Digital
Affle gets regulatory clearance for rebranding to Affle 3i
MUMBAI: Adtech and martech firm Affle has marked its third decade with a rechristening and a bold leap into AI-driven advertising. The rebranding to Affle 3i officially went into effect today with approval from the registrar of companies, ministry of corporate affairs. Earlier in April, an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders had given the management the go-ahead to rename the firm. Affle 3i informed the Bombay stock exchange (BSE) about the official name change today.
Earlier this week the company held a glitzy summit at the BSE where it showcased its “Power of 3i” vision to investors and clients. The “3i” pillars—innovation, impact, and intelligence—were the stars of the show. Affle 3i demonstrated OpticksAI, a system capable of delivering hyper-personalised, real-time consumer experiences, powered by advanced AI. It s also highlighted its AI integration across connected TV (CTV) advertising, aiming to democratise the platform and boost ROI.
But the real showstopper was Affle’s live demonstration of 100 AI agents, showcasing what the company calls “active and authentic intelligence.” This, it claims, builds on the company’s formidable intellectual property, including 15 Indian patents and two US patents related to AI-driven experiences, filed well before the generative AI craze.
Affle 3i chairperson, managing director, & chief executive officer Anuj Khanna Sohum said the company’s vision is to “invoke the power of 3i” for intelligence that goes beyond efficiency. The aim is to scale from targeted creatives to millions of dynamic, personalised experiences, driven by “authentic, actionable, and augmented intelligence.”
Chief architect & technology officer Charles Yong added that digital advertising is ripe for generative AI adoption. Affle 3i’s AI agents, he claimed, will streamline workflows and meet the demand for real-time, personalised content.
In a flourish, Affle 3i also snagged records from the Asia Book of Records and the India Book of Records for the first-ever “Live Intelligence in Action” presentation at the BSE, proving the ad tech firm is not just talking the talk, it is walking the AI-powered walk. This rebranding and AI push signals Affle 3i’s intent to dominate the future of digital advertising, and it is not pulling any punches.
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.
