MAM
Journey of Giants launches new video podcast featuring inspiring leaders
Mumbai – Journey of Giants has launched a new video podcast series that delves into the incredible journeys and achievements of influential leaders across various fields. Each episode meticulously uncovers their personal stories, detailing the challenges they have faced, the strategic approaches they have employed, and their paths to success. From business pioneers to cultural icons, ‘Journey of Giants’ features candid interviews with industry leaders, C-level executives, and other prominent figures, offering listeners unique insights and inspiration. The podcast aim is to ignite curiosity, encourage goal pursuit, and foster personal and professional development through compelling narrative and enlightening conversations.
The inaugural episode features Shifa Merchant, a social media influencer known for her authentic and engaging content that has earned her over 1 million Instagram followers. In this episode, Shifa offers an in-depth look at her tips for building a strong online presence and navigating the complexities of social media. Her insights are particularly valuable for working women who are looking to excel in the digital space. Through her personal experiences and expert advice, Shifa provides practical guidance that can inspire and inform anyone striving to make their mark in the realm of social media.
Commenting on the launch, Journey of Giants Podcast host & founder Megha Gulati said, “My longstanding fascination with stories of success and perseverance propelled me to create this podcast. Journey of Giants serves as a platform to share the impactful narratives of individuals who have overcome significant challenges to attain their goals. In today’s rapidly changing environment, our ultimate goal is to inspire and empower our audience by uncovering the untold stories of India’s foremost achievers, and to guide the next generation towards their own pathways of success.”
Bringing extensive experience in media and production to the team, Journey of Giants Podcast co-founder Ekta Mestry said, “We are thrilled to embark on this incredible journey with ‘Journey of Giants,’ showcasing the remarkable tales of extraordinary individuals. Our objective is to ignite inspiration among our audience by illuminating the diverse routes to success and the extraordinary obstacles conquered by our esteemed guests. We strongly believe that every story possesses the incredible power to motivate and empower, and we eagerly anticipate sharing these influential narratives with our devoted listeners.”
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.
