iWorld
BIG FM’s ‘BIG Indiagram 3.0’ celebrates India’s heritage with virtual Jhankis this Republic Day
Mumbai: Every year on 26 January, India comes together to celebrate its unwavering commitment to democracy and the establishment of citizens’ rights. Marking 75 years of our constitution coming into effect, BIG FM, one of the country’s leading radio networks, has introduced ‘BIG Indiagram 3.0’ – an innovative initiative showcasing the creation of virtual Jhankis of India’. This Republic Day, the campaign’s core thought is to use artificial intelligence (AI) to connect with the audience and promote the idea of cultural unity. Through this initiative, BIG FM invites people nationwide to express their creativity and love for the country using modern technology, highlighting its fast-paced advancements.
BIG Indiagram 3.0 also highlights the significance of #MeraWalaBharat, promoting the idea ‘One India My India’ evoking a primary goal to foster deeper connections with the country’s royal heritage. With its creative concept, users can now upload personal photos on the official website – https://indiagram.bigfmindia.com/ – utilising AI algorithms to dynamically generate collages that seamlessly integrate their images with selected pride points. Making the campaign more interactive, users can also participate in quizzes and appreciate each other’s Jhankis by casting their votes and ranking them.
Commenting on the initiative, BIG FM COO Sunil Kumaran said, “As we connect with audiences nationwide through our distinctive BIG Indiagram 3.0 initiative, we aim to amplify cultural narratives, instilling pride and celebrating the multitude of expressions that collectively make our country incredible. In this digital age, it is important to use technology to bridge traditions with innovations and we stand firm in our commitment to ensuring that the heartbeat of India’s diverse heritage resonates strongly for generations to come.”
BIG FM will felicitate five winners who have represented different regions and showcased their creative visions as full-scale Jhankis. Taking the excitement a notch higher, winners will be announced at the Northern Command – Indian Army headquarters in Delhi. Furthermore, an exhibition will also be displayed with montage pictures of all the Jhankis from participants across the country as a token of appreciation.
So, this Republic Day, bring your artistic flair to life!
iWorld
Snapchat parent Snap cuts 16 per cent of workforce in AI-driven restructuring
The Snapchat parent is axing around 1,000 jobs and closing 300 open roles to save $500m, as artificial intelligence makes smaller teams the new normal
CALIFORNIA: Snap is snapping. The Snapchat parent has confirmed plans to cut around 1,000 employees, roughly 16 per cent of its full-time workforce, as it bets that artificial intelligence can do what headcount once required. Shares jumped more than 10 per cent in premarket trading on the news, a brisk vote of confidence from a market that has watched the stock shed about 31 per cent this year.
The restructuring, which also closes more than 300 open roles, follows pressure from activist investor Irenic Capital Management, which holds an economic interest of about 2.5 per cent in the company and has been loudly pushing Snap to tighten its portfolio and lift performance. The firm got what it asked for, and then some.
Chief executive Evan Spiegel told employees the cuts would reduce annualised expenses by more than $500m by the second half of the year. The company expects to incur charges of between $95m and $130m related to the layoffs, mostly severance, with the bulk landing in the second quarter. Staff in Snap’s North America team were asked to work from home on the day of the announcement.
The financial backdrop is not without bright spots. Snap expects first-quarter revenue to rise around 12 per cent to approximately $1.53 billion, broadly in line with analyst estimates. Adjusted core profit for the January to March quarter is forecast at about $233m, comfortably ahead of Wall Street’s expectation of $186.8m.
The harder question surrounds Specs, Snap’s augmented reality smart glasses subsidiary, which Irenic has urged the company to spin off or shut down entirely. The unit has absorbed more than $3.5 billion in investment and burns through approximately $500m in cash annually. Snap is pressing ahead regardless, with a consumer product expected later this year, even as Meta leads the market in the segment.
Spiegel is betting that leaner teams, smarter machines and a consumer AR play can restore Snap’s credibility with investors who have run out of patience. The redundancy notices have gone out. The harder restructuring, the one that requires a hit product rather than a headcount reduction, is still very much pending.
