Gaganyaan astronaut explains why AI sovereignty is crucial for national cybersecurity

Gaganyaan astronaut and IAF pilot Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair on Saturday said AI sovereignty is crucial for ensuring national cybersecurity, as the growing use of artificial intelligence is making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between real and fake content.

Speaking at the Kerala Cyber Suraksha Summit 2026, organised by Kerala Startup Mission and F9 Infotech, Nair said cybersecurity would have limited value unless the country developed ownership and control over AI technologies.

“It is very important that we have AI sovereignty, and any amount of cybersecurity will be of no avail unless we own AI,” he said.