Network18's Diwali Utsav was a jubilant affair, transforming the office into a festive hub pulsating with joy and energy. The celebrations included the ‘Diwali favourite’ Tambola, Rangoli competition and much more. Encapsulating the essence of togetherness, creativity, and unity, the celebration showcased the importance of traditions while fostering camaraderie within the Network18 family. 

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Glimpses of vibrant Diwali celebration at Network18

The celebrations included the ‘Diwali favourite’ Tambola, Rangoli competition and much more.

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Representational image via Unsplash

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Meta said there’s been no major drawbacks to openly sharing its AI technology, even as many peers take the opposite approach, as per a Bloomberg report. 

Over the past few months, Meta has been releasing open-source versions of its large language models — the technology behind AI chatbots like ChatGPT. The idea is to keep those models free and then gain an advantage by building products and services on top of them, executives said at an event for the company’s AI research Lab FAIR.

“There is really no commercial downside to also making it available to other people,” said Yann LeCun, Meta’s chief AI scientist.

Meta has joined most of the world’s biggest technology companies in embracing generative AI, which can create text, images and even video based on simple prompts. But they aren’t taking the same path. Many of the top AI developers, including OpenAI and Google’s DeepMind, don’t currently open-source their large language models, the rpeort further added. 

Companies are often fearful of opening up their work because competitors could steal it, said Mike Schroepfer, Meta’s senior fellow and former chief technology officer. “I feel like we’re approaching this world where everyone is closing down as it becomes competitively important,” he said.

But staying open has its advantages. Meta can rely on thousands of developers across the world to help enhance its AI models. That means the technology could potentially improve at a faster rate than if the company was only using its own researchers.

“If you do this in secret, you fall behind,” LeCun said.

Over the summer, Meta released commercial versions of Llama 2 and Code Llama — AI technology that rivals OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft Corp.’s GitHub Copilot. By providing free access to its large language models, which require massive amounts of computing power, Meta is allowing smaller companies and developers to build AI tools.

Meta does plan to charge some big companies, such as Microsoft, Amazon.com Inc. or Alphabet Inc.’s Google, for using its large language models, Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckeberg told investors earlier this year. “I don’t think that that’s going to be a large amount of revenue in the near term, but over the long term, hopefully that can be something,” he said.

Meta’s FAIR team, short for Facebook Artificial Intelligence Research, was started a decade ago and now has more than 400 researchers spread across North America and Europe. Recently, the team has been focusing more on finding product applications for its research. In January, Meta created a new AI product group focused solely on infusing generative AI technologies into its products.

Meta says there’s been no major drawbacks to openly sharing its AI technology

Online food ordering and delivery platform Swiggy, has finished its media pitch. According to highly placed sources, the company has retained its long-term media agency partner Havas Media Group India. The agency has Swiggy's business since 2016. The value of the account stands around Rs 200 crore, informed insiders. Over 10 agencies had participated in the pitch process which was initiated in August. 

In the last few months, the company saw some high-profile exits. Recently, Anuj Rathi, the senior vice president (SVP) of revenue and growth of the company quit after a stint of more than seven years at the food-delivery startup. Rathi was in charge of product, marketing, growth, financial services, and partnership at Swiggy. Ashish Lingamneni, vice president (VP), head, brand and product marketing, and Nishad Kenkre, VP, head, revenue and growth, Instamart, also left the company in May 2023.

According to media reports, Swiggy, the Softbank-backed food delivery company, is eyeing a 2024 stock market listing and has initiated talks with bankers to assess its valuation. In May 2023, Swiggy announced that its core food delivery business had turned profitable, nine years after starting operations, even as its newer grocery delivery service, Instamart, continues to make losses.

As the much-anticipated conclusion of the Zee-Sony merger approaches next week, the pivotal question remains: will the initially proposed leadership arrangement be upheld during the deal's finalisation?


There's growing speculation among stakeholders about the possibility of a reversal of the initial leadership structure. Per the initial agreement, Punit Goenka, MD and CEO of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL), was slated to assume the role of MD and CEO in the merged venture. SPNI (Sony Pictures Networks India) was intended to hold 50.86 percent of the company, Zee's promoters would have 3.99 percent, and the remaining 45.15 percent was to be allocated to public shareholders.


However, Sony Group Corp has been pushing for its own India MD and CEO, NP Singh, to become the CEO of the newly formed Zee-Sony entity due to stringent corporate governance norms in Japan and the US.


According to sources close to the development, Sony might stick to their new proposal of putting Singh at the top of the merged entity.


“If the personal understanding regarding the leadership of the merged entity is not amicably resolved, it is going to affect both the entities,” said Rajiv Sharma, media law expert and partner at Singhania & Co.


Sharma suggested a probable solution too.


“A probable solution can be reversing the initial understanding, i.e., the merged entity being headed by a representative of Zee, and Sony having a majority on the board. So, the merged entity can be headed by a representative of Sony, with Zee having majority on the board, at least till the time the probe into Goenka’s actions is concluded. Such an understanding can be approved by an amendment in the scheme of merger passed by the NCLT,” he said. 


In August this year, days after the NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal) approved the Zee-Sony merger, SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) issued an order preventing Goenka and his father Subhash Chandra from assuming any significant management roles in Zee companies or the newly-merged entity.


The investigation in the matter would be completed within an eight month period, the regulatory body had said in its order.


The order not only addressed the regulatory concerns but also acknowledged the NCLT’s approval of the Zee-Sony merger on August 10. According to the order, it would be appropriate that Goenka is not part of the management of ZEEL or any of its corporate avatars.



This was followed by the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) expressing dissatisfaction with SEBI’s order. Justice Tarun Agarwala, leading the bench, said they found the challenged order disagreeable and that eight months to come to a conclusion is too long.


According to him, the matter could go on indefinitely because there is public interest involved and the merger in question is approved by shareholders.


On October 30, SAT overturned SEBI's decision prohibiting Goenka from holding any managerial position in listed companies for a year.


But the fight for the top job in the merged entity puts a question mark on not just the merger details, but also corporate governance.


“The board of directors plays an important role in any organisation. With Goenka’s  position hanging by a thread, the question between the two sides seems to be who will lead the merged entity and what will be the composition of its board.  This may be a challenge  given the regulatory probe into allegations of related party transactions and financial fraud,” said Shashank Agarwal, advocate, Delhi High Court.

According to him, the board must be composed per SEBI directives, consisting of a sufficient number of independent directors who adopt a professional approach while taking critical decisions.


Flipkart has launched a series of new ad films as part of the second phase of its ‘Kuch Khaas Kamao’ campaign for sellers on its marketplace. The first phase of the campaign revolved around the benefits that extend beyond financial gains for sellers choosing to partner with Flipkart. The films in the second phase showcase how Flipkart brings together reliability, quick service, accessibility, and trust for its customers on a single platform. It highlights how sellers can effectively leverage the Flipkart Seller Hub to not only grow their businesses but also celebrate the power of human connections and be a part of the customer’s journey. 

The campaign revolves around the fact that every purchase by a customer is more than just a transaction for the sellers who sell it on Flipkart. Every order becomes an opportunity for the sellers to be a part of the customer’s journey while they play a crucial role in catering to their needs. Hence, the campaign revolves around the message of ‘Kuch Khaas Kamao’ conceptualized through two films which emphasizes on the significance of earning trust and building connections while sellers cater to the needs of the customers.  

Ad Film 1: The film unfolds in a glassware/home décor store, capturing the essence of customer-seller interaction. As a customer accidentally breaks a delicate glass vase, the seller reacts with a sympathetic nod. Simultaneously, the seller is shown holding a similar glass vase on the right frame of the screen who seamlessly provides a replacement, symbolizing the reliability and understanding of Flipkart’s sellers. The scene transitions to Flipkart's app order-tracking interface and concludes with a Flipkart delivery partner collecting packages from a seller, underscoring the connection built between sellers and millions of customers nationwide.

Ad Film 2: The second film revolves around an idli maker, where the right frame of the screen unfolds a well-stocked kitchenware store with a seller sitting amidst neatly stacked utensils. Meanwhile, on the other side of the screen, a young college student is shown sitting in his college canteen surrounded by an unappetizing plate of idlis. His discontent is visible as he tries to cut through the stiff idlis. In the moment he accidentally flings an idli, narrowly missing the attentive seller on the other side. Seizing the opportunity, the seller swiftly offers a brand-new idli maker, bringing relief and joy to the student. The exchange underscores the reliable connection built between sellers and customers in such moments of need.

Rakesh Krishnan, vice president and head of marketplace at Flipkart, said, "As a homegrown e-commerce marketplace, we are committed to fostering an environment where the sellers can get an opportunity to make their offerings accessible to customers across the country. Empowering sellers is at the heart of our 'Kuch Khaas Kamao' campaign. By leveraging Flipkart Seller Hub, our 1.4 million sellers unlock vast business opportunities and build enduring customer trust. It's a journey where reliability meets success, creating a win-win for sellers and customers."


Flipkart releases new set of ad films under its ‘Kuch Khaas Kamao’ campaign

The threat of deepfakes has recently become more apparent when deepfakes of celebrities such as Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif, Kajol and more went viral. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently expressed his concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence to create these deepfakes and urged the media to spread awareness about the problem.

In an interview, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics & Information Technology, spoke to Moneycontrol conveying his concerns about the potential risks that artificial intelligence, particularly deepfakes present to India’s democracy and society. 

Vaishnaw stated that the Government is “open to every possible solution” because deepfakes pose as a big threat to democracy and social institutions. In a meeting held last week, chaired by Vaishnaw, a deadline was given to big tech firms to take down this content within days or risk losing their safe harbour provisions. Vaishnaw mentioned that all platforms were responding in a responsible manner. 

“They are fully willing to cooperate, and we have had two rounds of meetings with them. The next meeting is scheduled for the first week of December. During that time, we will discuss the steps the platforms are willing to take on their own,” said Vaishnaw in an interview with Moneycontrol. 

He added that the Govt will consider if a new set of rules and regulations is necessary or if adjustments to the current regulations can provide a useful solution. The best course of action will be decided along with the tech platforms. 

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/new-rules-on-deepfakes-would-not-only-regulate-the-offender-but-also-intermediaries-experts-17914.htm">Read more: New rules on deepfakes would not only regulate the offender but also intermediaries: Experts</a>

Furthermore, speaking on AI regulations, Vaishnaw said that they were very successful in creating a balance between innovation and regulation in the privacy bill. However, in the case of AI, there are many threats. It is a much more complex issue when compared to privacy regulations because AI can be a major threat to humanity itself.

“Today, some of the deep fakes, and misinformation which is created using AI – all these things can actually create huge disturbances in society, our social institutions, and institutions like marriage.”

“Society must take some action, and that's where we'll have to work together, all of us, the platforms, the society, the regulators, the government – all of us will have to work together and find a solution. I think we should be able to find that solution,” he added. 


Deepfakes pose a big threat to democracy and social institutions: Ashwini Vaishnaw, IT Minister

While India has progressed considerably, there is still a gap in the country’s requirement of blood supply. As per current statistics, India requires an annual average of 14.6 million blood units, but there is a consistent shortfall of roughly one million units annually[ii]. Addressing this, global healthcare company Abbott has extended its worldwide donor recruitment campaign, ‘BETHE1,’ and launched the first-ever donor campaign song, ‘Give Blood. Get Good Vibes.’ 


This song aims to inspire Indian youth to donate blood, making blood donation a contemporary, compelling approach to build a healthier India. The vocals are by Tamojit Chatterjee, aka MC Headshot, an Indian hip-hop artist, rapper, lyricist, and stage performer.

 

Talking about this initiative, MC Headshot said, “I am proud to be a part of this campaign as it aims to help address a very real-life challenge. I hope that all the young people out there will become aware that they can make a difference. If you are healthy and able to donate, I urge you to do so and help save lives”.

 

The campaign supplements prior on-ground efforts to promote blood donation. The company had launched the campaign in major cities across India, including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Nagpur, Vizag, Guwahati, Nagpur, and Nashik, with digital and physical assets, mobile donation vans, and more. These sites record approximately 300,000 annual donations, with an encouraging rise in donations by over 20 percent this year.


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Healthcare company Abbott launches donor campaign song for its donor recruitment campaign ‘BETHE1’

Have you ever wondered what it takes to work for Apple? Recently, CEO Tim Cook said one of the major attributes for a professional to work for the tech giant was an ability to collaborate to execute any given task competently.

"Can they (employees) collaborate? Do they deeply believe that one plus one equals three?" Cook said in an episode of the BBC podcast.

Cook stated that Apple believed two employees should be capable to perform the tasks of three and explained the feeling of working with professionals who bring out the best in others as "incredible".

"The feeling of working with people who bring out the best in you is incredible; fundamentally, we all believe one plus one equals three, i.e., your idea plus my idea is better than the individual ideas on their own," Cook said.

On the hiring process, Cook said that while he considered coding an essential skill to work at the firm, it was not an absolute necessity for a professional, joining Apple.

"Even though I consider coding to be a valuable skill for everyone, we have hired individuals who lack expertise in it, or do not regularly utilise it in their daily work," he said.



Apple CEO Tim Cook on the one major quality needed to work in the tech giant

Leo Burnett India is on the lookout for a new CEO since its former chief Dheeraj Sinha moved on to join FCB Group India. The grapevine is buzzing with chatter about McCann Worldgroup India's executive director Amitesh Rao who is likely to join the Publcis Groupe-owned Leo Burnett. Rao will fill in Sinha's shoes and is expected to take charge from January, 2024, insiders tell Storyboard18.

Rao has over 25 years of experience across various roles as an adman and a marketer. He worked with agencies like RPG Enterprises, JWT, Rediffusion Y&R, and TBWA India. Rao has also founded two companies, including Nova Gaming Venture. He was instrumental in building the telecom brand MTS in India. Rao was executive director - marketing at MTS.

There's also chatter about a signigicant elevation in the leadership ranks for Rajdeepak Das who currently leads Leo Burnett India as co-CEO, in addition to holding the position of Chair, of the Publicis Groupe South Asia Creative Council. 

<strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/is-dheeraj-sinha-joining-fcb-group-exclusive-13632.htm">Is Dheeraj Sinha joining FCB Group?: Exclusive</a></strong>

Is McCann Worldgroup's Amitesh Rao joining Leo Burnett India as its new chief?: Storyboard18 Exclusive

While millions of people are still recovering from India’s loss at the recently concluded ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, Gurugam-based advertising agency Marketing Moves decided to cheer up its downcast employees. It gave its employees a day off. Some couldn’t believe it and thought it was a prank. One of the employees, Diksha Gupta, posted a heartfelt note on social media, which caught the attention of netizens.

Storyboard18 asked Riya Ahuja, vice president of operations, Marketing Moves, what made the company do this for its employees. She said that over the last couple of months, her teams have been invested in World Cup brand campaigns and in the game, day in and day out. “We realised that all of us (as cricket enthusiasts) had a bad day, and a one-day relaxation must be given to our employees in order to recover from the loss and come back to work with enthusiasm. We give so much importance to physical health, and we have policies for sick leave, but mental well-being must not be ignored.”

Ad agencies don’t really have a reputation for maintaining work-life balance. A lot of industry folks see this as a welcome change. Ahuja told us that a thoughtful strategy is required to nurture a people-oriented approach in advertising companies that have difficulty with work-life balance. Flexible work arrangements that might comfort employees with multiple responsibilities should be considered by agencies’ managers. These could be flexible schedules and work-from-home policies, among others. Also, it is important to emphasise the overall well-being of employees. Along with physical health, initiatives must be taken to promote mental health, which includes programmes like counselling or stress reduction strategies. In short, how to create a stress-free environment in a company must be an important topic of discussion, she said.

“Another important factor is a work environment with openness and communication. Employees must be able to talk about their workload and the problems they face. The management should take note of the workload of its employees, the discomforting culture, significant policies, and changes necessary in the existing policy and show that it cares for them by responding,” she suggests.

Marketing Moves has worked on campaigns for brands like Tata Motors, Emami, Airtel, and TVF, among others.


This advertising agency is serious about taking care of its people. Here’s how

Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw announced achievement in the mobile industry on X (Twitter)>

He shared that the Indian mobile industry has experienced exponential growth, expanding 20 times in just nine years.

Vaishnaw posted on X, "Met Mobile industry to review progress. Industry has grown 20 times in 9 years. 2014: 78 per cent import dependent 2023: 99.2 per cent of all mobiles sold in India are 'Made in India'".

Addressing the industry's trajectory, Vaishnaw highlighted a significant shift in import dependency. In 2014, a staggering 78 per cent of the mobile market relied on imports.


In 2023, 99.2 per cent of all mobiles sold in India are now stamped as 'Made in India.'

The minister met with key stakeholders and leaders in the mobile industry to conduct a comprehensive review of the progress made.

The meeting served as a platform to acknowledge the industry's achievements, discuss emerging challenges, and explore strategies for sustained growth. 

The growth of the mobile sector has strengthened the domestic manufacturing ecosystem and reduced India's dependence on foreign imports. Earlier Google had announced that it would start manufacturing its phones in India. Google follows an illustrious list of global smartphone brands, from Samsung to Apple, to kick-start assembling its marquee phones in the country.





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Glimpses of vibrant Diwali celebration at Network18

The celebrations included the ‘Diwali favourite’ Tambola, Rangoli competition and much more.

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