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AI, Cybersecurity, and the Quantum Future: Lessons from Jeff Crume

By Maryam Sajid posted Fri September 26, 2025 07:08 PM

“Information is the most valuable thing out there, more than time, more than money.”

With only 10 days left until the IBM TechXchange Conference 2025, we are so excited to launch the Speaker Spotlight Sessions! For every day until the conference, we will be sharing exclusive interviews with featured speakers to give you a rare glimpse into their ideas, experiences, and vision for the future of technology.

Today’s spotlight is on Jeff Crume: Distinguished Engineer, Master Inventor, adjunct professor, YouTube creator, and one of IBM’s leading voices on AI, cybersecurity, and quantum safety. Jeff has offered invaluable insights into what excites him about AI, and what keeps him up at night. His perspective was both inspiring and thought-provoking, providing a powerful preview of the conversations you’ll experience firsthand at the IBM TechXchange Conference 2025 in Orlando, Florida, from October 6 to 9!

AI: Magic Wand or Double-Edged Sword?

AI isn’t just a buzzword at this year’s IBM TechXchange conference; it is the defining conversation. We are familiar with the ever-evolving state of Artificial Intelligence and are anxiously trying to understand where it stands within our society. Jeff, who will be hosting multiple AI sessions at the conference including AI: The New Attack Surface , IBM Technology YouTube Hot Topics: Securing and Governing Autonomous AI Agents and more will take attendees deep into conversations surrounding the opportunities and challenges shaping AI.

When asked about the future of artificial intelligence, Jeff was quick to cut through the hype. Too often, he explained, people view AI as a kind of “magic wand,” capable of solving any problem with the wave of a hand. However, like any powerful technology, AI has a dual nature.“Think about fire,” he stated. “Is fire good or is it bad? Well, it depends. If you’re cold, it can warm you. It can cook your food. But if it’s burning down your house, it’s a bad thing. It’s the same technology.”

Jeff breaks AI into three perspectives:

Business Enabler - Driving efficiency, customer insights, and productivity
Attacker Tool - Allowing cybercriminals to automate and scale threats
Cyber Defense Shield - Helping defenders stay one step ahead

“It is this constant tension,” he explained, “that keeps me focused on how AI will evolve. Don’t bet against AI. Whatever you think it can’t do, it can.”

To understand that evolution, Jeff often explains the journey from Data to Information to Knowledge to Wisdom. Data are raw facts. Information adds context. Knowledge builds depth and understanding. Wisdom, however, requires judgment and values, and that is where AI continues to fall short.

Jeff reminds us that while AI can deliver knowledge at the speed of light, it is up to us technologists, leaders and innovators to bring wisdom.

🎥 Watch Jeff dive deeper into the future of AI

Impact on Cybersecurity: AI in the Hands of Hackers

For Jeff, one of his biggest concerns as a Cybersecurity professional is how the acceleration of AI is being weaponized by cybercriminals. Until now, hackers needed an extremely high skill set in order to attack, but now those skills can be outsourced to AI, which can generate malware, phishing emails and write ransomware on demand.

He gave a chilling example of how attackers can wield AI to their advantage. Attackers can use AI descriptions and immediately generate a code. Then, AI can target these victims, using extremely detailed messages with personal details, and even calculate the right ransom based on the victims' likelihood to pay. Jeff explains,“If I say pay me $1 million, you’ll probably refuse. But if I say pay me $1,000, you might. AI can automate that entire process.”

This creates a dangerous reality:

Lower barrier for attackers - Fewer skills needed to launch efficient attacks
Higher bar for defenders - Cybersecurity Professionals have to stay constantly ahead
The AI Race - Attackers and Defenders racing to the Innovation finish line

Jeff is more than clear: the same tool that surges progress brings about unprecedented threats. Threats defenders need to prepare for.

🎥 Watch Jeff explain AI-driven cyberattacks

The Quantum Menace: Time is running out

Quantum computing could change everything! Jeff is determined it will bring about lifesaving discoveries: breakthroughs in drug discovery, complex modelling, and scientific innovation that could level industries. However, it is a dark side we cannot ignore. Quantum computing's potential to break the cryptography that secures our digital world.

Jeff insists that this is not a future problem but is a major ongoing issue. Through the “Harvest now, Decrypt later” strategy, attackers are stealing encrypted data, storing it, and waiting until quantum computers are powerful enough to break its encryption. When that day comes, sensitive contracts, medical records, and financial data could be exposed.

His advice? “Start on the quantum-safe journey now.” Companies and governments must act today to migrate to quantum-safe algorithms that can withstand tomorrow’s attacks.

🔗 Learn more about IBM’s quantum research
🎥 Watch Jeff explain how to defeat the Quantum Menace

What Tomorrow’s Technologists Need Most

When asked what advice he would give to his students and future technologists, Jeff's response was timeless. In a constantly changing world, the most valuable skills aren’t tied to any particular coding language or tool.

Jeff states there are 3 must-haves:

Adaptability - Staying flexible as technology continues to grow
Curiosity - Run towards new ideas instead of away
Critical Thinking - Questioning results, identifying risks and deciding when AI should and should not be employed

These are just skills but a pathway onto a broader mindset. For up and coming Technologists, entering a world where AI can create code and complete tasks at the speed of light, this message hits home. The future belongs to those who can do what AI cannot.

IBM TechXchange Conference 2025 - A Chance to learn and Network with some of the best minds in Technology

Jeff describes the IBM TechXchange conference as “A chance to learn and network with some of the best minds in technology.” At the end of the interview, what really stood out was his balance of optimism and caution: AI is both a tool for success and a weapon in the wrong hands, and quantum computing is a lifesaver but also fuels attacks in Cybersecurity.

He reminds us that the future of technology is not just about innovation but about responsibility, foresight, and wisdom.

With only 10 days until the conference, this message is more important than ever. AI, Cybersecurity, and Quantum Safety are not abstract ideas but are actively shaping our decisions every day!