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Ad:tech Honours 2026 crowns winners in New Delhi
Expanded awards celebrate fusion of creativity and technology in Indian marketing.
MUMBAI: The ad:tech Honours 2026 didn’t just hand out trophies, it handed the spotlight to the real engines powering modern brand engagement. The second edition of the prestigious awards reached its climax at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, honouring brands and agencies that are redefining marketing through the smart convergence of creativity and technology. Held on the sidelines of ad:tech New Delhi, the ceremony recognised outstanding work across an expanded list of 22 categories up from just 8 last year reflecting the explosive growth of AI, programmatic, retail tech, and immersive experiences in India.
Winners included standout campaigns from Laqshya Media Limited (multiple Golds and Silvers for Marriott and Tanishq), Mobavenue Media (Gold for Uniqlo and Boat), Publicis (Gold for Nespresso), Vayner Media India (Gold for Iqoo), and Glad U Came (Gold for Domino’s), among others. Categories ranged from AI & Creative Automation and Programmatic & Emerging Media to Influencer Marketing, OTT Innovation, and GenAI-led Creative.
The expansion of categories underscores a clear industry shift: data and creativity are no longer separate disciplines but essential partners for delivering measurable business impact. From predictive AI and omnichannel automation to interactive DOOH and retail media, the awards highlighted how technology is optimising every stage of the customer journey.
A new partnership with Huella added extra value for winners, offering NEXad advertising credits to amplify their winning work through high-impact Connected TV formats.
Speaking to the evolving landscape, the honours celebrated not just creative excellence but also the strategic use of emerging tools that help brands cut through the noise in an increasingly fragmented attention economy.
In a year marked by rapid MarTech evolution, ad:tech Honours 2026 proved that the future of advertising belongs to those who master the art of blending human ingenuity with intelligent technology. The message from New Delhi was loud and clear, the winners aren’t just keeping up with change, they’re defining it.
MAM
Three senior OpenAI infrastructure executives join Meta
Key members of Stargate project move to rival amid aggressive AI spending race.
MUMBAI: Three key architects of OpenAI’s ambitious data centre plans have switched sides and joined Meta Platforms, according to people familiar with the matter. Peter Hoeschele, who played a central role in OpenAI’s high-profile Stargate initiative, is among the new hires. He is joined by Shamez Hemani, who focused on computing strategy and business development, and Anuj Saharan, another leader in the computing organisation. The Information first reported their departure from OpenAI on Thursday.
The moves come as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has pledged to spend aggressively on AI infrastructure. The company is projecting capital expenditure of up to $135 billion this year alone, with hundreds of billions more expected before the end of the decade to support its Meta Superintelligence Labs and new models such as Muse Spark.
OpenAI, which is pushing ahead with massive data centre expansion, had described its early lead in securing computing power as a competitive advantage. Stargate, originally announced last year as a $500 billion venture involving OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank, has since become an umbrella term for the company’s broader data centre ambitions. However, the project has seen recent adjustments, including a pause on its UK plans and the decision not to expand the Abilene, Texas site.
A spokesperson for Meta declined to comment, while Hoeschele, Hemani, and Saharan also declined to comment. OpenAI said it was grateful for the contributions of the three employees and remains focused on hiring talent for its infrastructure plans. The company recently brought in former Intel executive Sachin Katti to lead its industrial compute efforts.
In the high-stakes race to build the future of artificial intelligence, talent is proving to be as valuable as computing power itself. Meta’s latest hires suggest the competition for top infrastructure minds is intensifying, even as OpenAI continues to scale its own ambitious projects. The move highlights how quickly the AI talent war is heating up across Silicon Valley.
