Gaganyaan astronaut and IAF pilot Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair emphasized that AI sovereignty is crucial for ensuring national cybersecurity as artificial intelligence blurs the line between real and fake content. Speaking at the Kerala Cyber Suraksha Summit 2026, organized by Kerala Startup Mission and F9 Infotech, Nair stated that cybersecurity would have limited value unless the country developed ownership and control over AI technologies. According to reports from Business Standard, he warned that future wars and industries would involve a 'whole-of-nation approach' making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between physical and digital boundaries. "It is very important that we have AI sovereignty, and any amount of cybersecurity will be of no avail unless we own AI," Nair said, highlighting the critical importance of national control over AI technologies.
Nair highlighted the growing complexity of digital security as AI integration increases. As reported by Business Standard, he noted that we are all using digital and now AI is coming. We forget which is real and which is fake. He stressed the need for greater awareness of cybersecurity and digital threats as AI, cyber technology and the digital environment become increasingly integrated into everyday life. The astronaut emphasized the importance of maintaining digital security similar to traditional vault protection methods, stating that we have to make sure that digitally we are secure. "We have to make sure that digitally we are secure, like in the olden days, keep our stuff inside the vault and lock it," Nair said, drawing parallels between physical and digital security measures.
Nair referenced India's technological achievements to demonstrate national capabilities. According to Business Standard, he highlighted that India has demonstrated its technological capabilities through the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission, which landed near the Moon's south polar region in August 2023. He noted that remember that we all are Indians and we have that power. We are the ones who on 23 August 2023 put Chandrayaan-3 on the South Pole of the Moon, which nobody else has done. The astronaut called for building on these capabilities in AI, cybersecurity and digital technology, noting that space technology itself demonstrated how interconnected the physical and digital worlds have become and called for responsible use of AI to improve people's lives.
DGP Manoj Abraham provided insights into the growing financial impact of cyberattacks in India. As reported by Business Standard, he revealed that there has been a 389 per cent rise in ransomware victims worldwide, year-over-year, and in India the reported financial losses owing to cyber fraud in 2025 alone were worth ₹19,813 crore. Abraham emphasized that cyberattacks could now cripple nations and organisations, disable critical infrastructure and disrupt military operations without a single shot being fired. He noted that worldwide, there are 4.8 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs, highlighting the urgent need for more defenders to combat cyber attackers. "We are at a juncture where we need more defenders to take on the cyber attackers," Abraham said, underscoring the critical shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals.
Vinayak Godse, CEO of the Data Security Council of India, acknowledged Kerala's significant potential in technology development. According to Business Standard, Godse stated that Kerala has a lot of potential. There is a lot of good talent available here. The basic literacy is very significantly higher here. He noted that Kerala could develop and deliver solutions needed at the national, industrial and global levels, adding that it remained to be seen how the state's technology ecosystem can evolve to achieve those objectives. The summit was supported by the Data Security Council of India, TiE Kerala and the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
