Snap Inc on November 6 hosted its first-ever APAC AR Day in Mumbai, which featured a candid fireside chat between Evan Spiegel, Snap CEO and Co-Founder, and Snap Asia Pacific (APAC) President Ajit Mohan.

“The discussion centred around the adoption of AR globally by consumers and brands, India's booming creative talent pool, the future of AR, and Snap's innovative approach to this transformative technology,” the company said in a press release.

Evan Spiegel expressed his excitement about the Indian developer community, stating, "With over 200 million Snapchatters in India, we're seeing more creators, developers, and brands tap into our community’s passion for augmented reality experiences."

Ajit Mohan highlighted Snap's dedication to helping AR creators and developers, providing monetisation avenues and innovative tools for their aspirations.

According to the company, Snapchat's AR platform sees over 250 million daily engagements. The Snap AR creator community in India grew by 60% in 2022 and is expected to continue thriving.

Vivek Thakur, a former medical student turned AR developer, highlighted Snap's support for creators. He said, "Snap is empowering creators like myself by providing creative tools and revenue opportunities."

Snap introduced the Lens Creator Rewards programme, incentivising top-performing Lenses on Snapchat.

“In India, 95% of Gen Z individuals express a keen interest in using AR for shopping, with 73% believing that AR experiences provide a more personal touch. Moreover, globally, AR demonstrates an impressive 94% higher conversion rate when consumers interact with products, resulting in a 25% decrease in return rates,” Snap said.

Snap featured its AR try-on booth at the event, allowing attendees to experience AR technology in fashion and beauty.

As Diwali approaches, Snapchat said that it will launch special AR Lenses, including one that decorates mithai shops with firecrackers and another that lets users paint a virtual rangoli.

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(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)