Latest news with #MSL
NDTV
3 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
From OpenAI To Meta: All You Need To Know About Chief Scientist Shengjia Zhao
Shengjia Zhao, a former OpenAI researcher, has been appointed chief scientist of Meta 's newly launched Superintelligence Lab, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced last Friday. Mr Zhao, co-creator of ChatGPT and GPT-4, will work directly with Mr Zuckerberg and Meta's Chief AI Officer, Alexandr Wang, to steer the lab's scientific direction. He is also a co-founder of the lab, which aims to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) and improve Meta's Llama models. Mark Zuckerberg said Meta was committed to building "full general intelligence" and releasing its research as open source. Who Is Shengjia Zhao? Shengjia Zhao earned his Bachelor's degree from Tsinghua University in 2016, as per his LinkedIn profile. He completed a semester exchange in Computer Science at Rice University and then pursued a PhD in Computer Science at Stanford University. Following his PhD, Mr Zhao joined OpenAI in June 2022 as a Member of Technical Staff, where he worked for over three years until July this year. During this time, he co-created ChatGPT, GPT-4, and several OpenAI mini models, including GPT-4.1 and o3. He has now been appointed as the Chief Scientist of Meta's Superintelligence Lab. Mr Zhao has received several prestigious awards. In 2015, he was awarded the Google Excellence Scholarship. Four years later, he received the Qualcomm Innovation Fellowship (QinF) for his contributions to research in AI while at Stanford. The same year, Mr Zhao was named a JP Morgan PhD Fellow. In October 2022, he was honoured with the ICLR 2022 Outstanding Paper Award, one of the top recognitions in the machine learning research community. Mr Zhao currently lives in San Francisco, California. He is fluent in English and Mandarin. Meta's Superintelligence Lab The Meta Superintelligence Lab (MSL) was launched by Meta to drive progress on its Llama models and pursue its broader goal of developing artificial general intelligence (AGI). According to Mark Zuckerberg, Shengjia Zhao is a co-founder of the lab. While Meta's original AI research is led by Yann LeCun under the FAIR division, MSL operates independently. Meta has poured billions into hiring top talent from rivals, including Google, OpenAI, Apple, and Anthropic. The company also acquired Scale AI for $14 billion, bringing its CEO, Alexandr Wang, on board as Meta's Chief AI Officer. Mr Zuckerberg has committed to investing hundreds of billions more in building vast AI data centres across the US.
Campaign ME
6 days ago
- Business
- Campaign ME
The price of influence: Why bartering needs a rebrand in the GCC
I sat across from two female powerhouses in the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) influencer marketing field, and one thing was clear – brands need to stop thinking of bartering as a budget hack and start treating influencers like true partners. Shifting influence With Saudi Arabia's average age at just 29 and more than 60 per cent of the Arab region's population under 30, the Gulf is a vibrant playground for youth-driven, creator-led content. GCC consumers crave content that resonates with their values, their families and their aspirations, not globalised campaigns that miss the mark. Currently, we're witnessing a seismic shift in marketing budgets – 76.5 per cent of CMOs are actively reallocating funds from traditional and other digital channels towards influencer marketing. This isn't a momentary fling; it's a transformation. #HardFacts Bartering in influencer marketing In a region where social media doesn't just thrive – it dominates – barter arrangements remain surprisingly common. According to a 2024 report from Influencer Marketing Hub, 28.2 per cent of brands in the Gulf still engage in barter-based partnerships. So, here's the question – if an influencer typically charges AED 2,000 for a post, why are we still offering a goodie bag in return? Does that make sense? For many brands, it still does. In the UAE, 59 per cent of brands allocate up to AED 250,000 annually for influencer marketing, yet over a third still prefer barter-based deals. As smarter ROI tools and audience analytics become more accessible, when will this paradigm shift? Influencer marketing is no longer a novelty; it's an essential brand touchpoint. The way we structure partnerships, especially barter deals, urgently needs to evolve. Last week, I sat down with influencer experts Nourhan Khalifa and Reem Haddad – part of MSL's PR & Influencer practice, led by Mary Smiddy – who know this landscape intimately. Our conversation kept returning to one word: value. Bartering isn't dead – but it needs a rethink Let's be clear—there's a place for bartering in influencer marketing. MSL's PR and Influencer practice recommends focusing on several key points: Value Alignment: The product or experience must accurately reflect the influencer's rate and relevance. Offering a product worth AED 150 to an influencer whose content typically generates AED 5,000 in engagement undermines the value of the partnership. Clear Deliverables: Define content formats, posting timelines and tagging expectations upfront. No grey areas—no assumptions. High-Quality Offering: If you're not offering payment, present something exceptional. Think exclusive experiences or limited-edition releases—not throwaway samples. Mutual Exposure: Ensure it's worth their while. Offer brand visibility, reposting support, or opportunities for future paid collaborations. Limited Availability: Position the opportunity as curated and exclusive. The barter should feel selective and thoughtful, not merely transactional. No Additional Costs: Influencers shouldn't have to cover expenses for your brand's exposure. Delivery, travel, props—it's all on you. Performance Follow-Up: Treat barters like a professional collaboration. Track performance, provide insights and nurture the relationship. The missed opportunity: Nano-influencers Mary Smiddy, Business Lead, MSL Consumer PR and Influencer practice, suggests that the best barter partnerships often happen with micro and nano influencers, especially when they're just starting out. At this stage, they genuinely appreciate meaningful collaborations with brands they trust, making it a win-win for everyone. The MENA region is home to over 13.2 million nano-influencers – but their potential remains largely untapped. Globally, nano and micro-influencers are prized for their authenticity and unparalleled engagement rates. Yet in the Gulf, the tendency to favour mid-tier and mega-influencers persists despite evidence showing that smaller creators cultivate deeper and more trusted connections. Necessary legalese An important note when considering barter deals is that many GCC markets now require influencers to obtain commercial licences for all collaborations, including barter arrangements. These licences come with fees, paperwork and renewal cycles, which ultimately push influencer rates higher. Brands that overlook this reality risk more than bad PR—they risk legal liability. First-party influence in a cookie-free world With the impending death of third-party cookies, brands are scrambling for alternatives. Influencers are the solution hiding in plain sight. These creators offer first-party psychographic data – insights into what people feel, trust and desire. It's a level of intimacy no algorithm can replicate. But you don't unlock that value with a smoothie bowl and a smile. You access it with respect, reciprocity and a long-term vision. The bottom line The barter model isn't broken. It's dangerously misunderstood. In the right context, with the right influencers and a strategic approach, bartering can be a gateway – not a shortcut. It's time for brands in the GCC to stop seeing bartering as a budget-saving tool and start treating it as a relationship-building strategy. Influencer marketing doesn't begin with transactions; it begins with trust. And trust—isn't that worth far more than a freebie? By Aimée Ramos, Senior Executive – Public Relations, MSL Group Middle East
Mint
21-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Amit Burman-backed Poker Sports League finds a growth path outside the real-money gaming trap
Mumbai: While India's gaming industry continues to reel under the weight of retrospective GST claims, the Poker Sports League (PSL) seems to have carved a niche by staying away from real money formats. Structured like a traditional sports league, with no betting, wagering, or entry fees, the Amit Burman-backed franchise tournament has turned profitable in its sixth season and is now aiming to reach ₹50 crore in revenue by FY29, according to MSL. In FY23, the company had a revenue of ₹1.67 crore, which went up to ₹3.41 crore in FY24 and ₹7.03 crore in FY25. The 28% goods and services tax (GST) on online gaming, levied on the full face value of deposits, often with retrospective effect, has crippled many real-money gaming platforms, triggered massive tax demands, and deterred investor interest, making PSL's non-real-money gaming model an exception in an otherwise embattled sector. Broadcast live on JioHotstar, the league has grown over 15 times in viewership in the last three seasons, from 1.2 million in season 4 to 22.6 million in season 6, as per top officials of the league. Participation numbers have also seen a massive surge, jumping from 2,200 to over 22,000 unique players, with season 7 expected to cross 30,000. PSL follows a hybrid format: players go through a free-to-play qualification system to earn a slot in one of the eight franchise teams, each consisting of 11 members, including six pros, five qualifiers, and now, one non-poker influencer. Matches are split across virtual and on-ground rounds, culminating in a televised finale in Goa. 'We've managed to build PSL as a sustainable, scalable IP by staying brand-safe and agnostic to real-money gaming," said Pranav Bagai, co-founder and CEO of Mind Sports League Pvt. Ltd (MSL), which owns the league. 'Unlike most gaming formats that rely on betting, our players are paid salaries, teams compete for points, and winnings come from our prize pool. That gives us the ability to partner with top OTTs and brands without regulatory friction." This positioning has proved lucrative. Title sponsorship alone has grown from ₹40 lakh in season 4 to ₹4 crore in season 7—a 10x jump. The league is now partnered with PokerBaazi, JioHotstar and Novotel as title sponsor, broadcast partner and hospitality partner, respectively. Prize money for season 7 is ₹2.5 crore, while the player auction purse per team stands at ₹32.5 lakh. The operating expenses of running a team stands between ₹65 lakh and ₹1 crore per season. The prize pool, however, has gone up from ₹1.2 crore in season 4 to ₹2.5 crore now. According to co-founder and COO Prajit Ghambir, PSL broke even in season 6 and is on track to deliver better profits in the current season. 'Most leagues take 10–15 years to turn profitable, but we've already reached a stage where our top three teams are in the green. By season 10, we expect most team owners to be profitable," he told Mint. Poker Sports League was launched in May 2017. 'From operating on a ship in our early years, we now host matches in five-star hotel banquet halls with full regulatory permissions, adding legitimacy and accessibility to the game." Capped team model MSL, the parent company, also owns MSL Studioz, a B2B live production arm servicing major poker tournaments across India, Southeast Asia, and the APPT (Asia Pacific Poker Tour) events for PokerStars. MSL's shareholding is led by co-founders Bagai, Ghambir and family and friends, who together own around 39%. Amit Burman, former chairman of Dabur India Ltd, owns approximately 21% in his personal capacity, while Mehul Shah, the original promoter of Anchor Electricals and now a team owner in the league, owns 20% in the league. The league follows a capped-team model, seven teams competed last season, the eighth is being finalised, and a ninth and final team will be introduced in season 9. 'We want to ensure supply of franchises remains limited while demand keeps growing. That gives early team owners the opportunity to build valuation and even exit in the future," said Ghambir. PSL's team owners today include seasoned business operators rather than poker enthusiasts, a shift that underscores its commercial maturity. For instance, Lucknow Kings is co-owned by Samit Garg, who runs the listed company E Factor Experiences, while the Bengaluru All Stars are owned by Kankanala Sports Group, which also has teams in volleyball, handball, and racing. The league's operating model also enables it to maintain cost discipline. Owning its own production capabilities keeps broadcast expenses in check. Player salaries remain in the low lakhs per season, with qualifiers earning between ₹1 lakh and ₹3.5 lakh and captains around ₹5–6 lakh. 'We control the entire show flow on JioHotstar, including ad inventory, which makes sponsorship more valuable," said Bagai. 'Even with carriage fees, we are able to run a lean and profitable operation." Looking ahead Going forward, the league plans to scale both geographically and in terms of content. Future seasons will feature one compulsory influencer per team to boost visibility and sponsorship, as well as international poker pros to drive cross-border appeal and OTT syndication. A complete on-ground 'poker carnival" is also in the works, replacing virtual matches with a 10-day live format that mimics the feel of traditional sports leagues. Interestingly, PSL's team-based structure, qualification model, and branding strategy have helped it steer clear of the controversial real-money gaming ecosystem, including retrospective tax claims. 'We are perhaps the only league completely unaffected by GST rulings because we're not staking money at any level. Our players play for free, and our league functions just like any other sport," said Bagai. With JioHotstar now hosting all PSL content free of charge to viewers, with ads stitched into on-demand videos for 365 days, the league is positioning itself as a long-tail, performance-driven platform for brands as well. 'We're not just building a poker league—we're building the infrastructure of Indian poker," Bagai said. That includes visibility, player development and monetisation, he added.
Irish Examiner
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
St Patrick's Athletic equal club record victory in FAI Cup demolition of UCC
St Patrick's Athletic 8 UCC 0 Chris Forrester scored a nonchalant brace as St Patrick's Athletic equalled a club record win to cruise through to the FAI Cup third round with this facile victory over Munster Senior League side UCC at Richmond Park. Having won the cup twice in the last four years, and five times in total, Stephen Kenny's side were never in danger of losing their record of never having lost to a non-league team in the competition. Doubtless with Thursday's Conference League home clash with Estonian side Nõmme Kalju in mind, manager Kenny opted for a completely different starting XI from last Thursday's rousing 2-0 win away to FC Hegelmann. That meant a full debut for 19-year-old midfielder Matthew O'Hara, captain of the club's under-20 side, who recently signed his first professional contract having been at the club since he was 13. UCC needed a play-off victory to retain their top flight status in the MSL which finished two months ago. Not only out of season, they travelled to Dublin missing up to a half a dozen first team players in what was head coach Noel Healy's final game over a 15-year association with the university club. Unsurprisingly, it was one way traffic from the off with UCC goalkeeper Kevin Fitzpatrick inspired early on with fine saves to deny Conor Carty and Aidan Keena before Saints' pressure told on 19 minutes, if not from an expected source. Zach Elbouzedi pulled the ball back for defender Axel Sjoberg whose low cross was knocked past Fitzpatrick by his unfortunate skipper Colm Murphy for an own goal. Fitzpatrick made another terrific save to thwart Elbouzedi one-on-one while Carty bounced a header off the crossbar from Brandon Kavanagh's delivery, all a mere prelude to the floodgates opening with a quick-fire treble before half-time. First, the lively Kavanagh beat Fitzpatrick at his far post with a looping header from Sjoberg's cross on 40 minutes. Two minutes later Kavanagh's shot was deflected into the path of Keena who cut inside a couple of defenders to drill to the bottom corner. Skipper Forrester then got in on the act to utterly deflate UCC when casually dribbling past three defenders inside the area to tap home. The goal deluge continued into the second half with another three scored inside six minutes of the restart. Scarcely a minute in, Al-Amin Kazeem ghosted in off the left flank to meet Sjoberg's cross and find the top corner for his first goal for the club. Two minutes later it was 6-0 when half-time substitute Jake Mulraney rifled to the bottom corner from the edge of the area. Kazeem then provided the cross for Carty to continue the scoring on 51 minutes with a well-placed header. Forrester completed the rout with his second from a crisp low drive to the net on 68 minutes following debutant substitute Billy Hayes' assist. St Patrick's Athletic: Rogers; Sjoberg, Turner, Breslin; Forrester, O'Hara (Grivosti, 63); Elbouzedi (Mulraney, h-t), Kavanagh (Hayes, h-t), Kazeem; Carty, Keena. UCC: Fitzpatrick; Duggan, Murphy, Iyalla, O'Neill (Roberts, 64); McCarthy; Walsh (Connolly, 64), Broderick (Bowdren, 80), Howard (O'Halloran, 69), Loughery; Fahy (Sulleiman, 69). Referee: Alan Patchell (Dublin). Attendance: 1,243.
Business Upturn
18-07-2025
- Health
- Business Upturn
Advancing Preventive Vascular Inflammation in the South with SmartVascular Dx™ Test
IRVINE, Calif., July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MorningStar Laboratories, LLC., ('MSL' or 'the Company'), a leading developer of precision diagnostic tests that address unmet clinical needs, is proud to announce the expansion of the SmartVascular Dx™ test (formally known as the PULS™ Cardiac Test) into southern states. We are excited to announce that we are now officially included in the Medicare fee schedule, which allows us to offer our national medical coverage. Furthermore, our strategic partnerships with Buckeye Health Plan and America's Choice Provider Network have enabled significant expansion, ensuring that our groundbreaking test is accessible to patients across the entire region. The SmartVascular Dx test plays a vital role in the early identification of endothelial inflammation—a key indicator of vascular risk. With rates of vascular disease climbing in the southern population, this innovative tool empowers healthcare providers to proactively manage risk factors, paving the way for better health outcomes. 'We are excited to provide physicians in the South with a powerful tool to help them identify and manage vascular risks early on,' said Brennan Burns, Vice President of Policy & Payor Relations. 'By incorporating the SmartVascular Dx test into their clinical offerings, providers can play a critical role in driving down the prevalence of vascular diseases in the region.' We invite physicians across the southern states to reach out to MorningStar Laboratories to learn more about how they can implement the SmartVascular Dx test in their practice and contribute to advancing preventive cardiology in their communities. For additional information, inquiries, and implementation details, please contact MorningStar Laboratories directly or call us at 866.299.8998. Join us in our mission to enhance vascular care and improve the health of our communities. About MorningStar Laboratories MorningStar Laboratories ('MSL') is a specialty diagnostics development clinical laboratory company that develops, performs, and distributes unique medical tests combining science, technology, and proprietary analytics which aim to detect high-risk diseases with significant unmet medical needs. MSL's laboratory information systems use data from multiple sources, including proteomics, genetics, metabolic, biochemistry, phenotype, and imaging, and a patented algorithm to address the most challenging clinical problems related to endothelial and vascular inflammatory issues. Morningstar Laboratories, a subsidiary of Smart Health Diagnostics Company, is a CLIA-Certified and CAP Accredited laboratory offering comprehensive and customized services in accordance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulations and ISO 15189 standards. To learn more, visit MorningStar Laboratories at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements Forward-looking statements in this press release are based on our future expectations, plans prospects, and assumptions regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words 'termed,' 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'continue,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'plan,' 'potential,' 'predict,' 'project,' 'should,' 'target,' 'will,' 'would' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Therefore, we caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this document speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Media Contact [email protected] 866.299.8998 Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
