MAM
Kiyawat appointed as Star VP ad sales & distribution SE Asia
MUMBAI: Star today announced the appointment of Gautam Kiyawat as vice president ad sales and distribution for Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia. Based out of Singapore, Kiyawat will report to Bruce A Oltchick, EVP ad sales, distribution and marketing of Star.
Kiyawat in his new portfolio will be responsible for Star’s advertising sales operations of its channels in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as channel distribution businesses in these markets.
Prior to Star, Kiyawat was with Philips Consumer Electronics where he was Asia Pacific marketing director and Procter & Gamble Asia, where he had regional and India-based roles.
Commenting on the appointment, Otlchick said, “With a solid background in consumer products on a regional scale, Gautam is ideally qualified for the role. I believe, with his track record and experience, he will significantly contribute to driving Star’s businesses in the region while further strengthening our ties with clients and providing even more channels and better service to our affiliate partners.”
Kiyawat said, “I’m excited about joining Star. Its unrelenting focus on providing quality entertainment to viewers has gained it a huge following. I hope to build on that by offering more creative and tailored solutions for our clients and business affiliates to deepen their consumer relationships and expand their businesses.”
Kiyawat holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.
Digital
India leads global adoption of ChatGPT Images 2.0 in first week
From anime avatars to fantasy covers, users turn AI visuals into culture
NEW DELHI: India has emerged as the largest user base for ChatGPT Images 2.0, just a week after its launch by OpenAI, underlining the country’s growing influence on global internet trends.
While the tool was introduced as an advanced image-generation upgrade within ChatGPT, Indian users are quickly reshaping its purpose. Instead of sticking to productivity-led use cases, many are embracing it as a creative playground for self-expression, storytelling and online identity.
From anime-style portraits and cinematic headshots to tarot-inspired visuals and fictional newspaper front pages, the model is being used to create highly stylised, shareable content. Features such as accurate text rendering, multilingual prompts and the ability to generate detailed visuals with minimal input have helped drive rapid adoption.
What sets the latest model apart is its ability to “think” through prompts, generating multiple outputs and adapting to context, including real-time web inputs. But the bigger story lies in how users are engaging with it.
In India, trends are already taking shape. Popular formats include dramatic studio-style lighting edits, LinkedIn-ready headshots, manga-inspired avatars, soft pastel “spring” aesthetics, AI-led fashion moodboards, paparazzi-style visuals and fantasy newspaper covers. Users are also restoring old photographs, creating tarot-style imagery and experimenting with futuristic design concepts.
Local flavour is adding another layer. Prompts such as cinematic portrait collages and Y2K-inspired romantic edits are gaining traction, blending global aesthetics with distinctly Indian internet culture.
The surge reflects a broader shift in how AI tools are being used in the country, moving beyond utility to creativity. As younger users, creators and social media enthusiasts experiment with new visual formats, AI-generated imagery is increasingly becoming part of everyday digital expression.
If early trends hold, ChatGPT Images 2.0 may not just be a tech upgrade but a cultural moment, giving millions a new visual language to play with online.
