ISB Summit Highlights Agentic AI, Quantum Tech, and Cybersecurity as the Next Frontier

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  Published in Science and Technology on Monday, December 8th 2025 at 23:07 GMT by The Hans India
      Locale: INDIA

Agentic AI, Quantum Technology, and Cybersecurity Take Centre Stage at ISB Summit

The Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, recently hosted a high‑profile summit that brought together leaders from academia, industry, and government to discuss the most transformative technologies of the decade: agentic AI, quantum technology, and cyber‑security. The three‑day event, titled “Agentic AI, Quantum Tech and Cybersecurity – Taking the Centre Stage”, was organised by ISB’s Centre for Digital Innovation (CDI) in partnership with the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad. It drew more than 400 delegates, including policymakers from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), senior executives from leading tech firms such as TCS, Infosys, and Wipro, and scholars from premier research institutions worldwide.

Why Agentic AI Matters

A recurring theme throughout the summit was the shift from reactive to agentic artificial intelligence. Unlike conventional AI systems that respond to data inputs, agentic AI is designed to exhibit autonomy, goal‑directed behaviour, and adaptive decision‑making under uncertainty. Dr. Anil Kumar, a senior scientist at the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Hyderabad, opened the conference with a keynote titled “From Assistive AI to Agentic AI – The New Frontier.” He highlighted how agentic systems could be deployed in autonomous vehicles, adaptive cybersecurity defenses, and real‑time decision support for disaster response.

The panel on agentic AI was further enriched by the presence of Professor Shashikant Mishra of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), who spoke about the ethical and regulatory challenges that accompany autonomous agents. He underscored the need for a robust policy framework that balances innovation with public safety, echoing concerns raised by the National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCC) in a recently published white paper on AI governance.

Quantum Technology – Beyond the Hype

Parallel to the AI track, the summit offered a comprehensive look at quantum technology, a field that promises to revolutionise computing, communication, and sensing. A highlight was a live demonstration of a 30‑qubit quantum processor from the University of Waterloo, coupled with a practical session on quantum key distribution (QKD) that was conducted by the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) in Singapore.

Dr. Rajesh Gupta, the Chief Technology Officer at NITI Aayog’s Digital India initiative, spoke on “Quantum‑Enabled National Security.” He drew attention to India’s efforts to develop quantum‑resistant cryptographic standards, a topic that has gained urgency after a recent cyber‑attack on a state‑owned telecom provider revealed the vulnerability of classical encryption. The summit’s quantum track also included a workshop on quantum machine learning, where participants explored how quantum circuits could accelerate large‑scale data clustering, potentially transforming sectors such as finance and healthcare.

Cyber‑Security – Preparing for a Post‑Quantum World

Cyber‑security remained a central pillar of the event, with a dedicated track that connected the dots between agentic AI, quantum threats, and defensive strategies. The theme was aptly titled “Cyber‑Security in the Age of Agentic AI and Quantum Computing.” Keynote speakers included Rohan Sharma, Director of the National Institute of Cyber Security (NICS), and Ms. Pooja Venkataraman, a senior cyber‑security analyst at the National Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (NCC).

Sharma’s presentation, “AI‑Driven Cyber‑Defence – A Necessity, Not a Luxury,” outlined how AI can be used to detect anomalies in network traffic, predict zero‑day exploits, and orchestrate automated incident response. He also cautioned against over‑reliance on AI, pointing out that adversaries could employ similar techniques to evade detection.

Venkataraman focused on quantum‑resistant cryptography, summarizing recent developments in lattice‑based and hash‑based cryptographic schemes. She highlighted India’s ongoing work with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to develop a national quantum‑secure communication standard, an effort that dovetails with the recommendations in the “India’s Strategy for 2030” report on cyber‑security.

A panel discussion brought together industry veterans, policy makers, and researchers to debate the feasibility of a nationwide quantum‑safe infrastructure. The consensus was clear: while the technology is still maturing, a proactive roadmap is essential. Participants agreed to form a joint task force under ISB’s guidance to monitor emerging threats and facilitate cross‑sector knowledge exchange.

Key Takeaways and Future Directions

1. Interdisciplinary Collaboration is Imperative – The summit underscored the need for cross‑disciplinary partnerships. The convergence of AI, quantum computing, and cyber‑security requires expertise from computer science, mathematics, physics, and law. ISB announced a new joint research grant program aimed at fostering such collaborations.

2. Policy and Regulation Must Keep Pace – As Dr. Mishra and Ms. Venkataraman noted, the regulatory landscape must evolve to address the ethical and security implications of agentic AI and quantum technology. ISB will host a policy think‑tank in partnership with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

3. Educational Reforms are Needed – The summit identified a skills gap in India’s talent pool. ISB plans to launch a series of executive short courses on “Quantum Programming” and “AI‑Enabled Cyber‑Security” to upskill professionals across industries.

4. Public‑Private Partnerships – The event highlighted the success of existing PPP models in deploying pilot projects, such as the quantum‑secure communication trial between ISB and the Indian Railways. More such pilots are on the agenda for the coming fiscal year.

Complementary Resources

The article on The Hans India links to several supplementary pieces that enrich the context:

• A feature on Agentic AI in Harvard Business Review that discusses autonomous decision‑making in supply chain management.
• A news bulletin from NITI Aayog detailing India’s roadmap for quantum research and development.
• An analytical report by The Economic Times on the cybersecurity budget trends in Indian IT firms.

These linked resources collectively paint a comprehensive picture of how India is positioning itself at the forefront of a technological revolution that could reshape global industry dynamics.

Concluding Thoughts

The ISB summit served as a microcosm of the larger technological ecosystem that India is building. By bringing together thought leaders from AI, quantum computing, and cyber‑security, the event not only highlighted the synergies between these fields but also laid out a pragmatic roadmap for their convergence. As India strides toward becoming a global hub for technology innovation, the insights and collaborations sparked at this summit will play a pivotal role in shaping policy, driving research, and cultivating the next generation of talent.