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With PCI cards like from Id Quantique [1] which generates true random numbers using quantum optics, isn't true random number generation a solved problem?

Guessing the quantum mechanics predicts true random numbers, but the messiness of real-world implementation makes it likely to be not so "true" after all.

[1]: https://www.idquantique.com/random-number-generation/product...

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I won't comment on whether it's a solved problem in general, as I don't actively follow the area very closely, but that particular QRNG has been shown to be more biased than /dev/urandom [0], and other QRNGs have exhibited similar issues.

[0]: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328738331

There’s room for another solution, especially if it could someday lead to a product sold for under $1500.

A cellphone camera is, what, $5? Maybe you already have one. Or an audio input jack you can crank up the gain on. Maybe a radio transceiver, like for wifi or bluetooth?

All our gadgets already have sources for way more truly random bits than we could ever find a use for.

If you feel you really need to build something from scratch, resistor thermal noise is random. Likewise, diode shot noise. Total parts cost for either is well under $1. Combine them if you like; you are still well under $1.

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