Digital
Indian Digital Brand Fest gears up for its 5th edition in Delhi
NEW DELHI: If you thought branding was just about catchy jingles and clever logos, think again. The Indian Digital Brand Fest 2025 is here to prove that in today’s hyper-connected world, building a brand is part science, part art, and entirely strategic.
This isn’t your average industry conference where suits swap business cards over stale sandwiches. On 26th November at The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi, picture instead a high-octane collision of ideas where over 40 trailblazers will dissect everything from AI-powered creativity to the mysteries of Gen Z shopping habits. Whether you’re curious about voice search optimisation or wondering how the Amul Girl would fare against Instagram Reels, this summit has answers.
The event kicks off with a provocatively titled panel: “CMOs in BANI World: Is your market ready for 1.4 Billion Indians?” Seven marketing heavyweights, including the minds behind Taco Bell India, Shree Cement, and the Rajasthan Royals, will grapple with India’s unique challenges and opportunities.
But the real intrigue lies in the day’s most philosophical question: “From Amul Girl to Insta Reels: Is Modern Advertising Losing Its Legacy to Metrics?” It’s a delicious debate about whether we’ve traded memorable storytelling for spreadsheet obsessions.
Gen Z, that enigmatic generation reshaping consumer behaviour, gets its own deep dive. Seven specialists will decode what these young consumers actually want (spoiler: it’s probably not what you think). Meanwhile, AI’s role in rewriting the creativity rulebook gets examined by marketing leaders from Motorola, Paisabazaar, and eGenome.ai.
The agenda doesn’t shy away from emerging territories either. Sessions on “phygital” experiences and social commerce promise practical strategies for brands navigating the blurred lines between online and offline worlds. There’s even a spotlight on Rich Communication Services, because apparently, humble SMS has had quite the glow-up.
From registration at 8am through to closing remarks at 5pm, attendees will network over lunch, absorb insights during spotlight sessions, and emerge with actionable strategies rather than just inspirational quotes to pin on mood boards.
Who should show up? Brand strategists, digital marketers, advertising professionals, content creators, tech innovators, and anyone remotely curious about where Indian marketing is heading. Even if you think branding is just fancy wrapping paper for products, this event might just change your mind.
After all, in a nation of 1.4 billion potential customers, standing out isn’t just important. It’s survival.
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.
