Across the news: pi-labs in action
See how pi-labs is shaping the future of AI forensics and intelligence analysis.
Ankush Tiwari, CEO & Co-Founder of pi-labs, stated that Amid rising geopolitical and security challenges, the defence and internal security sector seeks an execution-focused Budget 2026 with multi-year capital allocations for indigenous AI-led intelligence systems, cyber defence platforms, robotics, quantum-safe communications, and secure software. These technologies are core operational infrastructure and should be funded like physical defence assets.
Ankush Tiwari, CEO & Co-Founder of pi-labs, highlights this as the single most transformative theme:
“The macro-level theme that I expect Finance Minister to bless the economy with is a budget that comprehensively moves India from a service-oriented economy to product-focused economy. Unless Indian economy moves from a service-provider mode to product developer mode, India won’t create indigenous design, IP ownership and deployment-ready sovereign security solutions.”
Ankush Tiwari, CEO & Co-Founder of pi-labs, stated that the defence and internal security ecosystem is seeking a more execution-focused fiscal push amid rising geopolitical and security challenges.
“From this Budget, the industry expects multi-year capital allocations that enable not just development, but scaled deployment of indigenous AI-led intelligence systems, cyber defence platforms, robotics, quantum-safe communications and secure software stacks across defence and law enforcement “.
Budget 2026 expectations live: Strong need for incentive structures similar to a PLI model, pi-labs co-founder says
Ankush Tiwari, CEO & Co-Founder of pi-labs:Amid rising geopolitical and security challenges, the defence and internal security ecosystem is looking for a more execution-focused fiscal push in this Budget. From this Budget, the industry expects multi-year capital allocations that enable not just development, but scaled deployment of indigenous AI-led intelligence systems, cyber defence platforms, robotics, quantum-safe communications, and secure software stacks across defence and law enforcement. These technologies are now core operational infrastructure and need to be funded and procured with the same seriousness as physical defence assets, not treated as discretionary IT spends.
Advanced technologies are now core to national security preparedness. Industry expects predictable, long-term fiscal support.
“The defence and internal security ecosystem expects multi-year capital allocations for indigenous AI, cyber defence, robotics and secure communications. PLI-like incentives for sovereign security technologies can reduce import dependence and build mission-critical capabilities,” according to Ankush Tiwari, CEO & Co-Founder of pi-labs.
Ankush Tiwari, CEO & Co-Founder of pi-labs, Stated that “Multi-year capital allocations for AI-led defence systems, cybersecurity platforms, and robotics are essential. Incentive structures like PLI for sovereign security technologies could support long-term deployment.”
According to cybersecurity experts, the use of AI content and deepfake videos could lead to fraud, create political unrest, and even geopolitical tension.
“When used for the right purposes, AI tools can actually help people create content at scale at a lower cost. But in case of misuse, the stakes are high as the content can’t be traced back to its original creator in many instances,” said Ankush Tiwari, founder of pi-labs ai, a cyber forensics startup.
pi-labs, a leading Indian deep-tech company specialising in cyber forensics, cybersecurity, and intelligence, today announced that it has been selected as an official Specialist AI Partner by the Maharashtra Advanced Research and Vigilance for Enforcement of Reformed Laws (MARVEL). MARVEL is a Government of Maharashtra–owned entity mandated to design and deploy AI-driven solutions across state departments, including law enforcement.
Ankush Tiwari, Founder & CEO of pi-labs, said, in 2026, AI capital would shift from model-centric bets to platforms that unlock real economic value. “We expect strong investment momentum in AI middleware, infrastructure and security layers that enable accuracy, scalability and cost efficiency at enterprise scale,”.
Founded in 2023, pi-labs operates at this intersection. Its AI-powered cyber forensics platform is already deployed across Indian law enforcement, defence, and BFSI institutions, focusing on deepfake detection, AI model security, and forensic intelligence.
At the center of this effort is Ankush Tiwari, founder and CEO of pi-labs, a serial entrepreneur previously known for co-founding Mobiliya. Along with Abhijeet Zilpelwar, CTO, pi-labs, and Raghu Sesha Iyengar, Chief Scientist, pi-labs, the company is building what it calls an AI-native security stack for a world flooded with synthetic content.
Last week, the Indian government warned X to ensure its AI chatbot Grok does not generate or facilitate nudity or sexually explicit content, after alleging misuse to create obscene material involving women. MeitY directed X’s India compliance head to review Grok’s technical, procedural, and governance safeguards to prevent such content.
Instances like these ascertain that AI can create harmful deepfakes because guardrails can be bypassed or tricked. “AI models are open systems trained and fine-tuned on datasets, which can override the developer’s safety alignment and introduce new, harmful behaviours. Users constantly develop ‘jailbreak’ prompts that exploit semantic loopholes to trick the model into ignoring these restrictions,” Ankush Tiwari, CEO and Founder of pi-labs, said.
In the past few years, advances in Artificial intelligence have compounded the cybersecurity threats faced by organisations. Generative AI has made it easier for cybercriminals to initiate and launch cyber attacks at a far higher frequency than any conman. The capabilities of Gen AI tools to deepfake any individual by impersonating their real videos and cloning their voice are leading to a surge in digital identity theft. Digital arrests are rising as criminals deepfake law enforcement officers and legal authorities. Deepfake attacks on public personalities like politicians, celebrity actors and sportspersons are resulting in the maligning of their image.
By Abhijeet Zilpelwar, Co-Founder and CTO of pi-labs
For more than a decade, big data fusion platforms were projected as the ultimate solution for intelligence and investigative work. They promised unified dashboards, seamless data integration, and accelerated decision cycles. And for a while, they delivered. But as the digital ecosystem has rapidly expanded, the ground reality for law enforcement and intelligence agencies has fundamentally changed. Traditional big-data fusion systems are simply no longer enough. The sheer volume, diversity, and speed of digital information today far exceed what legacy architectures were built to handle. Systems originally designed to index call logs, structured databases, and transactional records are failing to extract meaningful insights from the modern intelligence landscape.
Pune-based pi-labs chief executive Ankush Tiwari said tests of the app have so far shown no requests for sensitive permissions such as location, contacts or photos. A DPDP violation, according to Tiwari, can only occur if personal data is collected without consent and then used or shared beyond its stated purpose. Such behaviour has not been observed.
In his view, mandatory pre-installation does not currently translate into a loss of user control because the app relies primarily on device identifiers like IMEI for fraud workflows and is not collecting ongoing usage data.
Even if Australia’s ban survives the courtroom, the next challenge is pratical; how do you stop tech-savy teenagers from posting as adults?
Ankush Tiwari, CEO of pi-labs, which safeguard business communications and high-value transactions says enforcement will make or break the law. Some platform are moving fast. Snapchat has begun age-verifying users via ConnectID, which links to bank-verified details and offer yes/no age confirmation without exposing personal data.
In the absence of AI-specific data protection laws, privacy experts observe that consumers remain vulnerable to potential misuse until upcoming regulations seek to mandate secure storage and processing of sensitive personal data within India
The recent legal petition filed by Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan regarding morphed AI images and videos, where they are seeking protection of their personality rights.
According to a 2024 pi-labs report, deepfake cases in India have risen by 550% since 2019, with potential losses of over ₹70,000 crore this year alone. A McAfee study also revealed that 75% of Indians have come across deepfake content, with most of it targeting public figures and women.
Recently, an individual used an AI-generated voice to impersonate US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to contact three foreign ministers and two US officials. Similar instances have also been reported in India, with many deepfake videos of celebrities and politicians, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, circulating widely.
Deccan Chronicle : DC covered an article by pi-labs on AI deepfakes targeting prominent figures like Rashmika Mandanna, Alia Bhatt, and Sachin Tendulkar, highlighting a significant rise in digital deception.
The Statesman : Ankush Tiwari, Founder & CEO of pi-labs, spoke about holding AI to the leash, how are we as humans responsible and our responsibility with the rise of AI.
HANS India : HANS India covers how India must build an Atmanirbhar digital ecosystem to safeguard its sovereignty and reduce risks from foreign-controlled digital infrastructure.
ET Edge Insights : ET Edge Insights discusses and covers the report published by pi-labs on “Digital Deception Epidemic: 2024 Report on Deepfake Fraud’s Toll on India”
LinkedIn News India : Linkedin News India talks about how deepfake is the growing menace and the need to innovative solutions and regulatory collaborations in 2025
The OupostAI : Ankush Tiwari, Founder & CEO, pi-labs, explains how we are building Authentify, the AI++ engine trained on datasets to detect synthetic content accurately
CXOToday : The articles discuss how AI is revolutionizing cybersecurity by enhancing threat detection and providing proactive solutions against advanced cyber risks.
Ankush Tiwari, Founder & CEO, pi-labs.ai said, “Deepfakes have moved beyond being just a technical challenge—they’ve become a serious societal issue that undermines the trust we place in the information we consume online. We need to address this on multiple levels.
The Week : Coverage on pi-labs’ collaboration with Finacus Solutions to launch the world’s first deepfake-resistant eKYC solution at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai.
NDTV India : Ankush Tiwari, Founder & CEO, pi-labs, discusses the growing threat of deepfakes in Video KYC and how Authentify offers a solution to combat this emerging risk.
Storyboard18 : pi-labs’ partners with various state and central agencies to deploy deepfake detection technology aiming to combat the deepfake threat.
The 420 : pi-labs, in collaboration with FCRF, released a detailed forensic report addressing a deepfake video, showcasing the critical role of advanced AI-driven forensic tools.
Medium : Article discusses how social media platforms accelerate the spread of deepfakes, contributing to concerns around misinformation, identity theft, and cybersecurity.
CNBC TV18 : Article explores how tech plays a pivotal role in shaping political narratives. It delves into the influence of digital platforms and challenges posed by tech in democracy.
In an insightful conversation with Ankush Tiwari, founder and CEO of pi-labs, we explore the world of deepfakes and cybersecurity. Ankush shares his expertise on the emerging threats of AI-driven deepfakes, their impact on various industries, and the importance of building a defensive AI stack.
ndeed, the survey underscores that AI, bots, and cybersecurity have emerged as the most pressing governance risks for Indian enterprises. This shift is driven by the country’s rapid digital transformation, escalating cyber threats, and evolving regulatory frameworks. As organizations navigate an increasingly complex risk landscape, Chief Audit Executives (CAEs) are expected to move beyond traditional business process risks and broaden their audit scope to encompass emerging technological and data-related vulnerabilities.
The story highlights Ankush’s entrepreneurial journey, the inspiration behind building pi-labs