MAM
AETN18 ropes in Salman Khan for History channel
MUMBAI: AETN-18, a joint venture between A+E Networks and TV18, has associated with actor Salman Khan for its upcoming factual entertainment channel, History.
In a first and yet-to-be-revealed format of association, Hustory brings on board an actor and star whose popularity cuts across all age groups and gender, and who will play a pivotal role in helping change the perception of History in India.
A+E NetworksITV18 JV president Ajay Chacko said,”Salman symbolizes the brand personality of History perfectly. He is stylish, trendy, versatile, fun and his all encompassing popularity makes him the perfect fit for our brand. History has always been associated with the past, but with the new History channel, we hope to change people‘s perception of HISTORY. The channel today is contemporary; it is about action & adventure. It is about people making history every day. And through this unique and exciting partnership with Salman Khan, we hope to make this genre as popular in India as it is around the world.”
Khan said,”The Indian TV audience today has evolved. They are very demanding and look for a mix of differentiated programmes for their daily dose of entertainment. HISTORY channel, with its unexpected take on the subject, is sure to whet the audience’s appetite for more of its kind. I was bowled over by their content, it’s nothing like I expected it to be!”
Digital
India leads global adoption of ChatGPT Images 2.0 in first week
From anime avatars to fantasy covers, users turn AI visuals into culture
NEW DELHI: India has emerged as the largest user base for ChatGPT Images 2.0, just a week after its launch by OpenAI, underlining the country’s growing influence on global internet trends.
While the tool was introduced as an advanced image-generation upgrade within ChatGPT, Indian users are quickly reshaping its purpose. Instead of sticking to productivity-led use cases, many are embracing it as a creative playground for self-expression, storytelling and online identity.
From anime-style portraits and cinematic headshots to tarot-inspired visuals and fictional newspaper front pages, the model is being used to create highly stylised, shareable content. Features such as accurate text rendering, multilingual prompts and the ability to generate detailed visuals with minimal input have helped drive rapid adoption.
What sets the latest model apart is its ability to “think” through prompts, generating multiple outputs and adapting to context, including real-time web inputs. But the bigger story lies in how users are engaging with it.
In India, trends are already taking shape. Popular formats include dramatic studio-style lighting edits, LinkedIn-ready headshots, manga-inspired avatars, soft pastel “spring” aesthetics, AI-led fashion moodboards, paparazzi-style visuals and fantasy newspaper covers. Users are also restoring old photographs, creating tarot-style imagery and experimenting with futuristic design concepts.
Local flavour is adding another layer. Prompts such as cinematic portrait collages and Y2K-inspired romantic edits are gaining traction, blending global aesthetics with distinctly Indian internet culture.
The surge reflects a broader shift in how AI tools are being used in the country, moving beyond utility to creativity. As younger users, creators and social media enthusiasts experiment with new visual formats, AI-generated imagery is increasingly becoming part of everyday digital expression.
If early trends hold, ChatGPT Images 2.0 may not just be a tech upgrade but a cultural moment, giving millions a new visual language to play with online.
