iWorld
Cartoon Network launches new app CN Watch & Play
MUMBAI: Cartoon Network, an entertainment destination for kids now makes playtime bigger and more fun with its newest offering –Cartoon Network Watch and Play, the mobile app which has organically built a loyal following during the testing phase engages fans with iconic and classic cartoon characters through a blend of short-form and micro-content along with exciting games.
The app is a safe virtual environment for kids which restricts exposure to inappropriate content and has a child-friendly user interface. This assures parents that watching cartoons and playing games on CN Watch and Play mobile app is absolutely secure.
Turner India South Asia MD Siddharth Jain said, “Cartoon Network has always been the ultimate destination for unmatched animated fun and entertainment for kids. It is a brand that continues to evolve dynamically, reflecting preferences of contemporary fans. True to our fan-first strategy, CN Watch & Play is the next natural step. It’s an all-new way for kids to explore the dynamic worlds of their favorite cartoon characters through a terrific mix of content in different formats from video to fun games. Each fan is unique, and that shows in the app’s personalized and immersive experience. We are thrilled to bring this app to our ardent fans!”
The app includes watching own custom mix by selecting favorite shows and by building a personalised video mix. It also involves playing games and shows like Roll No. 21, Ben 10, The Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Adventure Time and many more, available in both English and Hindi, for free.
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.
