iWorld
Swastik Productions unveils AI-generated devotional song video ‘Achyutam Keshavam’
Mumbai: Swastik Productions, renowned for its mythological and spiritual television productions has announced the launch of its first devotional song, ‘Achyutam Keshavam,’ sung by Harshit Saxena. Released on Swastik’s YouTube channel, which has around 4.62 million subscribers, the song celebrates the auspicious occasion of Krishna Janmashtami.
Through a diverse array of content, including stories, music, on-ground events, and docu-based storytelling focused on ancient wisdom and spiritual experiences, Swastik Productions is set to redefine the spiritual landscape. In line with its commitment to bringing together the entire spectrum of spiritual content under one roof, Swastik Productions will harness the full potential of its extensive social media presence, engaging with our extended online family across platforms like YouTube, Facebook, X and Instagram. This initiative is designed to cater to two distinct audience segments: a dedicated base of viewers focused on devotional content and a new generation eager to explore and understand India’s spiritual heritage.
“Our goal is to step into a transformative world where authentic stories and melodies breathe life into AI Crafted Characters, and emotion drive the narrative. With this we strive to capture the true essence of spirituality for New India and our Global Family” said Swastik Productions founder and chief creative Siddharth Kumar Tewary. “With our expertise, we will guide our audiences towards the profound teachings and divinity of ancient Indian history. As we harness new technology to touch hearts inspire a wider community and tell the stories of our past to our new tomorrows. All while keeping the human element and relevance of our stories at the core of our telling.”
“One of the first offerings in this new chapter is the release of the devotional bhajan “Achyutam Keshavam” on our YouTube channel, Swastik Productions, paired with cutting-edge AI visuals, this presentation promises to elevate the spiritual experience as it beckons the future of storytelling. Swastik is known not just for telling poignant stories seeped into Indian history and culture but also for constantly innovating and experimenting with cutting-edge VFX. And the video launch of this song is the first step in this direction.”
The song produced under the banner Swastik will also be available on all major audio platforms. The brand aims to build a closer relationship with its audience by robustly using social media and creating interactive and immersive spiritual direct-to-consumer experiences.
This initiative underscores Swastik Productions’ commitment to preserving and promoting spiritual content, while also making it accessible and relevant to today’s generation. By offering a platform that spans the entire spectrum of spirituality, Swastik Productions is set to become the go-to destination for those seeking spiritual content that is both educational and engaging.
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.
