Digital
ASCI Academy launches ‘Responsible Influencing E-learning Course’
Mumbai: ASCI Academy, the training arm of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), has introduced the ‘Responsible Influencing Course’ e-learning certification, designed to support content creators be compliant with the ASCI code and the law, and uphold ethical standards and transparency in the influencer marketing industry.
The interactive, two-hour course is broken into 21 small snippets which cover diverse topics. These include, shaping change by embracing self-regulation as an influencer, the power of transparency in embracing authenticity, decoding core concepts of influencer marketing, providing a nuanced understanding of the ASCI code and guidelines with relevant case examples. Additionally, the course addresses regulatory and platform-specific guideline requirements. A dedicated section focuses on the power of disclosures addressing issues like who should disclose, how and why to disclose and the specific requirements for disclosures. There are other interesting topics like influencer archetypes, brand engagement checklist, and more, ensuring an overall engaging and exciting learning experience.
In today’s digital age, creators play a pivotal role in shaping consumer perception and behaviour, making them essential partners for advertisers seeking to reach broader audiences. The course is crafted to equip influencers, content creators, agencies and influencer marketing experts with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate regulatory standards, maintain audience and brand trust, and ensure that they are on the right side of ethical advertising. Upon successful course completion and assessment, participants will be awarded the ‘Responsible Influencing Certificate’. This certificate signifies their dedication to ethical endorsement practices and proficiency in adhering to responsible influencer guidelines, enhancing their professional credibility within the industry.
ASCI CEO & secretary general Manisha Kapoor said, “With so many young and new content creators, it is an exciting time for the advertising industry. It is important that consumer and brand trust remains high in this exciting channel of communication. We want to support influencers to stay on the right side of advertising regulations and codes, so that they are able to keep themselves safe, and have a long and sustained career. With increased scrutiny on influencers and content creators, it is important that they build familiarity with the rules and regulations that surround advertising. The course simplifies the regulatory landscape, and influencers who take the course can be more confident in their endorsements. We also expect brands to prefer creators who have shown their commitment to honest influencing by doing this course.”
Digital
OpenAI’s Stargate lead Peter Hoeschele exits with two senior leaders
Trio behind compute push set to join new startup amid leadership reshuffle
SAN FRANCISCO: Peter Hoeschele, a key figure behind OpenAI’s early Stargate data centre initiative, has exited the company, according to a report by The Information.
The departure is part of a broader leadership shift, with two other senior executives, Shamez Hemani and Anuj Saharan, also set to leave in the coming days. All three are expected to join the same new startup, although details about the venture remain under wraps.
The trio played a central role in OpenAI’s Stargate effort, an initiative aimed at building large-scale data centre capacity in-house to reduce reliance on external infrastructure providers. Their exits mark a notable moment for the company’s compute strategy as it continues to scale rapidly.
OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement to The Information, “We’re grateful for the contributions Peter, Shamez, and Anuj have made to OpenAI and wish them the very best in what comes next.” The company also pointed to the recent appointment of Sachin Katti to lead its industrial compute organisation, signalling continuity in its infrastructure roadmap.
OpenAI has indicated that it does not plan to directly replace Hoeschele’s role, suggesting a possible restructuring of responsibilities within the team.
As competition intensifies in the race to build next-generation AI systems, leadership changes in core infrastructure teams are likely to draw close attention. For now, the spotlight shifts to what this departing trio builds next, and how OpenAI adapts as it scales its ambitions.
