MAM
Steyn, Morkel to do shark dive for cricket WC promotion
MUMBAI: To mark the 100-day countdown to the opening ceremony of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup 2011, South African fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel will do a shark dive in the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo with the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy on 9 November.
With the capacity to hold 10 million litres of water, Dubai Aquarium illuminates the marvels of the ocean floor and showcases aquatic life.
The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo has more than 33,000 aquatic animals, representing more than 250 species. Over 400 sharks and rays live inside this tank, including what it says is the largest collection of Sand Tiger Sharks in the world.
The opening ceremony of the 10th ICC Cricket World Cup will be staged in Dhaka on 17 February 2011. Two days later, co-hosts Bangladesh and India will go head to head in the tournament opener in Mirpur on 19 February.
Sri Lanka, the third co-host of the tournament, will open its campaign against Canada in Hambantota on 20 February 2011.
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.
