Local Ecommerce News and Updates April 2025 - Haider Ahmed Qazi & Omer Mubeen

Tech, Trends & Triumphs: April 2025 Roundup from AI to eCommerce

1. India Unveils First Full-Length AI-Generated Movie

Indian cinema has marked a historic milestone with the release of its first fully AI-generated movie titled "IRIS", a futuristic sci-fi thriller exploring the emotional boundaries between humans and machines. Produced on a budget of around ₹30 crore (approx. $3.6 million), the film utilizes AI for scriptwriting, character rendering, voiceovers, and even background scoring. Directed by Rajat Kapadia, the movie has sparked global curiosity for how AI might reshape mainstream storytelling and reduce production costs for indie filmmakers.

2. Google Pay Officially Launches in Pakistan

In a major move toward digital financial inclusion, Google Pay has launched its services in Pakistan through strategic partnerships with local banks and the State Bank of Pakistan’s Raast instant payment system. This rollout allows users to send and receive money, pay bills, and shop online via Google Pay in a secure, seamless experience. The move is expected to boost mobile wallet adoption, particularly in the growing eCommerce sector, and open up avenues for international app monetization for Pakistani developers.

3. Pakistan Forms First-Ever Crypto Council

Pakistan has taken a bold step into the future of finance with the formation of the Pakistan Crypto Council, an advisory body comprising tech entrepreneurs, policy analysts, and legal experts. The Council aims to formalize crypto regulations, push for blockchain adoption in fintech, and act as a think tank for safe integration into the local financial system. With crypto trading already popular in Pakistan despite regulatory ambiguity, this move is seen as an effort to channel investment, prevent fraud, and bring legitimacy to a booming underground economy.

Flanked by Pakistan's flags, Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, on Monday signed on to become an adviser to the country's newly formed regulator for the sector.

4. Binance Secures $2 Billion in Funding from Abu Dhabi

In a significant boost for the global crypto industry, Binance has reportedly raised $2 billion from investors in Abu Dhabi, marking one of the largest funding rounds in Web3 this year. The funds are earmarked for regulatory compliance, AI blockchain integration, and product diversification. This comes after Binance’s regulatory troubles in the U.S. and Europe, signaling a pivot to the Middle East as a crypto-friendly hub. The move is expected to reinforce Binance’s position as the top global crypto exchange amid increasing competition.

5. AI-Powered Real Estate Agent Closes Record Deals

A real estate startup in California has introduced an AI agent named “Riley” that successfully closed over $8 million worth of property deals in the last quarter alone. Using predictive analytics, emotional sentiment reading from conversations, and image recognition for property evaluations, Riley is now being hailed as the world’s first profitable AI real estate agent. This marks a dramatic shift in the traditional sales process, where AI can now negotiate, follow-up, and filter leads autonomously, saving both time and commission costs.

6. Amazon Haul Craze Returns with AI-Fueled Recommendations

The global trend of “Amazon Hauls” — where influencers showcase bulk purchases in videos — is back in full swing, now powered by AI-generated shopping guides. Amazon’s new feature suggests product bundles based on user behavior, budget, and current trends, making it easier for users to go viral with themed hauls like “Minimalist Home Upgrade” or “Under $50 Tech Finds.” The feature has already boosted conversion rates by 19% among Gen Z users in the US, UK, and India.

7. Google Launches Gemini Flash – A Lightweight AI Model

Google has released a compact yet powerful variant of its Gemini AI model, aptly named “Gemini Flash.” Designed for real-time use on mobile and IoT devices, Gemini Flash offers fast performance, low energy consumption, and can handle voice commands, translations, and AI search natively on devices. The model is seen as a direct response to OpenAI's dominance with ChatGPT, and aims to make AI assistants more accessible for emerging markets where cloud usage is costly.

8. Ghibli Art Trend Sweeps Social Media Worldwide

A new trend has taken over social platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X: the “Ghibli-fication” of everyday life. Creators are using AI tools to convert ordinary videos and photos into Studio Ghibli-style animations, characterized by warm palettes, dreamy landscapes, and whimsical characters. This aesthetic, originally from iconic films like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, is resonating with Gen Z and millennial audiences craving nostalgic, cozy content. The hashtag #GhibliAI has crossed over 500 million views globally in just two weeks.

9. Arslan Ash Wins Another Global Tekken Title

Pakistan’s esports pride, Arslan Ash, has once again made the nation proud by winning the Tekken World Tour Finals 2025 in Seoul. Facing Japan’s AO in a nail-biting 3-2 grand final, Arslan showcased technical brilliance and mental resilience. This is his 5th major international title, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest Tekken players of all time. The win also puts Pakistan’s growing esports scene back in global focus, with potential sponsorship and tournament hosting opportunities on the rise.

10. Shopify Introduces $1 Plan to Onboard New E-Commerce Entrepreneurs

In an effort to tap into emerging markets and new sellers, Shopify has introduced a $1/month starter plan for the first three months. This plan gives access to basic store setup, product listings, and order management tools—perfect for side hustlers, small boutiques, and creators testing online sales. Shopify hopes the offer will increase platform adoption, particularly in countries like Pakistan, India, and Nigeria, where digital entrepreneurship is booming but affordability remains a barrier.