iWorld
ALTBalaji’s ‘Gandii Baat’ enjoys popularity across demographics
MUMBAI: ALT Balaji's highly viewed show Gandii Baat enjoys a tremendous fan base for its projection of stories revolving around the harsh realities of the society, mental taboos in regards to sexual orientations and many more relevant issues.
Its fourth season being launched in less than two years of its inaugural season is proof of its popularity and how immensely it is being accepted by the audiences throughout the globe. To be precise, the web-series attracted 22 per cent views from global audiences whereas the show earned a place in the heart of the Indian audience with a staggering 78 per cent of views coming from this respective demographic, as per company data. Its controversial content has struck a chord with the ladies as well, with an unprecedented 24 per cent of the viewership pie belonging to women, a number that grows by 10 per cent with every season.
Gandii Baat is one of ALTBalaji’s most-watched and appreciated series which has, in no time, created many milestones. Offering viewers content that is not only new but also engaging and intriguing, the show has witnessed a massive completion rate of 78 per cent across seasons. Apart from highlighting the major issues which are usually brushed under the carpet, Gandii Baat breaks the common notion that the show is perceived only by people coming from a lower-middle-class background. Viewers with high-end devices (Apple+ Connected devices) who watch Gandii Baat are 18.5 per cent and this number has seen an 8 per cent incremental growth each season.
While ALTBalaji caters to audiences across ages, viewership figures further reveal that Gandii Baat audience base comprises of 86 per cent in the 18-35 years age bracket that strongly translates into an audience that is young, savvy and has a higher wallet share.
ALTBalaji Balaji telefilms and CEO group CEO Nachiket Pantvaidya said, “Exceeding expectations of the entire team as well as audiences around the world, the series has gone on earn such a massive fan following that today, if there is a name synonymous with erotic web content, it would have to be Gandii Baat. Pushing the envelope in every season, the core in each of our stories is leaving a lot of room for one's imagination. Enjoyed by audiences around the globe, both young and old, as we offer a new take with every season by depicting the myths and beliefs of rural India, we shall continue to do so and present content in a bolder avatar with a fresh take on situations.”
ALT Balaji yet again with its show Gandii Baat has managed to break the stereotypes while highlighting the major issue prevailing in the country which is unaddressed.
iWorld
Meta plans 8,000 layoffs in new AI-led restructuring wave
First phase from May 20 may cut 10 per cent workforce amid AI pivot.
MUMBAI: At Meta, the future may be artificial but the cuts are very real. The social media giant is reportedly preparing a fresh round of layoffs, with an initial wave expected to impact around 8,000 employees as it doubles down on its artificial intelligence ambitions. According to a Reuters report, the first phase of job cuts is slated to begin on May 20, targeting roughly 10 per cent of Meta’s global workforce. With nearly 79,000 employees on its rolls as of December 31, the move marks one of the company’s most significant workforce reductions in recent years.
And this may only be the beginning. Sources indicate that additional layoffs are being planned for the second half of the year, although the scale and timing remain fluid, likely to be shaped by how Meta’s AI capabilities evolve in the coming months. Earlier reports had suggested that total cuts in 2026 could reach 20 per cent or more of its workforce.
The restructuring comes as chief executive Mark Zuckerberg continues to steer the company towards an AI-first operating model, committing hundreds of billions of dollars to the transition. Internally, this shift is already visible: teams within Reality Labs have been reorganised, engineers have been moved into a newly formed Applied AI unit, and a Meta Small Business division has been created to align with broader structural changes.
The trend is hardly isolated. Across the tech sector, companies are trimming headcount while investing aggressively in automation. Amazon, for instance, has reportedly cut around 30,000 corporate roles nearly 10 per cent of its white-collar workforce citing efficiency gains driven by AI. Data from Layoffs.fyi shows over 73,000 tech employees have already lost jobs this year, compared with 153,000 in all of 2024.
For Meta, the move echoes its earlier “year of efficiency” in 2022–23, when about 21,000 roles were eliminated amid slowing growth and market pressures. This time, however, the backdrop is different. The company is financially stronger, generating over $200 billion in revenue and $60 billion in profit last year, with shares up 3.68 per cent year-to-date though still below last summer’s peak.
That contrast underlines the shift underway. These layoffs are less about survival and more about reinvention. As Meta restructures itself around AI from autonomous coding agents to advanced machine learning systems, the question is no longer whether the company will change, but how many roles will be left unchanged when it does.
