News

ChatGPT Images 2.0 is a hit in India, but not a big winner elsewhere, yet

Published

1 minute ago

May 1, 2026

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India has emerged as the largest user base for ChatGPT Images 2.0 since its launch last week, OpenAI said on Thursday. However, third-party data reviewed by TechCrunch points to a more measured global response, with limited overall growth alongside sharp spikes in select emerging markets.

ChatGPT Images 2.0, OpenAI’s latest image-generation upgrade, is designed to handle more complex prompts and produce detailed visuals, including accurate text across multiple languages. Early patterns from the company suggest users — especially in India, its largest market — are using it to create personal visuals such as avatars, stylized portraits, and fantasy-themed images.

Data shared by Sensor Tower and Similarweb with TechCrunch suggests the rollout has led to a more mixed global response. ChatGPT’s app downloads rose 11% week-over-week following the launch, per Sensor Tower, but overall engagement gains were modest, with daily active users and sessions up only around 1%. Similarweb data also shows a limited increase in ChatGPT’s global web traffic, rising about 1.6% week-over-week during the same period.

However, Sensor Tower data indicates some emerging markets — including Pakistan, Vietnam, and Indonesia — saw sharper spikes in ChatGPT’s app downloads, with increases of up to 79% week-over-week during the rollout period.

India, meanwhile, remained a major source of activity during the rollout. Sensor Tower estimates show ChatGPT was downloaded about 5 million times in India during the launch week, compared with roughly 2 million in the U.S., though growth remained modest on a week-over-week basis. Similarweb data also points to a limited uptick in engagement, with daily active users in India rising about 3.4% week-over-week during the same period.

In India, the early trends suggest ChatGPT Images 2.0 is largely being used as a form of self-expression. Rather than purely functional outputs, users are creating studio-style portraits from everyday photos, social media-ready images, and imaginative visuals that place themselves at the center, OpenAI said.

The early patterns also highlight how AI image tools are being adopted differently across markets. While India’s large user base is driving overall scale, sharper spikes in countries like Pakistan and Indonesia point to stronger new-user demand in emerging markets following the launch.

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OpenAI’s Images 2.0 launch comes amid intensifying competition in AI image generation. Google’s earlier image-focused model, the original Nano Banana, also saw strong early traction in India, indicating how the nation has become an important market for image generation.

With the new ChatGPT Images release, OpenAI is pushing further with improvements such as better rendering of non-Latin text, including Hindi and Bengali, and new “thinking” capabilities that allow it to refine outputs and generate multiple variations from a single prompt.

Beyond stylized portraits and avatars, OpenAI said early Images 2.0 users in India are experimenting with a wider range of formats — from fantasy newspaper covers to tarot-style visuals and fashion moodboards. Users are also using the AI tool to restore older photos and create cinematic portrait collages, the company said, suggesting early patterns of more personal use.

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News

As Tim Cook steps down, Apple hit record sales — but a chip shortage looms

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2 hours ago

May 1, 2026

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Tim cook iphone GettyImages 2234563479.jpg

Apple reported a record quarter on Thursday. Yet outgoing CEO Tim Cook warned of some gathering storm clouds in the form of memory chip supply issues that could impact business in the near future.

“Today Apple is proud to report our best March quarter ever, with revenue of $111.2 billion and double-digit growth across every geographic segment,” Cook said during Thursday’s earnings call. “iPhone achieved a March quarter revenue record, fueled by such extraordinary demand for the iPhone 17 lineup.”

Less rosily, Cook relayed that Apple spent more on memory chips in March than in previous quarters though the company’s costs were offset by its ability to sell stockpiled inventory. But, he warned, the expectation is “significantly higher memory costs” in June and beyond — the likes of which may “drive an increasing impact” on the business.

Cook was referencing what has commonly been called “RAMaggedon,” the trend of the AI industry guzzling up memory chips with such astonishing gusto it is spurring shortages. This is driving up the prices of hardware. Apple is primarily a hardware company, so that’s obviously not great news for its core products.

Most notably, the chip shortage has impacted the iPhone. Despite the strong sales figures touted by Apple on Thursday, it has previously been reported that RAM costs have quadrupled — impacting phone production costs, and putting John Ternus, Apple’s incoming CEO in a less-than-enviable position.

One possible result may be that Apple increases prices for the iPhone. “There’s just a little less flexibility in the supply chain at the moment for getting more parts,” Cook told Reuters on Thursday.

Ternus, who has served as Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, was on Thursday’s earnings call and praised Cook. “In my view, Tim is one of the greatest business leaders of all time. Stepping into the role of CEO is an incredible honor, and it means a great deal to me to have Tim’s trust and confidence,” Ternus said.

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He will obviously have his work cut out for him when he begins the job on September 1. But he will still have Cook’s supply chain experience to lean on for a while. Cook will become executive chairman.

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Business

Lafarge Africa Plc Posts N97.95bn Profit, Up 101% in Q1 2026

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4 hours ago

April 30, 2026

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BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The Board of Directors of Lafarge Africa Plc has reported a strong financial performance for the first quarter of 2026, with Profit After Tax (PAT) rising to N97.95 billion—representing a 101 per cent increase from N48.64 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

The company also recorded significant growth in revenue, with net sales climbing by 35 per cent to N334.88 billion in Q1 2026, compared to N248.35 billion in the same period last year.

Commenting on the results, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, attributed the strong performance to sustained revenue growth, improved operational efficiency, and disciplined cost management.

“Our Q1 2026 results reflect continued progress in executing our strategic priorities. Net sales grew by 35 per cent year-on-year, supported by improved volumes, enhanced plant stability, and greater distribution efficiency. Operating profit rose by 97 per cent to N141 billion, while profit after tax increased by 101 per cent to N98 billion,” he said.

He added that the performance was driven by supply reliability, prudent financial management, and an improved route-to-market strategy.

Alade-Akinyemi noted that the company will continue to leverage the industrial and technical expertise of its strategic partner, Huaxin Building Materials Ltd, to further optimise operations and unlock additional efficiencies.

Looking ahead, he said the company would maintain a strong focus on disciplined capital deployment, cost control, and capturing growth opportunities across its markets. He added that improving macroeconomic conditions and easing global supply chain disruptions have supported rising consumer demand and volume growth.

“We anticipate continued expansion in Nigeria’s infrastructure and construction sectors, driven by improving economic fundamentals and demand across key segments. We remain focused on capturing these opportunities while maintaining cost optimisation to protect margins,” he stated.

He also expressed appreciation to customers and stakeholders for their continued support, reaffirming the company’s commitment to delivering consistent performance and long-term value.

“Our sustainability-led growth model remains central to our long-term value creation, supported by disciplined execution and operational excellence,” he added.

Lafarge Africa Plc said it will continue to prioritise supply reliability, cost leadership, innovation, and sustainability, while maintaining high standards in health and safety across its operations.

About Lafarge Africa Plc

Lafarge Africa Plc, a member of the Huaxin Group, is a leading provider of innovative and sustainable building solutions in Nigeria. Established in 1959 and listed on the Premium Board of the Nigerian Exchange Limited, the company operates cement plants in Sagamu and Ewekoro (Ogun State), Ashaka (Gombe State), and Mfamosing (Cross River State), with a total installed production capacity of 10.5 million metric tonnes per annum. It remains committed to sustainable development, combining industrial efficiency with environmental responsibility and stakeholder value creation.

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