Digital
Manika Wadhwa joins Teads as industry director
MUMBAI: Television, digital, and branded content sales – she’s done it all. And now Manika Wadhwa has transitioned to the programmatic advertising platform side. She has hopped on to Teads – a leading cloud-based, omnichannel platform that enables programmatic digital advertising across a global ecosystem of quality digital media.
As an end-to-end solution, Teads’ modular platform allows partners to leverage buy-side, sell-side, creative, data and AI optimization technologies. For advertisers and their agencies, Teads offers a single access point to buy the inventory of many of the world’s best publishers and content providers.
Manika has joined Teads as industry director from November 2024.
She has the pedigree: sales lead -west for ESPN Digital (ESNPcricinfo, ESPN Sports) at Disney Star India; national sales head for The Economist (at Zirca Digitla Solutions); manager – sales, monetisation, brand solutions – digital media at Sony Pictures Networks India (for SonyLiv), assistant manager digital meida – Aidem Ventures and assistant manager -NDTV India.
“Thrilled to join the team and contribute to this journey. Let’s aim for the stars!,” she said on Linkedin.
So be it!
Digital
AI drives 92 per cent surge to 15M views across India’s open web
Taboola data shows rising AI curiosity reshaping digital consumption trends
MUMBAI: Artificial intelligence is fast becoming the internet’s favourite topic in India, with fresh data showing a sharp spike in audience interest across the open web.
Insights from Taboola’s Taboola Newsroom reveal that AI-related content generated more than 15 million pageviews over the past 90 days, marking a striking 92 per cent jump compared to the previous 45-day period. The surge signals a clear shift, with AI moving from niche tech chatter to mainstream digital curiosity.
The broader technology category is also seeing momentum, clocking around 1.7 million pageviews and a 27 per cent rise in engagement. However, much of that growth appears to be riding on the AI wave, as developments in artificial intelligence increasingly dominate tech narratives.
Within the AI ecosystem, newer players are quickly capturing attention. Content linked to Anthropic alone drew roughly 2.5 million pageviews, registering a dramatic 2,096 per cent surge. The spike reflects growing interest in alternative AI models and emerging competitors in the space.
Meanwhile, familiar names continue to hold steady ground. Coverage around ChatGPT generated about 1.2 million pageviews, underlining sustained curiosity as users explore practical applications, updates, and everyday use cases for generative AI tools.
Big Tech is firmly in the spotlight too. Content related to Meta attracted approximately 2.2 million pageviews, up 30 per cent, as audiences track its expanding role in AI infrastructure and innovation.
Taken together, the data points to a deeper shift in how audiences engage with AI. Interest is no longer tied only to big announcements but is evolving into a steady stream of exploration around tools, platforms, and real-world uses.
For publishers, this opens the door to richer storytelling through explainers and practical insights. For advertisers, it presents a chance to tap into a highly engaged, tech-savvy audience.
If the numbers are anything to go by, AI is not just part of the conversation anymore, it is leading it.
