iWorld
Apple TV Plus unveils release dates for originals
MUMBAI: Upping the ante in streaming and content services, Apple TV plus announced the premiere dates of its Originals including Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories, which is a sci-fi anthology that is scheduled to be released on 6 March 2020, Variety said in its report.
The premium smartphone maker last year in November had rolled-out the streaming service in India at Rs 99 per month. It has planned programming of original shows and movies with prominent Hollywood/foreign filmmakers to create content.
Variety quoting Apple TV Plus’ head of development Matt Cherniss said: “Amazing Stories is a beloved show that has captured our imaginations, and we couldn’t be more excited to share its next thrilling iteration with a global audience of all ages on Apple TV Plus.”
Amazing Stories is a reimagining of the original series that was first telecasted in 1980. It’s produced by Universal Television and Amblin Television, along with Spielberg, Kitsis, Frank and among others as executive producer of the show.
Meanwhile, another series ‘Defending Jacob’ starring Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery will be released on April 24. It’s a fictional crime thriller plot based in the small town of Massachusetts. Similarly, another series Home Before Dark, a story about child journalists to premiere on April 3.
Apple last year in March unveiled its plan to come up with the streaming and content service to take on the two over-the-top giants, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. This series can be viewed on the recently purchased Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, Mac, and iPod free for one year.
In the non-fictional category, documentary series ‘Home’ that focuses on the world’s most innovative will be released on April 17. Apple TV plus to also broadcast a series from United Kingdom called Trying on May 1. The show is all about growing up settling down and finding someone to love.
iWorld
Meta launches AI connectors for ads in open beta
Tools enable campaign creation, reporting and insights via AI platforms.
MUMBAI: If ads were once about gut feel, Meta now wants them run on autopilot with AI riding shotgun. The company has unveiled its Meta ads AI connectors in open beta, a move aimed at embedding campaign creation, management and analysis directly into the AI tools advertisers already use. The push reflects a broader shift in digital advertising: from platform-led workflows to AI-assisted, cross-tool execution.
At the heart of the rollout are Meta’s ads model context protocol (MCP) server and a command line interface (CLI), which together allow advertisers to securely link their ad accounts to AI agents. The promise is straightforward real campaign data, not generic prompts, powering decisions across workflows.
The connectors are designed to streamline multiple layers of campaign management. Advertisers can generate detailed performance reports, create and edit campaigns using natural language, manage product catalogues, and diagnose signal quality, all without leaving their preferred AI environment.
Meta is also leaning into ease of adoption. For MCP, the company says setup requires no coding, developer credentials or API integrations, positioning the tools as accessible for businesses of varying sizes and technical maturity.
The launch complements Meta’s existing AI business assistant within Ads Manager, which focuses on recommendations and troubleshooting inside the platform. The connectors, by contrast, extend that intelligence outward into third-party AI tools that marketers increasingly rely on for cross-channel planning and automation.
The underlying strategy is clear: instead of forcing advertisers deeper into its ecosystem, Meta is meeting them where they already work while still keeping its data and ad infrastructure at the core of decision-making.
As AI continues to reshape how campaigns are conceived and executed, Meta’s latest move signals a future where managing ads may feel less like operating software and more like having a conversation.
