John Edwards, Technology Journalist & AuthorApril 10, 20254 Min ReadRebecca Fox, NCC GroupRebecca Fox is group chief information officer at cybersecurity consulting firm NCC Group. Responsible for technology and application strategy and delivery, she has over 15 years of experience leading technology functions, sales, and commercial teams. During her career, Fox has led digital transformations, system implementations, organization design, and complex and diverse technical and development teams on a global scale. Fox has a technical development background, yet her experiences include large-scale project/program/portfolio management, data management and strategy, and service operations. In an online interview, Fox relates her experience trying to successfully assemble a high-stakes puzzle that was critical to her enterprise's long-term success. She notes that the project, while immensely challenging, would ultimately benefit both the organization as well as her personal expertise and confidence. What's the biggest challenge you ever faced during your tenure? A post-M&A integration -- specifically, trying to consolidate CRM platforms across multiple businesses with different cultures, processes, and emotional states. I was tasked with delivering one system, fast. On paper, it looked like a straightforward strategic priority. In reality, it pushed me and my leadership to the edge. Related:What caused the problem? I tried to move faster than the business could absorb. I had the solution, I had the plan, but I hadn’t built enough of the runway. I underestimated the emotional impact of M&A and overestimated the readiness for change. I hadn’t done the people work first. It’s like giving a child bitter medicine -- it may be the right thing, but if you don’t wrap it in understanding, empathy, and communication, they're going to spit it out. How did you resolve the problem? I had to hit pause and reframe the whole project. I focused on outcomes, not process. I also became a lot clearer on the outcome and why. But above all I prioritized relationships, because without trust, there’s no traction. What would have happened if the problem wasn't swiftly resolved? We would have launched a platform no one used. Worse, I would have burned out the team, damaged relationships, and lost momentum at a time when unity was non-negotiable. Change would have stalled, and cynicism would have grown. How long did it take to resolve the problem? The platform landed within months and was received better because of the tension and disagreement that forced us to get aligned. But the leadership lessons? That evolution has taken a career. That M&A moment was just one chapter -- a pivotal one -- but part of a much longer journey in learning how to lead through people, not just through plans. Related:Who supported you during this challenge? My team, even when I didn’t get it right the first time, and a few brave peers who gave me the kind of feedback that stings in the moment but sticks because it's true. Did anyone let you down? Yes -- me. I let myself down by pushing too hard, too fast. I let my team down by not giving them the space to speak up sooner. I’ve had to own that, grow from it, and lead differently since. What advice do you have for other leaders who may face a similar challenge? Build the relationships before you need them. The role of CIO today isn't just about technology, it’s about influence, resilience, and focus. You are the negotiator, the connector, the cheerleader, and you must anchor everything to the big three: grow revenue, increase margins, and reduce risk. That clarity makes it easier for everyone to understand the ‘why’ behind the ‘what.’ Is there anything else you would like to add? It took me too long to realize that relentless focus on the customer is what cuts through the noise. We’re not here to launch platforms. We’re here to make the business better, and that starts by aligning every decision to the outcomes that matter. Progress is messy, tension is necessary, and leadership is about showing up -- especially when it’s hard. Related:About the AuthorJohn EdwardsTechnology Journalist & AuthorJohn Edwards is a veteran business technology journalist. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and numerous business and technology publications, including Computerworld, CFO Magazine, IBM Data Management Magazine, RFID Journal, and Electronic Design. He has also written columns for The Economist's Business Intelligence Unit and PricewaterhouseCoopers' Communications Direct. John has authored several books on business technology topics. His work began appearing online as early as 1983. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, he wrote daily news and feature articles for both the CompuServe and Prodigy online services. His "Behind the Screens" commentaries made him the world's first known professional blogger.See more from John EdwardsWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore ReportsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also Like

The site of a newly discovered ancient Egyptian settlement at Kom el-NugusS. Dhennin Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient Egyptian settlement beneath Hellenistic ruins in the north-western Nile delta that may be as many as 3500 years old. The find provides new evidence of Egyptian expansion during the New Kingdom, a thriving period that lasted from 1550 to 1069 BC. “These periods are well-known for being very rich,” says Sylvain Dhennin at the University of Lyon, France, a member of the team that made the discovery. Some of the most powerful and notable pharaohs, including Akhenaten, Tutankhamun and Ramesses…

This is today's edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. How AI can help supercharge creativity Existing generative tools can automate a striking range of creative tasks and offer near-instant gratification—but at what cost? Some artists and researchers fear that such technology could turn us into passive consumers of yet more AI slop. And so they are looking for ways to inject human creativity back into the process: working on what’s known as co-­creativity or more-than-human creativity. The idea is that AI can be used to inspire or critique creative projects, helping people make things that they would not have made by themselves.The aim is to develop AI tools that augment our creativity rather than strip it from us—pushing us to be better at composing music, developing games, designing toys, and much more—and lay the groundwork for a future in which humans and machines create things together.Ultimately, generative models could offer artists and designers a whole new medium, pushing them to make things that couldn’t have been made before, and give everyone creative superpowers. Read the full story.—Will Douglas Heaven This story is from the next edition of our print magazine, which is all about creativity. Subscribe now to read it and get a copy of the magazine when it lands! Tariffs are bad news for batteries Since Donald Trump announced his plans for sweeping tariffs last week, the vibes have been, in a word, chaotic. Markets have seen one of the quickest drops in the last century, and it’s widely anticipated that the global economic order may be forever changed.   These tariffs could be particularly rough on the battery industry. China dominates the entire supply chain and is subject to monster tariff rates, and even US battery makers won’t escape the effects. Read the full story. —Casey Crownhart This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Review’s weekly climate newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here. The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Donald Trump has announced a 90-day tariff pause for some countries  He’s decided that all the countries that didn’t retaliate against the severe tariffs would receive a reprieve. (The Guardian)+ China, however, is now subject to a whopping 125% tariff. (CNBC)+ Chinese sellers on Amazon are preparing to hike their prices in response. (Reuters)+ Trump’s advisors have claimed the pivot was always part of the plan. (Vox)2 DOGE has fired driverless car safety assessorsMany of whom were in charge of regulating Tesla, among other companies. (FT $)+ The department is being audited by the Government Accountability Office. (Wired $)+ Can AI help DOGE slash government budgets? It’s complex. (MIT Technology Review)3 The cost of a US-made iPhone could rise by 90% Bank of America has crunched the numbers. (Bloomberg $)+ Even so, an American-made iPhone could be inferior quality. (WSJ $)+ Apple has chartered 600 tons of iPhones to India. (Reuters)4 The EU wants to build its own AI gigafactories In a bid to catch up with the US and China. (WSJ $)5 Amazon was forced to cancel its satellite internet launch A rocket carrying a few thousands satellites was unable to take off due to bad weather. (NYT $) 6 America’s air quality is likely to get worseThe Trump administration is rolling back the environmental rules that helped lower air pollution. (The Atlantic $) + The world’s next big environmental problem could come from space. (MIT Technology Review)7 Spammers exploited OpenAI’s tech to blast customized spamThe unwanted messages were distributed over four months. (Ars Technica) 8 Chinese social media is filled with memes mocking Trump’s tariffsFeaturing finance bros and JD Vance unhappily laboring in factories. (Insider $) 9 Do you have a Fortnite accent? Players of the popular game tend to speak in a highly specific way. (Wired $) 10 An em dash is not a giveaway something has been written by AI Humans use it too—and love it. (WP $)+ Not all AI-generated writing is bad. (New Yorker $)+ AI-text detection tools are really easy to fool. (MIT Technology Review) Quote of the day “Entering a group chat is like leaving your front door unlocked and letting strangers wander in.” —Author LM Chilton reflects on the innate dangers of trusting that what you say in a group chat stays in the group chat to Wired. The big story Digital twins of human organs are here. They’re set to transform medical treatment. Steven Niederer, a biomedical engineer at the Alan Turing Institute and Imperial College London, has a cardboard box filled with 3D-printed hearts. Each of them is modeled on the real heart of a person with heart failure, but Niederer is more interested in creating detailed replicas of people’s hearts using computers. These “digital twins” are the same size and shape as the real thing. They work in the same way. But they exist only virtually. Scientists can do virtual surgery on these virtual hearts, figuring out the best course of action for a patient’s condition.After decades of research, models like these are now entering clinical trials and starting to be used for patient care. The eventual goal is to create digital versions of our bodies—computer copies that could help researchers and doctors figure out our risk of developing various diseases and determine which treatments might work best.But the budding technology will need to be developed very carefully. Read the full story to learn why.—Jessica Hamzelou We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.) + Good news pop fans: Madonna and Elton John have ended their decades-long feud.+ It’s time to take a trip to all 15 of these top restaurants across the world.+ These tales of cross-generational friendships are truly heartwarming.+ I’d love to know the secret behind America’s mystery mounds.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released new consumer price index data on Thursday. Scott Olson/Getty Images 2025-04-10T12:33:05Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Inflation in March slowed more than expected again to 2.4% year-over-year, from 2.8% in February. The report reflects price data from before President Donald Trump's latest round of tariffs. Markets and consumers are starting to fear a downturn amid uncertainty brought on by an escalating trade war. Inflation cooled more than expected in March despite President Donald Trump's warnings that he would impose more tariffs.The consumer price index increased 2.4% from a year prior compared to the forecast of 2.5%. It's the second straight month of coolingtrade war escalation.CPI fell 0.1% over the month after rising 0.2% in February and other monthly increases before it. It was expected to increase 0.1%.Economists don't think the slowdown will last, especially after Trump's newest round of tariffs in April."Like the February CPI released last month, any improvement on inflation will be seen as short-lived," Greg McBride, Bankrate's chief financial analyst, said.The new data, along with other coming inflation and jobs reports, will help the Federal Reserve decide in May what to do with interest rates. CME FedWatch, which indicates the chances of changes based on market moves from interest rate traders, shows an over 80% chance the Federal Reserve will hold rates steady once again in May.Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said at the March press conference after Federal Open Market Committee members decided to hold interest rates steady that "a good part" of the unexpected surge in goods inflation in the first two months of 2025 was because of tariffs, partially from consumers and businesses opting to stock up before new duties kick in.A growing chorus of experts say Trump's tariffs will cause an economic downturn and possibly even a recession. The Trump administration has instead argued that tariffs are necessary to balance trade deficits and will benefit the US in the long run after some short-term pain.Meanwhile, the University of Michigan's sentiment measures tumbled again in March. Markets have swung wildly over the last week as Trump introduced and then partially walked back tariffs.It's uncertain how companies will decide to pass costs onto consumers since the latest 10% tariffs on goods from most countries and 125% on imports from China recently went into effect."We are likely to see inflationary outcomes, not only on imported goods but on domestic prices, as input costs rise and demand increases on domestic products," Jamie Dimon, chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, said in his letter to shareholders on Monday, adding that there's still uncertainty around what the tariffs mean for a recession but economic growth will slow.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Recommended video

This story originally appeared in Kids Today, Vox’s newsletter about kids, for everyone. Sign up here for future editions.Having a baby is expensive.You need a car seat. A stroller. A high chair. You need the baby shampoo and then the different baby shampoo for when your baby is allergic to the baby shampoo (maybe just me?).All told, it costs about $20,000 to care for a baby for a year in the US, according to BabyCenter. And thanks to the slate of new tariffs announced on April 2 by the Trump administration and imposed in recent days, it’s about to get a lot more expensive. Trump reversed some tariffs on Wednesday after markets plunged, but went on to increase tariffs on China to 125 percent, while maintaining a 10 percent baseline tariff on goods from nearly all other countries. The tariffs will affect a wide variety of goods, but experts and advocates have voiced special concern about baby items like cribs and strollers, many of which are manufactured overseas, often in China. These items aren’t optional: “The baby has to sleep somewhere,” Martha Gimbel, executive director and co-founder of the Budget Lab at Yale, told me. Even after Trump’s partial reversal, parents could have to contend with myriad price increases for smaller items, from onesies to blueberries. The Budget Lab, which analyzes the impact of federal policy proposals, has estimated the tariffs announced as of April 2 could cost an average household $3,800 per year, or $73 per week, a cost that could hit families especially hard during the early years of parenthood, already a time of enormous financial upheaval.“The Trump administration maintains regular contact with business leaders, industry groups, and everyday Americans, especially about major policy decisions like President Trump’s reciprocal tariff action,” White House deputy press secretary Kush Desai wrote in an email in response to my question about tariffs and costs. “The only special interest guiding President Trump’s decision-making, however, is the best interest of the American people — such as addressing the national emergency posed by our country running chronic trade deficits.”Trump’s concern with trade deficits is at odds with some of his other stated priorities. He has said “we want more babies” in America, and advisers and members of his administration have repeatedly advocated for boosting birth rates. But Trump’s tariff policies risk making it harder for Americans to have children and forcing families to make difficult choices that could affect kids’ quality of life. “You’re taking money away that parents can spend on their children,” Gimbel said. “It means that parents can invest less in their kids.”Which baby necessities will be most affected by tariffs?Last week, on what he called “Liberation Day,” Trump announced tariffs of at least 10 percent on all imported goods, with items from some countries, like China, subject to rates of 34 percent or more. He had previously announced (and in some cases walked back) tariffs on products made in China, Canada, and Mexico; steel; cars, and more. On Wednesday, hours after the “Liberation Day” tariffs went into effect, the White House backed down on some of the highest rates but actually increased the tariff on China.Trump’s trade policy remains rife with uncertainties and could certainly change yet again. However, some lawmakers were worried about the impact of tariffs on families even before “Liberation Day.” On April 1, Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-MN) and 44 other members of Congress sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, warning that the proposed tariffs (then just on Canada, Mexico, and China) would “raise the cost of goods necessary to care for young children, such as car seats, high chairs, strollers, and cribs.”A lot of these items, including popular brands like Chicco and UppaBaby, are manufactured overseas, according to Consumer Reports. They’re already expensive, often costing hundreds of dollars; a stroller and car seat are often the most costly items parents buy for a new baby. “Car seats are not optional; they are mandated by law.”— Dipanjan Chatterjee, vice president and principal analyst at the research firm ForresterIt’s difficult to know exactly how much tariffs will raise prices, because businesses could respond to higher costs in different ways (and because it’s unclear how long the tariffs will stay in place, or whether their size will change). But just to give a sense of what the current tariffs look like in raw numbers, one fairly standard model of Chicco car seat, made in China, retailed for $209.99 at Amazon on Wednesday morning; adding a 125 percent tariff to that would bring the total to $472.48, or about a $262 difference. Even Trump’s original proposal of a 34 percent tariff would hike the cost by about $71.Many parents will have no choice but to pay the higher prices, because items like car seats are needs rather than wants. “If the price of avocados increases, most people will likely buy less — they may skip them entirely, swap queso for guacamole, or invite fewer friends so they have to make less guacamole,” Dipanjan Chatterjee, vice president and principal analyst at the research firm Forrester, told me in an email. “However, car seats are not optional; they are mandated by law.” Most hospitals require a car seat to even discharge a baby after birth.While the big stuff like strollers and car seats may be the most visible, tariffs could impact a host of smaller items as well. Babies and young kids famously grow out of (and poop all over) their clothes incredibly quickly, necessitating constant replacement. With clothing prices expected to rise, “the financial burden on parents is significant, and it is one they will have to contend with over and over again,” Chatterjee said.Diapers and formula — two more huge line items in family budgets — are often made in the US, but not always. During our interview, Gimbel discovered that her 9-month-old’s diapers were made in Canada and hastily took steps to order more.Then there’s food, likely one of the first categories to show price increases due to tariffs, according to Gimbel. Fresh fruit, in particular, is often imported, and tariffs could drive up families’ already considerable berry budgets. Families may be able to switch to cheaper options, but young kids are less flexible around food than adults are, and grocery bills were straining many parents’ finances even before tariff talk began.High prices will hit families with kids especially hardHigher prices on items like strollers and car seats could push more parents toward Buy Nothing groups and other secondhand solutions, already popular in many urban areas. But that won’t work for everything — car seats, for example, have expiration dates after which they’re no longer considered safe, and some experts recommend against getting them secondhand. Also, “you cannot get secondhand diapers,” Gimbel said.Finding a used alternative for other items is also an additional task for overstretched parents. Tariffs will force them to pay more either in money or in time spent sourcing cheaper options, Gimbel said.New parents are also ill-placed to afford sudden price hikes. They tend to have lower incomes than the average American, in part because they’re simply earlier in their careers, Gimbel said. Families with babies and young kids also often see their household income drop because one parent takes unpaid time off to care for a child (the US remains the only wealthy country without nationwide paid parental leave).Those most affected by tariffs will be working-class and poor families, because any price increase represents a larger percentage of their income. A $262 price hike on a car seat (or even a $71 hike), for example, is going to hurt a lot more if you make $30,000 a year than if you make $100,000. Lower-income families will have to make more difficult sacrifices if prices rise, said Kimberly Clausing, an economist at UCLA. That could mean skimping on basic necessities like heat, food, or medical care.Low-income families are also more vulnerable if tariffs lead to a recession, something many experts predicted after Liberation Day. “It’s not just ‘pay more at the store,’ it’s the fact that you might lose your job and your livelihood altogether,” Clausing said.And while parents will surely do their best to shield their kids from the impact of higher prices and economic turmoil, suddenly having less money in the house has an effect on kids too. Policies that put money into parents’ pockets, like publicly funded child care and child tax credits, can improve outcomes for children, improving high school graduation rates and even boosting future earnings. A policy that takes money away from parents could have the opposite effect, Gimbel said, disadvantaging kids down the road.Supporters of Trump’s tariffs have argued that Americans are too accustomed to “cheap goods.” But the impact for families won’t just be about making do with a smaller TV. It could mean sending your kid to school in shoes that hurt, or stopping contributions to a college fund, or foregoing therapy for a child with a disability because you can no longer manage the cost. “Having more money to be able to spend on and invest in your kid makes a difference to you, and it makes a difference to your kid,” Gimbel said. Having less money will make a difference, too.What I’m readingThe Trump administration has gotten rid of an office responsible for overseeing child care centers in federal buildings, which could lead to higher costs and center closures.A second child has died as the measles outbreak that began in Texas continues to spread.In better news: About two weeks ago, a mother and three children — a third-grader, a 10th-grader, and an 11th-grader — were taken into immigration custody in Sackets Harbor, New York, the small town where Trump “border czar” Tom Homan lives. But after hundreds protested and the principal of the children’s school wrote a letter emphasizing “how long every hour feels for a third grader in a detention center,” the family was reportedly released this week.My older kid and I have been reading The Legend of Brightblade, a graphic novel about a society rebuilding itself after a period known as “the dark years.”From my inboxI’ve been thinking a lot about young kids and the future recently, and how talking to them can force us to step outside the confines of our current moment and consider how different the world could look in 10 or 20 years. In the coming weeks, I’m planning a newsletter on kids’ hopes and dreams, and I’d love to hear from you: What do the kids in your life want to be when they grow up? What do they want to do in the world? Let me know at anna.north@vox.com.See More:

Getting worried about GTA 6? You're not alone, but Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has said it's all part of the plan — here's what he had to say in a recent interviewTech11:48, 10 Apr 2025Will GTA 6 make 2025 after all?You've got to hand it to Rockstar Games — the team does what it wants, and in a world of games being revealed years in advance, the company has sat on Grand Theft Auto 6 for almost 18 months.The game is likely to be the biggest game of 2025 (and likely of all time), but as we covered yesterday, the studio's radio silence has fans feeling a little cautious about getting their hopes up — could GTA 6 be hit with a late delay?‌Article continues belowWhile the prevailing timeline is an October launch, we're still waiting for Rockstar to give us a second trailer. In fact, we're waiting to get just about anything.As it happens, though, it's all part of the plan.‌Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick spoke to Bloomberg recently, and was asked about GTA 6's marketing campaign — or lack thereof.“We do have competitors who will describe their release schedule for years in advance,” Zelnick said.“We found that the better thing to do is to provide marketing materials relatively close to the release window in order to create that excitement on the one hand and balance the excitement with unmet anticipation. We don’t always get it exactly right, but that’s what we are trying to do.”‌GTA 6 is still slated for 2025, as far as we know(Image: Rockstar Games/AFP via Getty Ima)Zelnick is right, though — Rockstar has done this to great effect. GTA 5's first trailer debuted in November 2011, before the second one arrived in April 2013, just months before its eventual launch.‌Red Dead Redemption 2 got trailers in October 2016 and September 2017, with the game eventually launching in 2018 following a series of delays.“The anticipation for [GTA 6] may be the greatest I’ve ever seen for an entertainment property, and I’ve been around the block a few times and I’ve been in every entertainment business there is," Zelnick told Bloomberg."We want to maintain the anticipation and the excitement,” he added — which means this quiet period could be the calm before the storm.Article continues belowFor more on GTA 6, check out why Rockstar Games might follow a Nintendo-set precedent for its pricing, and how other publishers are scrambling to clear the game's inevitable 'blast zone'.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.‌‌‌

Nintendo is making a mess of the Switch 2 reveal as confusion reigns over prices Michael Beckwith Published April 10, 2025 12:35pm Updated April 10, 2025 12:36pm Why has Nintendo been so vague with Switch 2 details? (Nintendo) After saying Switch 2 Edition games won’t have native Switch 2 versions, another statement from Nintendo now says the exact opposite. Earlier this week, a brouhaha kicked off when it was reported that physical versions of Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games (upgraded re-releases of Switch 1 games) technically didn’t exist. According to a Nintendo customer support representative, physical copies come with the Switch 1 version and a download code for the upgrade. This quickly garnered a lot of outrage from fans and even accusations of false advertising. However, a new statement from Nintendo says the exact opposite and yet there’s still uncertainty around the issue and a number of other important details from last week’s Nintendo Direct. When we contacted Nintendo UK this week, for clarification on Switch 2 Edition games, they were unable to either confirm or deny whether physical Switch 2 Edition games would just be the Switch 1 versions plus a download code or an actual Switch 2 cartridge. Australian outlet Vooks received a very different and more concrete answer, presumably from Nintendo Australia: ‘Physical versions of Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will include the original Nintendo Switch game and its upgrade pack all on the same game card (i.e. they are exclusively Nintendo Switch 2 game cards, with no download code).’ They also added, ‘Some publishers may release Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games as download codes in physical packaging, with no game card.’ Although so far no third party Switch 2 Edition games have been announced. Taken at face value, physical Switch 2 Editions published by Nintendo will have the complete package on the cartridge, with no additional download required. However, there’s no obvious reason to think that Nintendo Australia are correct and the support representative isn’t, especially as the wording on the box cover is very ambiguous. Nintendo UK’s inability to either confirm or deny the situation also suggests that the matter is far from settled. Why Nintendo didn’t just make the situation clear from the start, or at least once the controversary began, is a mystery. If Nintendo Australia know what’s going on why doesn’t everyone else, and if Nintendo Australia is wrong why hasn’t a more senior division clarified the situation? It may be that the rules are different depending on the region, but that would be very strange. What’s more likely is that most regions do not know, or have been told not to say, and either Australia is guessing or is speaking out of turn (from Nintendo of Japan’s point of view). This isn’t the only example of Nintendo withholding information and inspiring wild speculation. Nintendo never revealed how much Switch 2 games cost during last week’s showcase, which left everyone scouring the internet for information and for a time many American fans mistakenly believed the games would cost as much as $90, based on a direct conversion of the European prices. At the time of writing, only two Switch 2 exclusives have official UK prices: Mario Kart World at £74.99 physically and £66.99 digitally, and Donkey Kong Bananza at £66.99 physically and £58.99 digitally. At the same time as we asked about the Switch 2 Editions we asked Nintendo about the price of Welcome Tour (which has been announced for other regions), Drag X Drive, and other titles but were told simply, ‘We don’t have anything to announce on that topic.’ Switch 2 Editions will cost £66.99 physically, but there’s no clue how much they will be digitally or what the upgrade cost is in the UK (we also asked about that). In the US, the two Legend Of Zelda games cost $10 each to upgrade, which would be about £8 each in the UK, but that’s only an estimation. More Trending Considering Nintendo has talked a lot about embracing variable pricing for its games, it’s assumed that some games, like Kirby: Air Riders and the new Hyrule Warriors, will cost less – perhaps around £50. If that’s true it would make it clearer that Mario Kart World is something of an exceptional case, but because Nintendo won’t reveal the other prices nobody knows for sure. Even things like the new wireless GameCube controller haven’t been thoroughly explained. Only recently was it discovered that the fine print for its announcement mentions that it’s only compatible with GameCube games on the Nintendo Switch Online service and thus can’t be used with Switch 2 games. It’s possible this is inaccurate, since Nintendo has said the same thing about previous retro controllers, which did turn out to work, but that only makes things worse. Between a lack of specific details (Nintendo didn’t even say how much the console cost during the showcase) and conflicting statements, the only thing that’s clear is that Nintendo has fumbled the ball and turned what should have been an exciting start to its next generation into an aggravating slog of ambiguous statements and educated guesses. Everyone missed that small, easy to miss text at the top (YouTube) Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. GameCentral Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

By Matt Novak Published April 10, 2025 | Comments (0) | U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon attends the executive order signing ceremony to reduce the size and scope of the Education Department in the East Room of the White House on March 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. © Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Secretary of Education Linda McMahon is currently working to shut down the Department of Education at the behest of President Donald Trump, leaving her plenty of time to talk on panels about the future of schools—or lack of a future, as it were. McMahon’s appearance at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego this week included a rather amusing mix-up. McMahon repeatedly referred to AI by the name “A1.” Yes, just like the steak sauce. The video of the conference was livestreamed on YouTube, where you can hear it for yourself. “I heard, I think it was a letter or a report that I heard this morning, I wish I could remember the source, but that there is a school system that’s going to start making sure that first graders or even pre-k’s have A1 teaching every year, starting that far down in the grades,” McMahon said. And just in case it seemed like McMahon had misspoken once, she said A1 again, all while calling kids “sponges.” “And that’s just a wonderful thing. Kids are sponges. They just absorb everything,” McMahon continued. “So it wasn’t all that long ago that we’re going to have internet in our schools. Now, okay, let’s see A1 and how can that be helpful? How can it be helpful in one-on-one instruction? How can it be helpful in absorbing more information for those fast learners? It can be more one-on-one directed. And those are the kinds of things and innovations that I want to see continue to develop.” The most confusing part about her mistake is that McMahon, who’s 76 years old, refers to AI other times, including just before you can hear her repeatedly say A1. Does Secretary McMahon know about some kind of special AI technology that goes by the name A1? It’s entirely possible, but Gizmodo was unable to get an answer from the Department of Education via email. McMahon has a net worth of roughly $3.2 billion and took the job of Education Secretary with the explicit goal of destroying the department. McMahon was asked about why she was dismantling the agency, and her response was that the country didn’t always have a Department of Education and that Americans need to get more “innovative” and “creative” when it comes to educating kids. The power to properly eliminate the department actually rests with Congress, so Trump and McMahon have obliterated it only as far as they can. Republicans in the Senate have introduced a bill to formally close the agency, but it’s still not clear how that legislation will fare. Hopefully, they figure out the difference between AI and A1 while they work to erase public education in the United States. Daily Newsletter You May Also Like By Thomas Maxwell Published April 9, 2025 By Matt Novak Published April 9, 2025 By Lucas Ropek Published April 9, 2025 By Matt Novak Published April 9, 2025 By Matt Novak Published April 8, 2025 Maleeka Singh, Maria G. Corradini, Robert Hanner, The Conversation Published April 8, 2025

The Evolution of Gas Stations: From Roadside Stops to Architectural LandmarksSave this picture!Skovshoved Petrol Station / Arne Jacobsen. Image © Di Madeira78, via Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0The gas station is an architectural typology that has undergone significant transformations since its inception. Initially, these structures were simple roadside refueling points designed for functionality rather than aesthetics. As automobile culture expanded, gas stations evolved to accommodate new technologies, shifting urban landscapes and changing consumer behaviors. Over time, they became more than just utilitarian stops — they developed into service hubs, integrating restaurants, motels, and leisure spaces, responding to contemporary transportation increasing demands.By the late 20th century, however, the widespread standardization of gas stations led them to be perceived as "non-places", a concept defined by anthropologist Marc Augé to describe transient spaces that lack social or cultural significance. With uniform designs and a focus on efficiency, gas stations became interchangeable, reinforcing their role as purely functional infrastructure rather than meaningful architectural interventions. This standardization also departed from the era when fuel stations served as recognizable landmarks, contributing to a homogenized landscape devoid of local identity.Today, with the rise of electric vehicles, gas stations — and their emerging counterpart, charging stations — are undergoing yet another transformation. Unlike conventional fueling, EV charging requires extended dwell times, necessitating new spatial configurations. This shift redefines the architectural significance of these infrastructures, turning them from fleeting stops into places of permanence and interaction, challenging architects to rethink their role in contemporary mobility networks. Related Article What is the Future of the Gas Station? Save this picture!The Early Days: Functionality and Roadside LandmarksThe first gas stations emerged in the early 20th century as automobiles became more prevalent. Initially, small, kiosk-like structures staffed by attendants, these early fueling points prioritized practicality over architectural expression. However, by the 1920s and 1930s, oil companies began to recognize the potential of architecture as a powerful branding tool. Station designs quickly became standardized, establishing distinctive visual identities and serving as landmarks along expanding highway networks. Notable projects from this period include Frank Lloyd Wright's R.W. Lindholm Service Station (1958) in Minnesota, which exemplifies how gas stations started integrating into a broader architectural language, moving beyond their purely utilitarian origins.Save this picture!These early stations served as visual markers along highways, adopting Art Deco and Streamline Moderne styles to express speed, modernity, and technological progress. Bold geometric forms, neon signage, and sleek lines became symbols of an optimistic automobile age, creating an instantly recognizable architectural language. Companies like Shell and Texaco developed signature station designs that became synonymous with their corporate identity, blending efficiency with an aesthetic appeal that reflected the optimism of the automobile age. Some designs, such as the Shell clamshell stations of the 1930s, became icons in their own right, demonstrating how branding and architecture could merge to create distinctive roadside landmarks.Save this picture!Save this picture!A significant architectural innovation was the canopy — originally a practical shelter protecting attendants and customers from weather conditions. Over time, however, canopies became central design elements, evolving from functional features into expressive architectural statements. Architect Eliot Noyes's Esso Mobil Station in Leicester (1960s) exemplifies this shift, using its bold geometric canopy as a clear statement of modernist aesthetics and corporate identity. Similarly, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's 1963 Standard Station in Montreal integrated the architect's minimalist principles into gas station design, employing clean lines and extensive glazing to redefine the aesthetic language of fueling infrastructure. In the UK, National Benzole adopted distinctive pagoda-like canopies, illustrating how architectural form could reinforce visual branding and create memorable landmarks.Save this picture!In "Studies on Types: Filling Stations" publication, the Architectural historian Tiago Borges emphasizes the symbolic and practical significance of canopies in Western gas station design, noting: In the West, the canopy became the raison d'être of the service station, where complexity and contradiction meet. On one hand, this element can be seen as the sign of the service station — the 'decorated' canopy. On the other hand, it is also the element whose form and presence carry identity and function — the 'duck' canopy"- The canopy became the quintessential working element for designers and architects who never tried of designing it while the kiosk or convenience store remained faithful to the image of a regular rectangular box with functional interiors. Save this picture!Save this picture!This dual role illustrates the architectural complexity and communicative potential inherent in gas station canopies, establishing them as fundamental components in the historical and cultural narrative of roadside architecture.Mid-Century Expansion: The Rise of Service HubsThe mid-20th century marked a transformative era in gas station architecture, closely tied to broader social and economic developments. Post-war prosperity, the mass production of affordable automobiles, suburban expansion, and extensive highway construction projects reshaped mobility patterns significantly.Save this picture!In the United States, the development of the Interstate Highway System spurred long-distance travel, creating the need for comprehensive roadside amenities. Gas stations responded by evolving beyond their initial role as mere fueling stops, transforming into multifunctional service hubs. Integrating diners, motels, repair shops, and retail outlets, these facilities became vital nodes within the emerging automobile-centric culture, designed to encourage prolonged visits rather than transient stops.Save this picture!The architectural expression of gas stations during this period reflected both functional demands and evolving consumer expectations. Large-scale developments, such as the iconic American highway rest stops, exemplified this transformation. In Europe, the Italian Autogrill network introduced highway stations that combined sophisticated architectural forms with practical needs, often employing bold, cantilevered structures spanning highways. These rest areas served as functional infrastructure — landmarks embodying the spirit of mobility, leisure, and modern life.Save this picture!The introduction of self-service pumps in the 1970s significantly reshaped gas station design, emphasizing efficiency and convenience over distinct architectural expression. This shift resulted in smaller, simplified footprints, reduced staffing requirements, and standardized layouts. Technological advances in payment systems and pump automation facilitated independent refueling, accelerating a broader societal trend towards efficiency and impersonality. Early adopters of this self-service model, including the United States and Sweden, established a blueprint that influenced fueling infrastructure globally, gradually eroding architectural diversity in favor of uniformity and convenience.Save this picture!However, not all mid-century gas station architecture succumbed to standardization; architects such as Arne Jacobsen integrated refined modernist aesthetics into everyday structures. Jacobsen's Skovshoved Petrol Station (1936) in Denmark demonstrated how clean lines, minimalist detailing, and a visually striking canopy could elevate a utilitarian space into an architectural landmark. This structure represented a deliberate contrast with the exaggerated, futuristic automotive designs of the time, revealing tensions between architectural minimalism and popular design excess.Save this picture!The Concept of the 'Non-Place': Gas Stations as Transitory SpacesBy the late 20th century, gas station architecture underwent a marked transition toward standardization, reflecting broader trends in prefabrication, globalization, and operational efficiency. Architectural individuality diminished significantly as standardized designs, driven by cost optimization and rapid construction methods, became the dominant approach. This era was defined by modular, prefabricated structures designed primarily for functional effectiveness rather than aesthetic consideration or contextual integration. Consequently, gas stations gradually lost their status as unique roadside landmarks and instead became interchangeable, generic entities disconnected from their surroundings and local identities.Save this picture!Anthropologist Marc Augé captured this broader cultural shift through his concept of "non-places" —spaces characterized by anonymity, transience, and purely functional interactions. Augé's idea effectively encapsulated the architectural evolution of gas stations, transforming them from thoughtfully designed destinations into transient points of minimal human engagement. Designed chiefly for the efficient processing of vehicles and drivers, gas stations became isolated functional islands in both urban and suburban landscapes, intentionally divorced from social or cultural interactions. The station layout itself was increasingly defined by optimization strategies — focusing solely on minimizing refueling times, maximizing customer turnover, and simplifying circulation.Save this picture!This architectural homogenization was part of a wider phenomenon affecting various public and commercial spaces, including airports, shopping malls, highways, and hotels. Like gas stations, these infrastructures evolved to prioritize seamless transit and high throughput, resulting in designs that suppressed architectural expressiveness in favor of predictable, standardized experiences. Consequently, local cultural nuances, historical references, or contextual sensitivity were systematically minimized or abandoned entirely.Save this picture!The proliferation of standardized stations can also be linked to changing economic models within the petroleum industry. As gas station franchises and multinational oil corporations sought to ensure consistent customer experiences globally, branding strategies and architectural decisions became centralized, further diminishing localized design variations. Uniform corporate colors, repetitive signage, and identical canopy and convenience store layouts established a globally recognizable — but culturally neutral — identity.Save this picture!This transition represented a significant departure from earlier eras, where architects consciously utilized distinctive designs to express modernity, progress, or corporate identity. The result was a built environment increasingly dominated by indistinct, purely utilitarian structures that deliberately minimized their spatial and aesthetic significance. It raises critical questions about the role of architecture in shaping public life and the responsibility to create meaningful places rather than merely functional infrastructure.The Electric Revolution and the Future of Fueling InfrastructureThe rapid adoption of electric vehicles is fundamentally reshaping the architectural paradigm of fueling stations. Unlike traditional refueling — typically quick and transactional — electric charging involves significantly longer waiting periods. While technological innovations progressively reduce charging durations, the current reality necessitates new spatial and functional considerations for charging stations. This transformation challenges the established architecture of fueling infrastructure, shifting the focus from purely operational efficiency toward accommodating prolonged stays.Save this picture!Despite these changes, service station architecture has historically remained surprisingly static. Tiago Borges notes that "amid the rapid evolution of automotive technology, service stations have remained largely unchanged", maintaining a consistent global image rooted in their earliest iterations. The persistence of the traditional station typology — comprising fuel pumps, canopy, convenience store, and ancillary services — underscores an enduring architectural identity that resisted radical innovation for decades.Save this picture!Architectural responses to these new realities are already evident in contemporary projects, reshaping the conventional image. COBE's Ultra-Fast Charging Station in Denmark (2019) exemplifies this shift with modular wooden canopies designed to create inviting, human-scaled environments conducive to extended stays. Similarly, Tesla's Supercharger network integrates spaces for relaxation, socialization, and leisure, redefining the fueling stop into a meaningful and enjoyable pause within journeys.Save this picture!The critical impact of electric vehicles on fueling stations is not solely related to prolonged charging times but, more significantly, to the possibility of charging vehicles virtually anywhere. This shift toward decentralized, omnipresent charging — akin to charging personal electronic devices — may ultimately lead to the obsolescence of standalone stations, dissolving traditional boundaries between infrastructure and everyday spaces.Save this picture!This evolving landscape represents both a threat and an opportunity for conventional gas stations. With the decreasing need for conventional fueling, many of these structures face a stark choice: adapt and reinvent themselves or risk closure. According to recent studies cited by Tiago, this changing dynamic predicts a dramatic decline in traditional fuel sales — up to 36% — and a corresponding 43% reduction in the number of service stations across the EU by 2050. This shift translates into nearly 47,000 structures needing adaptation, reconversion, or dismantling.Save this picture!Architectural innovation is also reflected in adaptive reuse projects that envision the future of obsolete service stations. For instance, Carmody Groarke's conversion of a former petrol station at London's King's Cross illustrates how existing fueling infrastructure might be creatively repurposed to accommodate new uses, from dining and cultural programs to public gathering spaces. Such projects underscore the transformative potential inherent in existing fueling typologies, highlighting the opportunity for architecture to guide the shift from transient, purely functional non-places toward active urban nodes enriched by social and cultural interactions.Save this picture!Looking forward, the architecture of fueling infrastructure will increasingly emphasize adaptability, sustainability, and integration within the broader urban fabric. Stations may transform into multifunctional urban energy hubs seamlessly embedded within residential, commercial, and public spaces. Rather than existing as isolated nodes, these infrastructures could play an active role in community building and urban revitalization, transcending their functional origins to support richer, socially engaged urban experiences.Save this picture! Image gallerySee allShow less About this authorDiogo Borges FerreiraAuthor••• Cite: Diogo Borges Ferreira. "The Evolution of Gas Stations: From Roadside Stops to Architectural Landmarks" 10 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1028278/the-evolution-of-gas-stations-from-roadside-stops-to-architectural-landmarks&gt ISSN 0719-8884

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