Latest news with #ChatGPT-style
NDTV
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"Just Bengaluru Things": Saree Shop Displays ChatGPT-Style Ad Ahead Of Varamahalakshmi Festival
A Bengaluru saree store has gone viral on social media with its innovative ad design that mimics a ChatGPT-style AI chatbot prompt. The display, spotted in-store, asks "Why is Varamahalakshmi festival celebrated?" and has been hailed for its unique way of engaging with customers. The screenshot serves as a clever promotional strategy for the saree store ahead of Varamahalakshmi festival, a significant occasion in South India where married women worship Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity, fertility, and harmony. According to the interface, the festival is celebrated on the second Friday of the Shravan month. "Local saree shop in Bangalore using ChatGPT mobile interface for an ad is a first. Earlier, it would be the Google search bar design. Just Bangalore things, I guess," wrote an X user, sharing the image. See the post here: Local saree shop in Bangalore using ChatGPT mobile interface for an ad is a first. Earlier it would be the Google search bar design. Just Bangalore things I guess. — Osborne Saldanha (@os7borne) August 5, 2025 The ad's photo went viral on X with many praising it as a fresh take on digital marketing. One user wrote, "Love how Bangalore keeps blending tech with everyday life! A saree shop using ChatGPT for an ad is next-level—used to be just Google search bars. Would probably say markets adapt fast to new tech. Just Bangalore being Bangalore." Another commented, "Haha evolution starts happening in Bangalore first." Varamahalakshmi festival, also known as Varalakshmi Vratam, is a significant Hindu festival celebrated in South India, particularly in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. It's observed on the Friday before the full moon day in the month of Shravana. This ad adds to Bengaluru's quirky tech moments, like the viral photo of an auto driver watching a Naval Ravikant podcast while driving. The pic showed the podcast being played on a small monitor screen that the driver had seemingly fixed just above the windshield.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Apple Quietly Builds ChatGPT Rival with 'Answer Engine' for iPhone Users
Apple is stepping deeper into the AI landscape with a major move to develop its own ChatGPT-style bot, designed to power iPhone support and expand its intelligence offerings. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the company has assembled a new internal group called the 'Answers, Knowledge and Information' team—AKI for short—tasked with creating an "answer engine" capable of scanning the internet and responding to general-knowledge questions. While tech rivals like OpenAI and Google have surged ahead in the generative AI space, Apple has taken a slower, more calculated approach. Until now, the company had avoided launching a standalone chatbot, instead opting for a partnership with OpenAI to embed ChatGPT into Siri. But this latest development marks a significant pivot. With AKI, Apple is no longer sitting on the sidelines—it's preparing to redefine how users interact with AI on its devices. The AKI team is led by senior director Robby Walker and reports directly to Apple's AI chief, John Giannandrea. It is exploring not only a potential new app but also the backend infrastructure that would supercharge existing Apple services like Siri, Spotlight, and Safari. To support this transformation, Apple has ramped up hiring of engineers experienced in search technologies—suggesting ambitions far beyond simple AI enhancements. CEO Tim Cook's commitment to AI is now front and center. In a rare all-hands meeting last week, he told Apple employees, 'We must do this,' highlighting the scale of the AI revolution. Cook likened the current AI wave to historical tech shifts like the birth of the internet, smartphones, and cloud computing. 'There was a PC before the Mac. There was a smartphone before the iPhone. This is how I feel about AI,' he said, signaling Apple's intent to disrupt yet another market. Initially, Apple considered a hybrid architecture that combined Siri's existing functionality with large language models (LLMs), but this approach didn't meet internal expectations. Apple's software head Craig Federighi acknowledged that it 'wasn't going to get us to Apple quality.' As a result, the company is now rebuilding Siri from the ground up. The overhaul is being led by Mike Rockwell—the engineering mind behind the Vision Pro headset—with a revamped Siri reportedly planned for release in spring 2026. Apple also faces mounting pressure on multiple fronts. The company's $20 billion agreement with Google to make it the default search engine on iPhones is under antitrust scrutiny. Moreover, Apple Intelligence—its new suite of AI tools—still lacks the conversational capabilities seen in platforms like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. Developing an in-house answer engine offers Apple not only technical control but also strategic independence. Whether it debuts as a standalone tool or quietly integrates into Siri and Safari, this initiative reflects Apple's decision to stop relying on external players for AI innovation. With the formation of the AKI team and a fresh AI-first mindset, Apple seems ready to define the next chapter in consumer AI—on its own terms.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Why Is Varalakshmi Vratham celebrated? Bengaluru saree shop's ChatGPT-style ad has the answer
In a city where tradition and tech go hand in hand, a local saree shop in Bengaluru has turned heads with a quirky ad that's both rooted in culture and refreshingly modern. As Varalakshmi Vratham approaches on August 8 — a time when saree shopping hits a festive high across South India — this store's ad has struck a chord online, blending AI aesthetics with age-old celebrations in the most Bengaluru way possible. The now-viral image, posted on X (formerly Twitter), shows a mobile screen mock-up that mimics a ChatGPT interface, complete with a prompt asking, 'Why is Varalakshmi Vratham festival celebrated?' It's a clever twist on traditional advertising, turning what could have been a regular promo into a conversation starter. One user who shared the image noted that it was the first time they'd seen a local saree shop in Bangalore use a ChatGPT-style mobile interface for an ad. They added that earlier, such ads usually mimicked the Google search bar design — calling it a classic example of "just Bangalore things." Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program — os7borne (@os7borne) The internet loved the innovation — and also appreciated the shop's clever selling tactics. One user highlighted some of the standout features, like a Book Now, Pay Later (BNPL) option, and a scheme where customers who pay for 11 months get an extra month's worth of credit to buy a saree. From creative copy to clever fintech-style incentives, the shop's marketing has all the ingredients of a viral hit — and it's a perfect example of how local businesses are keeping up with the times, without losing sight of what matters most: the festival, the saree, and the sentiment. Why is Varalakshmi Vratham celebrated? Varalakshmi Vratham, celebrated this year on August 8, 2025 (the second Friday of Shravan month), is a special day for South Indian women to fast, pray, and seek blessings from Goddess Lakshmi for the well-being of their families. The day starts with an early bath, cleaning the home, and setting up a decorated kalasha —a pot filled with rice, topped with mango leaves and coconut, and adorned with turmeric, kumkum, flowers, jewellery, and a saree. Women gather with neighbours and friends to chant prayers, perform aarathi , tie sacred yellow threads, and exchange kumkum , sweets, and gifts. It's a day of devotion, celebration, and community bonding. Spiritually, it's believed to bring blessings like prosperity, food, strength, and a long life for one's husband and loved ones.
India Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Bengaluru saree shop's ChatGPT-inspired ad goes viral
A saree store in Bengaluru has found a new way to grab attention by borrowing a bit of AI a city where tech meets tradition daily, the saree shop has decided to speak the language of its people, literally. The store used a ChatGPT-style prompt on its display board, asking, 'Why is Varamahalakshmi festival celebrated?' - a question many may already be typing into search bars as the festival draws near on August timing couldn't have been better. Saree shopping tends to hit its peak during this festive period across South India, and the shop cleverly positioned itself in both cultural and digital conversations. The design ditched the now-overdone Google search layout in favour of something more current and instantly recognisable to the users online. Sharing a picture of the shop, a user on X said, 'Local saree shop in Bangalore using ChatGPT mobile interface for an ad is a first. Earlier it would be the Google search bar design. Just Bangalore things, I guess.'Take a look at the post here: The post went viral as several users praised the creativity and context of the ad. While some found it amusing, others saw it as a smart reflection of the city's growing digital-first mindset.- EndsMust Watch
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Tumakuru ICCC launches ‘pick my garbage' initiative: QR code-based service offers garbage collection on demand
In a bold step to streamline urban waste management, the Tumakuru City Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) has unveiled 'Pick My Garbage,' a digital initiative that allows residents to schedule garbage pickup at their preferred times using a QR code, marking a first for the city's municipal services. While it has garnered online praise, concerns about potential misuse and pressure on sanitation workers have also been raised. (HT File Photo/For representation) ALSO READ | 'Yawning DCM, sleeping CM': BJP attacks Karnataka govt over DK Shivakumar's 'yawn' moment Announced Monday on the social media platform X, 'Pick My Garbage' immediately generated significant public interest, accumulating 11,500 views at the time this article was being written. The program is currently being piloted in wards 1 and 2 of Tumkur city, with the ICCC inviting residents in these areas to scan a QR code, request pickup, and benefit from door-to-door garbage collection at a time that suits their household – all free of charge during this trial phase. ALSO READ | Bengaluru man's ' ₹415 for 6 km' rant goes viral: 'Is Wednesday the day to avoid work from office?' ""Pick my garbage" is live now. You can use the QR Code to request for picking garbage at your time. Presently in pilot at ward no 1 and 2 of Tumkur City," the Tumakuru ICCC said on X. The move drew widespread support online, with residents lauding the program as a 'great' initiative that brings much-needed flexibility to civic services. Several social media users asked for the same service in Bengaluru, writing, 'Why can't the BBMP do this in Bengaluru?' However, some expressed concerns that the on-demand service might encourage people to dispose of garbage at their convenience, but will potentially lead to inefficiencies because of extra pressure on sanitation workers. ALSO READ | Bengaluru saree shop's ChatGPT-style display ad goes viral, fascinates the internet ICCC officials are likely to gather feedback, measure operational capacity and identify any potential bottlenecks during the pilot phase in wards 1 and 2 before considering an expansion to other parts of Tumkur city.
