MAM
Ashwani Singla elected to the global executive council of IPRN
Mumbai: Ashwani Singla, Founding Managing Partner of Astrum, India’s first specialist reputation management advisory that uses science to understand and shape public opinion ethically has been unanimously elected to a five-member global executive council (GEC) and assumes the role of the regional chair for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region at IPRNs AGM held in Puerto Rico recently. International Public Relations Network (IPRN), is the world’s largest and most well-established network of independent public relations firms, with its members present in over 100 major cities in 30 countries across five continents.
This appointment stands as a clear testament to Ashwani’s standing as a science-based public relations, public affairs and crisis communications expert in India and the region. Prior to founding Astrum, he served as the Asia MD at PSB Research and CEO of Genesis Burson Marsteller and a member of the Asia Pacific Board of Burson-Marsteller (now known as BCW). He was deeply involved with establishing the India Chapter of IABC founding the PRCAI and organised the first global conference of ICCO held in India in 2006 that has been the benchmark for subsequent conferences. His continued involvement on the advisory boards of various companies further underscores his diverse expertise.
IPRN president Rodrigo Viana de Freitas said, “The APAC region hosts some of the fastest growing economies in the world and I am delighted to welcome Ashwani, one of the tallest professionals across the region on the GEC. I look forward to working with him to grow the network and strengthen collaboration amongst members to grow their business.”
Thanking the members and the President for their vote of confidence, Astrum Reputation Advisory founding managing partner Ashwani Singla said, “Clients are looking for bespoke solutions, data-driven intellectual rigour delivered with personal attention, a hallmark of IPRN membership of independent firms led by seasoned professionals. Greater collaboration amongst members drives our collective success and I look forward to working with our president and my GEC colleagues to deliver on this tremendous responsibility bestowed upon me.”
After Puerto Rico In 2023, the next AGM for IPRN is scheduled for November 2024 in Dubai, a testament to the vibrant regional economy and the network’s objectives of fostering global collaboration with deep local insights. Representing other continents in the global executive
Council are Philippe Beck (Europe), Carina Almeida (South America), Grant Wright (North America), and Nicole Capper (South Africa).
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.
