MAM
Orient Technologies appoints Shrihari Bhat as CEO
MUMBAI: Orient Technologies Ltd., an IT solutions and services provider specialising in cloud and data management for enterprises in India, has appointed Shrihari Bhat as its chief executive officer, effective 1 January 2025. The board of directors approved his appointment in November 2024. With over 25 years of leadership experience, Shrihari will guide the company in enhancing its service offerings and expanding its market presence.
He holds a degree in engineering and a Master’s in marketing management. Before joining Orient Technologies, he served as a division executive for International markets at FIS and held senior roles at NCR and FirstData (now Fiserv). In his new position, Shrihari will oversee technology transformation and business expansion, supporting the company’s goal of becoming a key player in the IT solutions landscape.
Orient Technologies Ltd chairman and managing director Ajay Sawant said, “Shrihari is a highly accomplished business leader and we are delighted to welcome him on our team. Shrihari has demonstrated a strong track record in building high-performance teams and executing strategic growth initiatives. He will be working closely with Umesh, Jayesh, Ujjwal, and me to foster innovation and ensure our company’s success. His in-depth knowledge and industry expertise, combined with his visionary approach, will be instrumental in guiding the company as we continue to expand our presence and deliver innovative solutions to our clients.”
Shrihari’s experience includes leading cross-functional teams and delivering advanced solutions, with over 20 years spent in international markets, including Singapore. His global perspective will aid in scaling innovative solutions across regions.
“I am deeply humbled and grateful to the board of directors at Orient Technologies Ltd. for entrusting me with this exceptional opportunity,” Shrihari stated. “As I step into this role, I am keenly aware of the responsibility and privilege that comes with leading a pioneering IT services organization. My focus will be on empowering our teams to deliver exceptional solutions and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and customer-centricity. I am committed to building a resilient and agile organisation that not only adapts to the rapidly evolving IT landscape but also leads the way in digital transformation, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and data management. Together with our talented team, I look forward to delivering operational excellence, driving innovation, and creating value for our customers, partners, and stakeholders.”
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.
