lines of Python versions is also
> confusing. There’s the obvious point (that Sophie referred to) that
> downgrade is a term of art in cryptography, eg has a very specific meaning
> in the field.
>
> Ignoring that, your usage remains confusing. The natural point of
> comparison would have the hybrid scheme as the “earlier version” scheme. It
> is a transitional scheme while we gain confidence in MLKEM. If humanity is
> ever able to create a cryptographically relevant quantum computer, it will
> have additional overhead for no benefit, and should be deprecated shortly
> thereafter.
>
> Note that what you call a “Feynman estimate” is not due to Feynman.
> Physicists instead call this technique a “Fermi Estimate”, after Enrico
> Fermi.
>
> Fermi problem <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_problem>
> en.wikipedia.org <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_problem>
> [image: wikipedia.png] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_problem>
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_problem>
>
> This is a minor point. At the same time, it does not raise my confidence
> in the rest of the content of your messages.
>
> Best,
>
> Mark
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>