Shaping the Future of Cybersecurity: The Convergence of AI, Quantum Computing, and Ethical Frameworks for a Secure Digital Era

The increasing complexity and frequency of cyber threats have rendered the conventional protection methods insufficient. Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a transformative force in cybersecurity, offering enhanced capabilities for vulnerability assessment, malware detection, phishing attack mitigation, intrusion detection, and deception technologies. This review discusses the critical role of artificial intelligence in improving cybersecurity, especially advanced methodologies like Quantum Convolutional Neural Networks (QCNNs) and Quantum Support Vector Machines (QSVMs). These approaches may provide unprecedented accuracy in threat detection; however, further research is necessary for practical implementation. Explainable and understandable AI should form a crucial constituent that adds an important element to the transparency and accountability of automated defense systems. In addition to data privacy or eliminating bias, the prime ethical elements during the embedding process of these defense mechanisms rely on artificial intelligence in complex frameworks, such as system-on-chip. Through a discussion of current innovation and future paths, this paper has outlined how AI and AI with quantum reorients the future of cybersecurity and shapes its structure into adaptable, responsive, and responsibly founded defense structures for a globally interconnected world.