MAM
Enhance your chai time with premium Audible audio content
Mumbai: As the monsoon fury wanes, picture yourself curling up with some interesting audio entertainment to make the most of those snug days watching the gentle drizzles outside. Whether you’re looking for a thrilling murder mystery, a romantic drama that tugs at your heartstrings, or thought-provoking narratives, Audible has a diverse collection of options to choose from. This is why we’ve curated a list of five captivating titles that are ideal companions for the monsoon season. Get yourself a warm cup of tea, and piping hot snacks, and let these stories transport you into another world.
Written by: Chetan Bhagat and Narrated by: Angad Bedi, Neha Dhupia, and others
Social Distancing is a modern romantic drama in which Rags (Angad Bedi), a successful leadership coach, father, and husband, finds himself in the crosshairs of a romantic affair with his colleague, Anaya, just as the world is going into lockdown. He and his wife Savi (Neha Dhupia) have grown distant after years of raising their son Aryan, growing Rags’ business from what was once only a dream when they were newlywed, and as their lives shifted to posh Dubai society. More than an affair, Rags is truly in love with Anaya who pressurises him to decide their future. When the lockdown hits suddenly, Rags finds himself at risk of losing Anaya, his business, and his entire life unraveling. A relatable listen, this series on Audible is ideal for a gloomy Saturday evening when it’s raining outside and you are too lazy to make plans.
Written by: Pocket Aces, Kartik Krishnan, and others; Narrated by: Veer Rajwant Singh, Shreya Dhanwanthary
It is rightly said that we are always one decision away from changing the course of our lives. Kabir (Veer Rajwant Singh) a young entrepreneur is in a fix, as he is unhappy with his life on both professional and personal fronts. Taking a leap of faith he decides to quit his job and break up with his girlfriend, to actualise his dream of pioneering a startup. Just as things seem to go his way as he finds a dream investor, Cupid shoots an arrow and bumps into the perfect woman – Nikki. It is up to him to decide which call is more important to take, bagging the funding or convincing his dream partner to a relationship first. Or both? Tune into Pitching Pyaar on Audible to find out more.
Written by: Novoneel Chakraborty and Narrated by: Abhishek Ajay Sharma
Ekantika Pakrashi discovers that her boyfriend’s death was not just an accident but a gruesome murder. Her boyfriend was murdered in cold blood and the modus operandi resembles that of India’s most notorious serial killer of the 1990s: the Cellotape Killer. Failing to come to terms with her reality, she uses all her might to find out her lover’s killer. Ekantika discovers that her boyfriend is just a means to an end and she is the actual target. As thunder and lightning strike, plug in your earphones and enjoy this chilling crime thriller mystery and romance writer Novoneel Chakraborty as it steers listeners through an estranged lover’s obsession to hunt down the killer who altered the reality of her life.
Written by: Mukesh Bansal and Narrated by: Anuj Datta
In pursuit of realistic and holistic health? Well in that case look no further, Hacking Health on Audible is your holy grail for healthy living. Good health impacts our overall potential and well-being in life, and on the quest to attain it, misinformation deters the goal for many. Fitness and health enthusiasts are bombarded with numerous fad diets, supplements and superfoods, and workout plans every other month. Presenting the right approach – Mukesh Bansal simplifies the path to good health with tips on nutrition, immunity, weight management, mental health, and anti-aging. Due to incessant rains and frequent work-from-homes, we end up spending a lot of time indoors, so make use of free time this monsoon to prioritize health and fitness.
Written by: Jaishree Sharad and Narrated by: Pallavi Bharti
Over the recent past skincare routines and products have caught the world by storm, be it dermatologist-approved drug store products or specialised Korean skincare. Especially during monsoons, the weather and dietary changes may result in skin rashes, breakouts, or infections. This audiobook written by celebrity dermatologist Jaishree Sharad – The Skincare Answer Book is your 360 FAQ guide for everything skin care. From questions on skin types and skin routines to more specific topics like serums, acne, hyperpigmentation, sun allergies, hair loss, anti-aging, rosacea, layering of skin, and common skin conditions like eczemas and skin infections, this book encompasses all skin information.
Brands
Google says Gemini AI cuts irrelevant ads by 40 percent
AI driven search and ad tools boost relevance and results for brands.
MUMBAI: In the never ending hunt for the right ad at the right moment, artificial intelligence may finally be sharpening the aim. Google says the integration of its multimodal AI models, Gemini, has reduced irrelevant advertisements across its platforms by 40 percent, as improved query understanding allows ads to match user intent more closely.
Speaking at a roundtable on Thursday, Google vice president of Global Ads Dan Taylor said the company has been steadily deploying Gemini powered upgrades to interpret complex search queries more accurately. “We have been making Gemini based improvements to query understanding at a rate of almost one launch per month over the last two years. As the models improve and our ability to deploy them improves, ad quality continues to get better,” Taylor said.
The improvements come as Google leans deeper into AI driven advertising tools. According to the company, 2025 saw a threefold increase in Gemini generated creative assets produced by advertisers using its AI powered ad solutions.
The company also highlighted how these tools are influencing marketing performance for brands in India.
Insurance marketplace Policybazaar recorded a 28 percent rise in health insurance sales while reducing cost per sale by 23 percent after adopting AI Max, a tool that interprets natural language search queries to improve ad targeting.
Meanwhile, hospitality platform OYO reported 50 percent higher return on ad spend (ROAS) and a 25 percent reduction in cost per acquisition after combining its existing search campaigns with Google’s Performance Max (PMax) advertising campaigns.
Taylor noted that evolving consumer behaviour is also reshaping how brands approach digital advertising. According to Google’s data, 86 percent of shoppers in India using Google Search said they were open to trying new brands or products, suggesting that AI driven discovery tools could increasingly influence purchase decisions.
Beyond advertising, Google is also investing in what it calls agentic commerce, an emerging model where AI agents autonomously assist users in discovering, comparing and purchasing products online.
“Our goal with agentic commerce is twofold, first, to remove the grunt work of shopping so consumers can focus on the fun parts; and second, to work hand in hand with the industry to build the foundations needed to make agentic commerce seamless and secure across the web,” Taylor said.
The push into AI enhanced advertising and commerce comes as Google’s core ads business continues to grow. The company recently reported $82.28 billion in advertising revenue, marking a 13.5 percent year on year increase.
For advertisers navigating an increasingly crowded digital landscape, Google is betting that smarter algorithms and sharper intent signals will make ads feel less like interruptions and more like timely suggestions.
