‘AI uses behaviour-based analysis to spot suspicious patterns in real time’
Times of India | 7 February 2026
Kolkata: As artificial intelligence continues to redefine the digital landscape, its role in cybersecurity has become increasingly central to ensuring safety, efficiency and resilience. Awareness and preparedness are now two critical elements that can help build a secure digital future, particularly among young users, dodging ever-rising cyber threats: These are the lessons that St Sebastian's School students took away from a session on ‘Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity' recently held at the Tangra institute, aimed at increasing awareness, teaching about emerging opportunities and fostering readiness among youngsters.
The session, attended by around 200 students from classes XI and XII, focused on how AI-driven systems were transforming cyber defence mechanisms and how individuals could adopt safer digital practices. Organised as part of The Times of India initiative ‘Leaders on Campus', the programme was led by Abir Atarthy, director of Cyber Security Practices at TCG Digital Solutions Private Limited, who introduced students to the evolving nature of AI-based cybersecurity. He described AI as a "digital body", continuously learning and adapting, unlike traditional systems that relied more on fixed rules and signatures to detect threats.
Atarthy explained that conventional cybersecurity systems were largely signature-based, requiring known threat patterns to identify malicious activity. With advancements in AI, detection systems shifted to behaviour-based analysis, enabling real-time identification of anomalies and suspicious patterns. This transition, he pointed out, significantly improved the efficiency and speed of threat detection.
Atarthy discussed how AI systems silently filtered phishing emails and prevented fraudulent activities through rapid pattern recognition and high-speed data processing. One of the key highlights of the session was the demonstration of a ‘live cyber threat model', which showed AI systems tracking cyber threats across countries in real time.
The deliberation concluded with a discussion, as students asked about emerging risks, such as the vulnerability of AI systems to hacking and the evolving nature of careers with AI in cybersecurity in the near future. The concerns reflected a growing awareness among students about opportunities and uncertainties of AI-driven tech.