Brace yourselves for a barrage of AI-assisted garbage made by people who dont know an API from anIPA.Screen shot from the movie OfficeSpaceWeve officially entered the age of vibe codingwhat a ridiculous name. In this new digital frontier, anyone can prompt an AI with, Build me an app thats like LinkedIn meets Tindercomplete with swipeable resumes, networking streaks, and flirty endorsement badges, and then publish it without a second thought. Cringe-worthy, Iknow.These tools spit out something that looks like a real product, and suddenly everyones acting like its 2008 and the App Store just launched.The idea that no-code solutions can take the place of real development has been quietly gaining ground in the industry for a while now. A few years ago, the company I was working for put out a request for proposal (RFP) for a complex websitebuild.We found one agency we liked that quoted us around $100Kexpensive, sure, but it made sense given the serious research, custom design,.NET content management integration, and a six-month timeline.The then CEO wandered in and commented, No way were paying thatcant we just build this with Wix in like aweek?That was the moment I realized he hadnt listened to a single word wed discussed in our meetings over the past threemonths.Somewhere along the line, no-code tools like Wix and Canva have convinced people that digital products are simple. Drag, drop, add a stock photo, slap on a buttondone.Yes, these tools can pull off some neat tricks, but theyre no substitute for building a digital product from the ground up. Not if you need it to actually work, scale, or avoid crumbling at the slightest sneeze.What were really dealing with is a psychological phenomenon known as the illusion of explanatory depth (IOED)the tendency to believe we understand something in far more detail than we actuallydo.In this case, people assume they grasp how complex systems work simply because theyve built a polished front-end. But the illusion quickly unravels when theyre asked to explain or construct the underlying framework.Worse still, these design-for-dummies platforms have emboldened non-designers and non-developers to skip the professionals altogether. Clients and stakeholders are suddenly cobbling together their own pages or websitesoften with the elegance of a 2003 PowerPoint deck.And now, vibe coding takes things to a whole new level. Never heard of it? Lucky you. Its when people use AI tools to build entire digital products based solely on vibes. What does that even mean? It sounds like something youd do on a psychedelic retreat, not during product development.They type in something like: Make me a Gen Z-friendly team collab app with video meetups, synergy dashboards, hype analytics, and a dark mode aesthetic.Yeah I think I just threw up in my mouth typingthat.If you think you dont have enough time and resources to develop products properly now, just wait until vibe coding goes mainstreamwhen your boss starts asking, Why cant we just build this in aday?Now, vibe coding can make sense if youre an experienced designer or developeryoull immediately spot off-kilter usability or spaghetti code. But to a boss, a client, or even a random marketer, it all looks finished, as if theyve just saved the company$100K.As the saying goes, you can polish a turd, but its still a turdand youre looking at is a digital product equivalent. A stitched-together no-code hack, riddled with design flaws and crawling with enough bugs to ruin a summerpicnic.But the damage is done. Pandoras box has been opened, and theres no stuffing the AI genie backin.All we can hope for, pray for, is that the industry eventually rediscovers an appreciation for the handcrafted and human touchartisan websites and bespoke appsthe digital equivalent of small-batch leather goods or a gorgeous farmers market sourdough. Imperfect, human, and not cranked out by a robot or someone who Googled how to make a website yesterday.Until then, brace yourself for a deluge of vibe-coded monstrosities and AI-fueled eyesores. One day, we might look back on this era and say something we never thought wewould:Man, I miss the days when our only gripe wasCanva.Dont miss out! Join my email list and receive the latestcontent.Its all fun and games until your boss starts vibe coding was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Cyber Monday is long gone, but with spring sales popping up this week in response to Amazon's Big Spring Sale event, there's still plenty of good tech to be found for cheap. Across Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and more, gadgets from laptops to TVs are seeing deep discounts. Shopping these sales can be a bit difficult unless you know how to track an items price history, but fortunately, Ive already done all of the work for you. Keep checking in here throughout the week for the best deals on laptops, TVs, tablets, video games, and more. Prices are accurate as of time of writing, but you can expect them to fluctuate and inventory to sell out, so you may not want to hesitate if you see a sale that grabs you. The best deals on laptops Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch with M4 Chip $949.00 at Best Buy $999.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Get Deal $949.00 at Best Buy $999.00 Save $50.00 Sales events are a great time to buy laptops, as they're one of the most frequent items to go on sale during these periods. Here are some of my favorite picks for the best laptop deals available now.Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with M4 Chip: $949 at Amazon (was $999). Released earlier this month, Apple's M4 MacBook Air is already on sale. At time of writing, the discount only applies to the 13-inch model with 16GB of RAM, but that's still enough for plenty of users.Apple MacBook Pro with M4 Chip: $1,399 at Amazon (was $1,599). For a more powerful Apple computer, the MacBook Pro is the obvious choice. As time of writing, sales are present across all chip options (the M4 has multiple upgrades available), as well as across multiple RAM and storage loadouts, but you will need to stick to a 14-inch screen.Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: $1,475 at Amazon (was $1,699). A Windows-based alternative to the MacBook Air, although with power potentially rivaling the Pro at points, this lightweight laptop is a touch more expensive, but comes with a higher resolution OLED screen with a higher refresh rate, plus the ability to convert into a tablet.Microsoft Surface Laptop: $921 at Amazon (was $1,400). A cheaper alternative to the MacBook Air, the Microsoft Surface Laptop offers a familiar form factor and, thanks to its Qualcomm chip, higher battery life and greater AI compatibility, although at the cost of some performance.Lenovo IdeaPad 1i: $420 at Best Buy (was $600). This is a more basic, "get the job done" kind of laptop, but with a respectable mid-range chip, surprisingly generous storage for the price, and a touchscreen, there's quite a bit of value to be had here.HP Victus 16 Gaming Laptop: $900 at Best Buy (was $1,500). The HP Victus 16 is a tremendous deal below $1,000, getting you a respectable chip, 16GB of RAM, and enough storage to get by, but also the RTX 4070 GPU, which is typically reserved for much more expensive machines.The best deals on tablets Apple 11-Inch iPad Pro with M4 Chip $899.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Get Deal $899.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $100.00 Good tablets are a bit rarer to find deals on during sales events, since iPads so overwhelmingly dominate the space, and Apple can be a little more stringent with supply. Still, there are good opportunities to be found if you're willing to look.Apple 11-Inch iPad Pro with M4 Chip: $899 at Amazon (was $999). Apple's first iPad with an OLED screen, the M4 Pro is now available for less than four figures, with deals available for all storage configurations.Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+: $680 at Amazon (was $1,000). A premium Android tablet from Samsung, this rectangle boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, 12GB of memory, 256GB of storage, a 12-inch 2,800 x 1,752 AMOLED screen, and comes with a stylus.Microsoft Surface Pro 13-Inch: $999 at Best Buy (was $1,200). This pick blurs the line between a tablet and a laptop, coming equipped with Windows 11, which gives it a full desktop ecosystem of apps to explore. Plus, this particular model also has a few Copilot+ goodies thrown in. Storage is 512GB and RAM is 16GB.Google Pixel Tablet: $279 at Amazon (was $399). A more affordable tablet, this device uses the same Tensor G2 chipset as the Pixel 7 line, has 8GB of RAM, and features a 2,560 x 1,600 display. That means it's on the humbler side, but as a positive, it can also double as a smart display.The best deals on phones Google Pixel 9 (Unlocked) $629.99 at Amazon $799.00 Save $169.01 Get Deal Get Deal $629.99 at Amazon $799.00 Save $169.01 Similar to tablets, the current phone deals are a bit held back by Apple, as iPhone sales tend to be a bit hit-or-miss, often relying on third-party sellers with refurbished devices. However, if you're on Android, you have a wealth of options.Google Pixel 9 (Unlocked): $640 at Amazon (was $799). Google's latest non-pro phone has the Tensor G4 chip, a lot of exclusive Gemini-powered goodies, and a 6.3-inch OLED "Actua" display.Google Pixel 9 Pro (Unlocked): $849 at Amazon (was $1,099). An upgrade to the base Pixel 9, the Pro model has improved cameras, more storage options, and a higher resolution display.Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (Unlocked): $899 at Amazon (was $1,099). Priced similarly to the standard Pixel 9 Pro, the XL offers identical power, but a larger, 6.8-inch display.Samsung Galaxy S25 (Unlocked): $700 at Amazon (was $800). Samsung's Galaxy phones are a favorite alternative to Google's Pixels, with a more traditional camera setup and more powerful chips. You lose out on Google's exclusive Pixel software features, but if you can get used to Samsung's own ecosystem, there's also some convenience to be gained with its spin on Android.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Unlocked): $1,099 at Best Buy (was $1,420). An upgrade to the base Samsung Galaxy S25, the Ultra has more storage options, a larger, 6.9-inch screen, better cameras, and a slightly bigger battery.Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 (Unlocked): $1,068 at Amazon (was $1,220). Flip phones are still an expensive proposition, but the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a bit more affordable with the sale. This phone has many of the same specs as the S25, albeit with the camera's performance being traded out a bit in favor of the foldable screen.Motorola Razr+ (Unlocked): $700 at Amazon (was $1,000). This nostalgic flip phone is a slightly cheaper alternative to the Z Flip series, with a slightly weaker chipset but also a slightly larger size.The best deals on TVs Amazon Fire TV 55" $769.99 at Amazon $899.99 Save $130.00 Get Deal Get Deal $769.99 at Amazon $899.99 Save $130.00 Like laptops, TVs almost always go on sale at every opportunity, and waiting until these discounts drop is a great way to get a display that punches above its weight class.LG 77-inch B3 OLED TV: $1,497 at Amazon (was $2,297). OLED is still my favorite display tech out there, and if I can get on my soapbox for a moment, it's the only one that really compares to CRTs. LG makes some of the best OLED TVs around, and this big-screen model has a 4K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. There are four HDMI 2.1 inputs.Samsung 50-inch QN90D QLED TV: $900 at Amazon (was $1,398). QLED takes a different approach than OLED, sacrificing pixel-perfect pure blacks in favor of higher brightness and more affordability. Samsung's Neo QLED tech combines this with Mini-LEDs to help claw some of that contrast back, and is a great choice at this price point, especially with its built-in 4K upscaling and Dolby Atmos support.Amazon 55-inch Fire TV Omni Series: $770 at Amazon (was $900). Amazon's Fire TVs are a great way to get a lot of screen on a budget. This 4K Mini-LED smart display has a 144Hz refresh rate, supports hands-free Alexa control, comes with up to an 85-inch screen, and has various HDR options.Roku 55-inch Plus Series QLED 4K Smart TV: $430 at Best Buy (was $500). Roku is one of Amazon's biggest rivals in the budget TV category. Available in up to 75 inches, this TV is 4K, supports Dolby Vision at a lower price point than Amazon's option, has a 60Hz refresh rate, and comes with Roku's snappy operating system built in.TCL 55-inch Class Q6-Series 4K Smart Google TV: $300 at Best Buy (was $320). If you're not big on Amazon's or Roku's operating systems, then a TCL TV is a good bet. This model comes in up to 98 inches, has a 4K QLED panel, supports Dolby Vision, and has a 60Hz native refresh rate.The best deals on headphones and earbuds Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones $249.99 at Amazon $399.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal Get Deal $249.99 at Amazon $399.99 Save $150.00 Headphones and earbuds are one of those things it's easy to forget about in an upgrade cycle. If you can hear your content, that's good enough for most people, right? But discounts present an easy excuse to improve your gear and get access to features you didn't even know you were missing.Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones: $318 at Amazon (was $400). These are Sony's flagship over-ear headphones, complete with noise canceling, a promised 30-hour battery life, and Alexa voice control alongside capacitive touch control.Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones: $248 at Amazon (was $348). Sony's last generation headphones are still a good bet, with slightly less impedance, but most of the same premium features as the XM5.Apple AirPods Max Headphones: $499 at Amazon (was 549). Apple's AirPods Max are a great choice for anyone in the Apple Ecosystem, especially with the USB-C version's recent adoption of lossless audio.Bose QuietComfort Headphones: $249 at Amazon (was $349). Bose's QuietComfort headphones are a little cheaper that Sony and Apple's most recent flagships, but still promise strong noise canceling performance as well as battery life that will last you over a day.Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen Earbuds: $170 at Amazon (was $250). Apple's 2nd Gen AirPods Pro added a few new software tricks that make them a great upgrade, including conversation awareness and even the ability to use them as hearing aids.Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: $219 at Amazon (was $299). Conversely, if you don't need to be in the Apple ecosystem, Bose's QuietComfort Ultra offer outstanding noise cancelling for an in-ear product, plus an upgraded Bluetooth codec.The best sales on video game tech Xbox Core Wireless Gaming Controller $45.00 at Walmart $59.99 Save $14.99 Get Deal Get Deal $45.00 at Walmart $59.99 Save $14.99 The best video game sales tend to be more often relegated to summer and fall, but there are still a few sales to be found right now, especially on hardware and accessories.Xbox Series X 1TB Digital Edition: $435 at Amazon (was $450). It's a slight discount, but if you're willing to live without a disc drive, you can find some small savings on Microsoft's most powerful Xbox.PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition Astro Bot Bundle: $400 at Amazon (was $460). This PS5 deal snags you a console without a disc drive plus the critically acclaimed Astro Bot game, all for less than buying a PS5 usually costs on its own.PlayStation 5 Slim Disc Edition Astro Bot Bundle: $449 at Amazon (was $510). If you prefer to get your games physically, or you watch a lot of Blu-Ray movies, this Astro Bot PS5 bundle as another great way to save on both items.PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle: $499 at Amazon (was $600). This deal comes with a PSVR2 headset and controllers alongside the Horizon Call of the Mountain game, giving you everything you need to get started with console VR. Plus, the PSVR2 now works with PC using an adapter.Amazon Fire TV 4K Max with Xbox Core Wireless Controller and 1 Month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: $105 at Amazon (was $145). This bundle will snag you Amazon's best streaming stick plus an Xbox controller and one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, turning it into a full-on cloud gaming console.Xbox Core Wireless Gaming Controller: $45 at Amazon (was $60). Almost no video game accessory is as versatile as the basic Xbox controller, which can work across a slew of devices and has a standard layout that most games recognize immediately.Shopping for tech? Lifehacker can help you make the right decision. Browse our tech reviews and head-to-head comparisons for everything from laptops and smartwatches to e-bikes and home gyms. Subscribe to our deals newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox, or browse our best-of lists directly on Amazon, including:The Best Over-Ear HeadphonesThe Best Wireless EarbudsThe Best Adjustable Dumbbell SetsThe Best Projectors

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Amazons Big Spring Sale is on now, a mini version of Prime Day that has inspired competing sales at Target and Walmart. Plenty of fitness trackers and smartwatches are among the discounted items. Here are my picks for the best deals, including watches from Apple, Garmin, Fitbit, and Samsung.Apple WatchesThe Apple Watch SE, the most budget version of this smartwatch, is available starting at $169 today. (As with all Apple Watches, the price goes up if you want a larger size or if you buy the version with cellular connectivity.) Thats 32% off the original price of $249.The Apple Watch Series 10, the one we crowned the best Apple Watch for most people, is available for $299 and up today, down from $399 regular price. Again, thats the smaller, non-cellular version, with upgrades adding a bitbut all sizes and types are on sale. Apple Watch Series 10 [GPS 42mm] with Jet Black Aluminium Case with Ink Sport Loop. Fitness Tracker, ECG App, Always-On Retina Display, Carbon Neutral $299.00 at Walmart $399.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Get Deal $299.00 at Walmart $399.00 Save $100.00 If you're looking for a bargain, check out the Apple Watch Series 9, which Walmart has for $219. It's only a year older than the Series 10, and the features it's missing are ones most people are unlikely to miss: the Series 10 has a wide-angle screen, a depth gauge, and a water temperature sensor for when you're swimming or diving. The Series 10 is also able to play music out of an on-watch speaker. If you can live without those extras, this deal on the Series 9 is a whopping 45% off the original price for a great watch.Garmin fitness watchesGarmins Forerunner 55 is still on that sale from a few days ago, when our Lifehacker's deals writer Daniel Oropeza flagged it as his favorite deal of the day. Its $149, a great price for a running watch that does all the basics. It will track your pace, location, heart rate, sleep, and more. It has a retro feel, with its MIP screen and button navigation instead of a touchscreen. But you really cant beat the price.Two other older-generation Forerunner watches are also on sale today, and since they both end in -55, you know they have that same MIP screen, which is reflective in sunlight and needs a backlight in the dark to light them up. (Many runners prefer MIP to the more smartwatch-style AMOLED screens, so who am I to judge?)Aside from the screen, the Forerunner 255, a steal at $229 today, and it is almost identical to my favorite running watch, the Forerunner 265. (The only other major feature its missing? Music storage, but you can get a Forerunner 255 Music for just $20 more.) That said, the Forerunner 265 is also on sale today, for $399, which is $50 off its usual price. Garmin Forerunner 255 GPS Running Smartwatch (Gray) $227.97 at Walmart $349.99 Save $122.02 Get Deal Get Deal $227.97 at Walmart $349.99 Save $122.02 Garmins Forerunner 955 is the big brother to the 255, with onboard maps that make it great for hiking and trail running. Its just $349, down from an original price of $499 when it was released in 2022. This is the lowest price either I or our resident marathoner Meredith Dietz have seen on this watch. And if youd like to go for the solar version, to top up your battery when youre out in the sun, the Forerunner 955 Solar is $399 today.The Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar is now one generation out of date, but it's still an excellent watch, with solar charging, a scratch-resistant screen made of sapphire, and a ton of deluxe features made for the rugged multi-sport athlete. It's $646, down from an original price of $899, for the 47 millimeter size. (That would be a "large" in any other watch, but the Fenix also offers a larger 51-millimeter size.) All sizes are on sale.If you want something a little less sport-specific, Garmins Vivoactive 5 is $217 today, down from a regular price of $299. This is the lifestyle smartwatch that beat out the Pixel Watch 3 in my head-to-head comparison. If youre looking for a fresh alternative to Fitbit smartwatches, the Vivoactive 5 would be my pick. If you want an actual Fitbit, though, those are on sale as well.Fitbit trackers and smartwatchesAll of Fitbits major models are on sale today, including the iconic bracelet-styled Charge 6 for $119, originally $159. Opinions vary, but if you want mine: The Charge 6 is the best Fitbit. (If you want a smartwatch, go for a Garmin.)If youre more of a minimalist, though, the Inspire 3 is worth a look. Normally retailing for $99, its just $69 today. The Inspire 3 doesnt have its own GPS chipset, instead relying on your phone for location. Its also just a more pared-down experience in other ways, with fewer exercise types and fewer apps. Fitbit Inspire 3 Health & Fitness Tracker (Midnight Zen/Black) $69.95 at Walmart $89.95 Save $20.00 Get Deal Get Deal $69.95 at Walmart $89.95 Save $20.00 Those Fitbit smartwatches are still on sale, though. The Versa 4 is $159, down from $199, and the Sense 2 is $199, down from $249.Samsung watchesSamsungs Galaxy Watch Ultra is on sale today for just $409, down from $649. It comes in a 47mm size with LTE cellular connectivity, and is basically Samsungs answer to the Apple Watch Ultra 2. We have more details on its features here. The Best Amazon Spring Sale Deals You Can Get Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Blink Mini 2 (White, 2-Pack) $37.99 (List Price $69.99) 2024 Apple iPad mini A17 Pro chip, Built for Apple Intelligence, Wi-Fi 128GB - Blue $399.00 (List Price $499.00) Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm, Black, S/M 130-180mm, Sports Band) $299.00 (List Price $399.00) Sonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker - White $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model) $39.99 (List Price $59.99) Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) $94.99 (List Price $139.99) Fitbit Inspire 3 Health & Fitness Tracker (Midnight Zen/Black) $69.95 (List Price $99.95) Sony WH-1000XM5 $318.00 (List Price $399.99) Fitbit Sense 2 $199.95 (List Price $249.95) Deals are selected by our commerce team Pixel watchesGoogle's Pixel smartwatch line is discounted for this sale as well. The Pixel Watch 3, which I found to be delightful for casual fitness tracking, is $289 and up today (depending on size and connectivity options, of course), down from an original price of $349. You can also get a Pixel Watch 2 for $199 (originally $249) or an original Pixel watch, released in 2023, for $89.

YouTube Shorts has introduced a change that brings analytics for its bite-sized video option into closer parity with rival services TikTok and Instagram. The video platform will remove the minimum play time requirement it previously had for a user watching a clip to count as a view.Beginning March 31, a "view" will be added any time a YouTube Short is played or replayed. This will likely mean that creators will see higher view counts after the change takes place. YouTube will continue to track "engaged views," which measure the number of times a clip was played "for a certain number of seconds." YouTube clarified that the shift would not impact Creator earnings or their eligibility for the YouTube Partner Program; both will continue to be assessed by the engaged view metric.Both Instagram and TikTok have defined a "view" as the number of times a video starts playing, although those platforms also offer metrics for tracking time spent watching a piece of content. Considering YouTube Shorts, Instagram and TikTok have each claimed upwards of a billion monthly users, it makes sense that they count views similarly so that creators can better assess how many of those people they are reaching across the services.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/youtube-is-changing-how-it-calculates-views-for-shorts-233058880.html?src=rss

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has signed the App Store Accountability Act into law, making it the first state to require that app store makers verify their users' ages. Under this law, people in Utah will need to be over age 18 to make a new account with an app store; underage users will either need to link their account to a parent's so that the adult can give permission for the child to use certain apps.The legislation is intended to protect children and teens, according to bill sponsor Todd Weiler, a Republican state senator. However, it has also raised questions about privacy and where the burden of responsibility falls to ensure that underage users don't see inappropriate content. Meta, Snap and X have supported the measure. "We applaud Governor Cox and the State of Utah for being the first in the nation to empower parents and users with greater control over teen app downloads, and urge other states to consider this groundbreaking approach," the three companies said in a joint statement Wednesday. "This approach spares users from repeatedly submitting personal information to countless individual apps and online services."Google, which runs the Play Store, had opposed the bill, and called on the governor to veto the measure. We've reached out to Apple and Google for comment now that the bill has been signed into law.As it stands, the App Store Accountability Act is slated to take effect on May 7, but it seems likely that it will face legal challenges. Digital privacy groups have opposed the law and others like it, noting security concerns about how sensitive age verification data will be used or protected. Other state laws requiring online services to confirm users' ages have also prompted lawsuits.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/utah-just-became-the-first-state-in-the-country-to-pass-an-age-verification-law-for-app-stores-225846117.html?src=rss

Hopefully, Galactic Hero is sticking around

Samsung Magician 8.3.0 enhances SSD performance with SecureErase, firmware updates, and automatic optimization for peak efficiency and security.

When asked by reporters whether the new tariffs would be good for Musk's autos business, Tesla, President Donald Trump said they may be "net neutral or they may be good."

After retiring as Intel's CEO in December, Pat Gelsinger is becoming a general partner at early-stage venture firm Playground Global.

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more.The recent L.A. wildfires have been devastating, displacing thousands and leaving behind a stark reminder of how vulnerable our built environment remains. Having lived through the 2018 Woolsey Fire in Malibu, Ive seen firsthand the immense challenges of rebuilding. In my April 2024 TEDx talk, How building a home in four weeks can influence four generations, I explored the emotional and financial toll of losing a homeand why we must rethink how we rebuild. That talk reinforces the importance of protecting all the meanings of home by building (and rebuilding) our homes with mindfulness toward sustainability and resilience against the sure potential of additional weather- and fire-related harms in the future.A new approach to fire-resilient housingSince 2019, Ive focused on applying lessons from past disasters to create homes that can better withstand future wildfires. My company, Azure Homes, uses advanced prefab technology to construct homes that are sustainable and built to have a better chance at surviving a fire.Beyond technology, though, we need a broader shift in how we design and construct homes. My newly published book, From Ashes to Action: A Survivors Guide to Rebuilding After Wildfire, explores practical solutions for homeowners, policymakers, architects, and builders to make communities more fire-resilient. Here are a few key points from the book:What makes a home fire-resistant?By analyzing recent wildfires, we can identify clear patterns in home survivability:Fire-rated siding and decks resist ignition from radiant heat.Double-pane or triple-pane tempered windows withstand extreme heat without shattering.Ember-resistant vents block embers from entering attics and crawl spaces.Class A fire-rated roofs are designed to withstand severe fire exposure, offering the highest level of fire resistance available for roofing materials.In contrast, homes with untreated wood siding, single-pane windows, unprotected vents, and those without class A-rated roofs often ignite quickly.Beyond materials: The role of terrain and weatherFire doesnt just spread through structuresit moves through landscapes. The risk is significantly influenced by:Slope: Fires move faster uphill, preheating vegetation.Wind: Drives embers miles ahead, sparking new ignitions.Urban fuels: Vehicles, fences, and neighboring homes can create unpredictable fire spread.Reducing risk requires a holistic approachdefensible space, smart urban planning, and proactive vegetation management.How homeowners can build for resilienceWildfires will continue to be a reality in California and beyond, but homeowners can take actionable steps to reduce risk:Defensible space: Clear dry vegetation and use fire-resistant landscaping.Stronger building codes: Follow post-2008 fire-resistant construction standards.Fire-smart design: Consider modular, prefabricated, or 3D-printed homes for speed and safety.Emergency-ready communities: Engage in programs like Firewise USA to enhance neighborhood resilience.Policy and innovation must work togetherWith climate change intensifying fire conditions, policymakers must step up. L.A.s recent executive orders have helped fast-track rebuilding, but we need long-term commitments:Faster approvals for fire-resilient construction: Pre-approved designs and modular solutions can cut rebuilding time significantly.Expanded fire-resistant zoning laws: Smarter land-use policies can prevent high-risk development.Incentives for fireproof homes: Lower insurance rates and grants for fire-resistant retrofits can encourage adoption.The future of rebuilding: A smarter, safer approachRecovering from a wildfire isnt just about rebuildingits about rethinking. We have the technology and knowledge to construct homes that can survive these disasters. Prefabricated and 3D-printed homes offer a scalable, cost-effective solution, reducing reliance on labor while increasing resilience.As difficult as this moment is, its also an opportunity. The lessons from these fires must shape how we build the homes of the futurestronger, safer, and ready for whatever comes next.Gene Eidelman is cofounder of Azure Homes.