WITH India looking to embrace artificial intelligence rapidly, cybersecurity players expect that the upcoming Union Budget will include measures to boost safety ofthe country’s digital space through further allocation of funds and incentives. Innefu Labs, CEO and Co-founderTarunWigsaidthe global focus on AI presents a critical juncture for India. “The AI and ML (machine learning)modelscanbetrained to identify and prevent ‘zeroday’ attacks. But this will require support from the Government(in)nurturingand retaining top cybertalent, and empowering companies to investintraining AI mode ls for cyber security,” Wig said.

 

He added that while other nationsare busy building their AI infrastructure, India must prioritise on optimum use of AI which could include training AI and ML models forimproving our defence andintelligence posture, and toreduce cyber crimeswhichareon the rise, to identify moneylaundering networks or usingAItotakegovernancetothefarflung villages of the country. “Adding Government support forresearch and development initiatives to proven companies in the private sector and not just academia would create a win-win situation. It wouldattract andretaintalentwhile enabling companies, large and small, to innovate. This, in turn, would foster adigital environment that cansupport future advancementsinAI andother emerging technologies,” Wig said. The Government had announced a fund worth Rs 1 lakh crore for R&D in sunrise technologies in the interim Budget for financial year 2024-25.