iWorld
Meta showcases Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses at Lakmé Fashion Week
Wearable AI brings hands-free creativity to India’s biggest fashion stage.
MUMBAI: Meta just put its Ray-Ban glasses on the runway because when fashion meets AI, even the front row wants to strike a pose without lifting a finger. Meta showcased its latest Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses at Lakmé Fashion Week, India’s most influential cultural and fashion platform, blending wearable technology with high-fashion storytelling in a seamless, hands-free experience.
The highlight was the Ray-Ban Meta Red Chairs integration, placing the smart glasses at prime front-row vantage points. Select creators, including Mohak Narang, Vishal Pandey, Aastha Shah, Rohit Khandelwal, Sanket Mehta, Manav & Unnati, and Sufi Motiwala, captured runway moments in real time, offering audiences a unique first-person perspective of the shows.
Beyond the catwalk, Meta hosted an exclusive dinner with leading designers such as Falguni and Shane Peacock, David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore, and Amit Gupta, allowing the fashion community to experience the glasses firsthand. An interactive “Strike a Pose with Ray-Ban Meta glasses” installation let attendees simply say “Hey Meta, take a picture” to capture high-resolution images that were instantly transformed into stylised, high-fashion magazine covers.
Meta vice president & head og India and South East Asia Sandhya Devanathan said, “Lakmé Fashion Week is a powerful national moment that continues to shape India’s fashion landscape. Bringing Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses into this space enabled creators to capture and share experiences in real time, unlocking new possibilities for creative expression.”
The collaboration underscores Meta’s push to make its technologies more accessible and relevant to India’s growing creator and fashion ecosystem, demonstrating how wearable AI can enhance storytelling and become an integral part of cultural moments.
In the glamorous chaos of Lakmé Fashion Week, where every look is carefully curated, Meta quietly reminded everyone that the future of style might just be hands-free letting creators see, capture and create without ever missing a beat (or a pose).
iWorld
Sunil Bharti Mittal to retire as Airtel Africa chair, Gopal Vittal takes over
Gopal Vittal to take helm while family and sustainability continuity assured
LAGOS: Airtel Africa plc is set for a leadership refresh as Sunil Bharti Mittal announces his retirement as chair at the company’s annual general meeting in July 2026. He has steered the board since its 2019 listing and leaves a legacy of growth across 14 African countries.
Taking the reins will be Gopal Vittal, a telecom stalwart and current board chair of the GSMA, who brings a proven record of driving Bharti Airtel to record market shares. Shravin Bharti Mittal will serve as deputy chair, ensuring continuity with the founding family and acting as a bridge to Airtel Money and the company’s Dubai headquarters.
In another board change, Annika Poutiainen will retire after more than seven years, leaving behind a strong imprint on the audit, risk, and sustainability fronts.
Commenting on the changes, Sunil Bharti Mittal thanked the board and Annika for their support and leadership, noting Airtel Africa’s strategy and leadership team are robust and well-positioned for future growth.
Tsega Gebreyes added that Sunil’s tenure has been instrumental, from Airtel Africa’s 2010 acquisition to its 2019 listing and current FTSE100 standing, praising his global telecom leadership and vision.
The upcoming AGM marks a pivotal moment for Airtel Africa, signalling a smooth transition while reinforcing its commitment to connectivity and growth across the continent.
