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Vidhu Aul joins Responsible AI UK as partnerships manager
MUMBAI: Vidhu Aul has been appointed partnerships manager at Responsible AI UK, where she will contribute to advancing ethical AI development, evaluation, and governance through strategic research-led initiatives.
Aul brings over 15 years of diverse experience spanning communications, partnerships, community outreach, content creation, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement. Her impressive career journey includes roles at leading organisations such as Watatawa, NVPC, Edelman, BBC, and Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. (The Times of India).
During her five-year tenure at the BBC, she played a pivotal role in driving media partnerships and outreach initiatives for the dynamic South Asian market. She also led a global presenter publicity and brand positioning project during a secondment to BBC’s London headquarters, enhancing the broadcaster’s visibility in India.
Aul’s independent consulting work further includes collaborations with Ogilvy Singapore, United Way Mumbai, CNN Create, and FSG. Her contributions extend to volunteer work with Futerra, UN Women Singapore, and the Singapore Tourism Board.
Beyond communications, Aul has explored the transformative potential of AI for small and medium enterprises, focusing on enhancing product development and profitability. Her passion for digital innovation aligns with her recent certification in applied generative AI for digital transformation from MIT and SEO/SEM strategies from the London Business School.
A passionate traveller, Aul has authored travel features for CNN, The Straits Times, Conde Nast Traveler, India Today, and other prestigious publications across Asia.
Aul holds a double major in psychology and anthropology from St Xavier’s College, Mumbai, along with a postgraduate diploma in social communication media. She is currently pursuing a part-time master’s degree in digital culture and society at King’s College London, set to conclude in 2026.
Her appointment at Responsible AI UK marks a significant step as the organisation strengthens its mission to harness AI for ethical and responsible solutions.
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
