iWorld
ZEE5 ropes in Tata Elxsi for front-end development
MUMBAI: ZEE5, the new OTT platform by Zee Entertainment Enterprises, has partnered with Tata Elxsi for its front-end application development. Tata Elxsi has driven the integration of ZEE5 with the video backend, multi-lingual front-end user experience and multi-CDN networks.
Zee International and Z5 Global CEO Amit Goenka said, “With language as its central proposition, ZEE5 is a digital entertainment platform for every Indian, irrespective of what language they speak and how tech savvy they are. Considering this varied user base, we have used superbly sophisticated technology to make the platform extremely easy to use, with features like display language and content-language selection, voice search and download to watch offline. Tata Elxsi brings in great technical expertise and domain knowledge, and has been a key partner for us in enabling a great user experience on ZEE5.”
At the device level, the Tata Elxsi teams have powered the next generation voice-based user interfaces and integration with multiple DRMs on Android, iOS, Web as well as Android TVs.
Tata Elxsi VP and head – broadcast business unit K P Sreekumar said, “We congratulate ZEE Entertainment on the successful launch of ZEE5. This next generation platform is a key milestone for the industry. With its unique multi-lingual, multi-screen offering, ZEE5 sets a new bar as far as personalised viewer experience is concerned, with its 11 display language options, 12 content language options, download and watch offline and voice search features.”
The app offers the originals, Indian and international movies and TV shows, music, live TV, and health and lifestyle content across 12 languages.
iWorld
Schmooze launches AI matchmaker Riya to personalise dating
300,000 users try feature as retention doubles on Gen Z dating app.
MUMBAI: Love might be blind, but now it’s also algorithmically curated and apparently quite chatty. Schmooze has introduced an AI-powered personal matchmaker named Riya, marking its latest push to move beyond swipe-led dating into deeper, personality-driven matchmaking. Unlike traditional matching systems, Riya interacts directly with users through conversations asking about everything from lifestyle and humour to relationship goals and family values. The idea is simple but ambitious: understand users beyond surface-level preferences and recommend matches that actually fit.
The feature builds on a pattern Schmooze had already observed. Its earlier AI tool, People Finder, allowed users to describe their ideal partner in detail and users did exactly that. Requests ranged from “an extrovert who works in tech and likes to cook” to hyper-specific traits, signalling a clear shift towards intent-driven dating.
That insight exposed a gap. While dating apps typically rely on probability-based algorithms, many users already know what they want they just lack a system that can interpret it meaningfully.
Riya attempts to fill that gap using a conversational approach. Instead of rigid inputs, it gathers signals organically sometimes through casual questions about weekend plans or social habits while mapping deeper compatibility markers in the background.
To support this, Schmooze has built its own end-to-end voice AI stack and large language model, rather than relying on third-party systems. The move is aimed at keeping costs in check while handling scale, and ensuring tighter control over user data and privacy.
The early numbers suggest traction. More than 300,000 users have already interacted with Riya, with those users showing 2× higher retention compared to others on the platform. While the system is designed for short interactions, some users are spending up to 40–50 minutes in conversation occasionally even asking for date ideas, prompting the company to add personalised recommendations.
The launch is the latest step in Schmooze’s broader attempt to rethink dating for Gen Z. Founded by Vidya Madhavan and Abhinav Anurag, the platform initially stood out by using memes as a proxy for personality tracking over 3.5 billion meme swipes across its base of more than 5 million users.
In a market dominated by global players like Tinder, Bumble and Hinge, Schmooze’s approach signals a shift from visual-first discovery to interaction-led compatibility. And with AI now stepping in as a digital wingman, the dating game may be moving from swipe right to speak right.
