MAM
[Podcast] Media Minds: Havas Media Group’s Anita Nayyar talks about the evolving ad industry
MUMBAI: Havas Media Group is one of the most successful agencies in India right now. Having worked with a diverse bouquet of brands like OYO, Kohler, YepMe, Philips Lighting, DLF, and Reckitt Benckiser over the years, the agency owns a stronghold on the media and marketing industry.
For the second episode of its podcast ‘Media Minds’, Indiantelevision.com met Havas Media Group CEO India and South East Asia Anita Nayyar and discussed with her the ever-changing dynamics of the advertising industry and the trends that are going to be the making and breaking points for it in the coming years.
Speaking about the evolution that the advertising industry has seen, Nayyar shared, “We have come a long way as far as the advertising and marketing industry is concerned. If we look at today, we are instilling pride in indigenous content and really have the consumer as the focal point. Much more than just selling the products, we are promoting national integration.”
She added, “This shift has also happened because there has been a change in the audience that we are talking to. Specifically, the millennials who have adapted to the internet really very fast.”
Answering our question of whether brands should follow an integrated approach of advertising or keep their traditional and digital agencies separate, Nayyar mentioned that it is not the consumer who is looking at various media as different propositions but the brands. She emphasised that for the campaigns to be successful and interact in a holistic manner, integration is the right approach to follow.
She also highlighted the key trends, including AR, VR, video, voice, etc., and how the brands can effectively leverage them for their campaigns.
Listen to the complete interaction on the second episode of ‘Media Minds’ here:
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.
