Jeremy Rafuse, Vice President, Head of IT and Digital Workplace, GoToDecember 31, 20245 Min Readchombosan via Alamy StockIT infrastructure is the building block of any thriving company. Whether implementing process improvements, setting up new revenue streams, or adopting advanced technologies, long-term business success depends on the work accomplished with the tools and teams operating on the base floor.In recent years, adopting artificial intelligence has become a top priority for companies seeking a competitive advantage and looking to propel digital transformation efforts further. The benefits of AI are becoming increasingly well-known and touted, but IT teams know that AI is not a magic bullet; in fact, there are several crucial factors and steps required for successful implementation. Moreover, deploying new tools and technologies is a massive undertaking and can present a host of logistical issues related to the larger systems powering these capabilities. For companies looking to get started with AI, this is where many will thrive or fail: establishing an IT ecosystem that is robust enough to facilitate current progress and support future innovation.Assessing Operational MaturityIn years past, many companies built their IT infrastructures as a composite of different tools and environments. Some solutions were adopted to enable better development, while others were chosen to facilitate collaboration and data security. These systems were hosted on-premises, in-the-cloud, or hybrid environments. In many cases, they barely talked to one another or were given different permissions to continue working as the company grew and evolved.Related:This fragmented and piecemeal approach may have worked for getting a new IT system off the ground, but it cannot effectively support the intertwined and complex AI systems of the future. Instead, companies must focus on achieving operational maturity, or the ability to seamlessly leverage different technologies to achieve overall business objectives. To gain operational maturity, IT leaders and teams need to foster unified IT environments, eliminate redundancies, and integrate centralized management of key support functions such as device management, remote access capabilities, integration among IT support tools, and endpoint management, among others.If one (or several) of these areas is outdated, your ability to manage your IT network effectively will be limited -- and it will be nearly impossible to implement more advanced systems that use AI.Improve Data Quality and ManagementFor many companies, a major problem in leveraging AI has been a lack of efficiency in data quality and management. Ultimately, AI is only as smart as the data it receives and is trained on. Some businesses dont know what data they have on hand, while others cannot access the full scope of information needed due to various factors like segmented or siloed data. To remedy this, its imperative that IT teams look at the systems currently handling data storage and utilization and improve or sunset legacy systems wherever possible.Related:A major part of this process is evaluating which vendors provide your critical data services. This includes assessing the following: How is your data being stored and operationalized? Do you have access to data analytics services? If you were to set up an AI assistant or training system, would you have immediate access to your data, or would there be a bottleneck? Finally, can your vendor even support (or secure) your move to an IT system that incorporates advanced artificial intelligence?If the answer is no to any of the above questions, then you might consider reevaluating your vendor choices. Some companies are looking to consolidate IT vendors, while others are exploring migration to the cloud to improve flexibility while offloading maintenance and updates. And, since so many of todays vendors realize the need for systems that integrate these capabilities, there is a high chance you can find one that offers a comprehensive suite of solutions attuned to your business needs.Related:New Tools for AI Learning andSecuritySo far, our main concern has been successfully hosting and utilizing AI systems at an infrastructure level. However, giving your IT teams the necessary tools and skills to support and secure these new models is just as important. After all, IT workers are learning alongside the rest of the world how to deploy and troubleshoot AI, and they need the proper means to do so.The good news is that the available options have greatly improved in recent years. AI webinars and conferences are now widespread, as well as employee training programs that allow workers to gain hands-on experience with this technology before implementation. By investing in opportunities for continuing education, companies are giving IT leaders and agents the means to understand AI first-hand and assess where and how it can make a difference in the organization.On a day-to-day level, IT workers must have the means to quickly and effectively manage AI-powered systems. Crucially, this includes understanding who has access to AI tools, how theyre using them, and what data is available for these purposes. It is good practice for IT teams to implement encryption, multifactor authentication (MFA), and access controls to safeguard proprietary information and customer data from bad actors. Remote support and management tools can also help ensure that the proper applications, patches, and security software protect employees without the need for them to take action. While you want AI to learn (and grow) using company data, it is pivotal that this is accomplished in a way that respects the integrity and security of your organization -- and IT workers play an integral role in ensuring the safeguards are in place to allow this to happen.As AI continues to permeate various business functions -- and transforms the workplace as we know it -- ensuring a dynamic and robust IT ecosystem will be key for sustainable and competitive growth.About the AuthorJeremy RafuseVice President, Head of IT and Digital Workplace, GoToJeremy Rafuse has been with GoTo since 2010 in various IT leadership roles. Since 2021, Jeremy has served as the companys head of IT and the Digital Workplace Team. In this role, Jeremy leads GoTos remote-centric IT operations for its over 3,000 global employees. Prior to his time at GoTo, Jeremy worked in system engineer and system administrator roles for companies such as Phase Forward and Avid Technology. Jeremy is based in the Boston area.See more from Jeremy RafuseNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports

Croissant dough made from Savors farm-free butterSavorGrowing numbers of people will be able to sample new types of butter, chocolate and ice cream made without input from animals, plants or soil in 2025.A cluster of start-ups are working on producing food directly from energy and raw materials like carbon and hydrogen. They argue that bypassing photosynthesis and traditional agriculture will ease pressure on wild land and the climate.These firms are now approaching a critical juncture in their journey to commercialisation, with the

A Jeju Air plane crashed on Sunday, killing 179 people. The CEO addressed reporters on Tuesday.Its CEO, Kim E-bae, outlined how the airline plans to regain trust after the catastrophic crash.He apologized, pledged compensation for victims, and announced scheduling changes focused on safety.The CEO of Jeju Air addressed reporters on Tuesday, outlining how the airline plans to recover from the catastrophic crash that killed 179 people.Kim E-bae announced measures he hoped would steady the firm in its deepest crisis, in the face of intense anger from victims' families.Jeju's flight 7C2216 crash-landed on Sunday, hitting a barrier and bursting into flames after touching down without its landing gear.All but two of the 181 people on board died, making it South Korea's worst-ever air disaster. The cause is still being investigated. The Boeing 737-800 crash killed 179 out of 181 people onboard. Chris Jung/NurPhoto via Getty Images An airline in crisisJeju's shares tanked by 16% on the news, touching a record low on Monday. They rallied a little to close 8.7% lower before South Korean markets closed for the New Year.Passengers began mass-canceling tickets, with at least 68,000 in a day.On Tuesday, Kim held a press conference in Seoul and apologized, saying he knew Jeju had a huge task to regain fliers' trust.The BBC covered and translated the press conference.Kim gave some new information about Flight 7C2216, though he said the answer for why it crashed would have to wait for the formal investigation.He said the pre-flight inspection of the Beong 737-800 showed nothing "abnormal" about the plane or the landing gear.He also cited the airline's safety policies, saying all flights require sign-off from maintenance crews and that pilots are trained to high standards.Full responsibilityHe said Jeju would take full responsibility for addressing the disaster, a notable pledge since nobody has formally determined Jeju to be at fault.Kim addressed the cancelations and said he knew they would continue until passengers had confidence in Jeju again.He also said the airline would offer onsite support at Muan International Airport for the grieving families gathered there, and prepare an emergency compensation package.He also said Jeju staff, too, would receive support to help them mourn their colleagues.At an earlier press event on Sunday, Kim apologized for the disaster and said the company's top priority was to support the families, per BBC News.Schedule changes, emphasis on safetyKim said on Tuesday that Jeju would trim its schedules to give it more scope to focus on safety, decreasing air traffic by 10 to 15% until March.Kim said the reduction did not mean Jeju was running too many planes beforehand.Kim told reporters that even though Jeju Air has received the most fines of any Korean airline, its safety record improved over the years.He said the airline increased its number of maintenance personnel since 2019.Dodging questionsKim avoided directly answering a question about the barrier near the end of the runway that the plane hit.Safety experts have focused on it as a possible reason the crash was so deadly.Todd Curtis, founder of Air Safe Media, told CNBC of the barrier: "Certainly that made it difficult to stop the aircraft safely."It could take investigators weeks, months, or even longer to uncover the exact cause of the crash.A team of US National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing officials are supporting the South Korean authorities with the investigation.

My kids and I went to Venice, and we preferred a rowing lesson to a gondola ride.The gondola ride was disappointing, but the rowing lesson I booked was exciting.Next time, I'd skip the gondola ride altogether.A gondola ride in Venice is one of the most iconic experiences in Europe. When I recently visited Italy with my children, it was one of the experiences I was most looking forward to sharing with them.I booked a 30-minute ride for 80 euros, or about $83. When I first stepped into the gondola, I was thrilled. However, I quickly realized that my expectations were too high.Our ride was down Venice's Grand Canal, the most famous one in the city, and I knew that was a mistake almost right away. Pulling away from the dock alongside several other boats reminded me of rush hour.Things didn't get much better once we were on our way. Our gondola was sandwiched between two other boats, and I was worried about getting bumped the entire time.Instead of telling us about the buildings we were passing, my gondolier spent most of the ride talking to the gondolier rowing the boat in front of us.After the 30-minute ride, we were left disappointed and looking for more.I didn't want to leave Venice without having a better experience on the canals I found a rowing lesson that looked interesting. Jamie Davis Smith Although Venice has great gelato and pizza and a stunning cathedral, that's not what makes the city unique.It's one of the few places built entirely along canals, and they're a huge part of life in the city.I didn't want to leave without getting the fully immersive experience of being rowed through the city in a way that didn't feel chaotic and rushed.When I was looking for activities in Venice, I had initially breezed past a rowing lesson with Row Venice, an all-female rowing company. However, after our disappointing gondola ride, I gave it another look and decided to book a 130-euro lesson.Luckily, our rowing lesson was way more excitingAfter a brief delay due to rain, my kids and I hopped in a boat called a batelina with our rowing instructor. I was initially disappointed that we wouldn't be in a gondola, but batelinas are so similar that I could barely tell the difference.Our instructor explained that batelinas are more stable and, therefore, better suited for inexperienced rowers.Row Venice offers lessons in the Grand Canal, but I chose to have ours in a quieter canal.Stepping into the batelina, I immediately felt more relaxed. Our instructor was attentive and gave us her full attention I didn't feel l like I was intruding in a private a gossip session with the boat next to us.Within the first couple of minutes of the rowing lesson, I knew it was going to be a lot closer to what I imagined my gondola ride would be like.I wish we skipped the gondola ride and just did a rowing lesson instead The rowing lesson was totally worth it. Jamie Davis Smith Our lesson was cut a little short because of the weather, so we didn't get to experience the full 80 minutes in the boat. Still, it was close to an hour, which was a lot better than the 30-minute gondola ride.During our time in the batelina, my kids and I each spent some time rowing and the rest being rowed by our instructor. We also learned about traditional Venitian rowing techniques, the different types of boats used in the city, and some of the buildings we rowed past.Even though it was more expensive, the rowing lesson was a much better valueIf I ever visit Venice again, I wouldn't hesitate to book another one, but it would be hard to convince us to give a gondola ride another try.

Tim Cook placed big bets on the Vision Pro and Apple Intelligence in 2024. iPhone sales are flattening, prompting Apple to search for new revenue drivers. However, early signs suggest Apple's bets on the two futuristic technologies are struggling.When Tim Cook joined Apple in the late nineties, he would have had little idea he'd be leading two of its most momentous bets as CEO more than a quarter century later: the Vision Pro and Apple Intelligence. Their stuttering starts, however, have thrown the success of the high-stakes moves into question and given Cook an uphill battle to turn them around in 2025. Vision Pro, a huge bet on a world of headset wearers enthralled by virtual and augmented reality, has received a tepid response. And Apple's take on the generative AI trend that has swept Silicon Valley since the introduction of ChatGPT has also lagged behind rival offerings."2024 was another year where Apple failed to break out a killer new product line," said Jamie MacEwan, senior media analyst at Enders Analysis, a research firm. Failure to turn these futuristic platforms into generation-defining products could have long-lasting implications.Though Apple has turned the iPhone into a cash cow iPhone net sales generated $201.2 billion in its last fiscal year sales have started to flatten, leaving the Cupertino-based giant puzzling over its next big thing.Apple remains a powerful force, of course. It has risen more than 35% year-to-date to a market capitalization of $3.81 trillion, trading bragging rights of being the world's most valuable company with Microsoft and Nvidia in the climb to its all-time high.But much of its long-term future could hinge on its success in turning its new visionary technologies into offerings with the star power of the iPhone.A blurred vision Apple's Vision Pro has struggled to gain traction. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images When the Vision Pro first went on sale in February, Apple was ready to convince everyone that what they were seeing was the future. As Cook put it ahead of the launch, the Vision Pro marked "the most advanced consumer electronics device ever created."That's been a tougher sell than he'd like. For one, owning Apple's futuristic headset which combines virtual and augmented reality to create a "spatial computing" experience that blends the digital with the physical comes with a hefty price tag of $3,500.It's an eye-watering cost that offers one explanation for why Vision Pro reception has been so lackluster. Headsets from rival firms offer a much cheaper entry point for consumers looking to try out a still-nascent technology. Meta's Quest Pro, for instance, starts at $999.99.Apple does not share specific sales numbers for the Vision Pro, but third-party estimates suggest they have been low. According to data firm Counterpoint, the 16% share of the mixed reality market it secured in the first quarter of 2024 dropped to 3% by the second quarter.The other problem has been a lack of a killer app.At launch, Apple said the Vision Pro would come with "more than 600 apps and games" built specifically for the headset. It bet consumers would use the device's "infinite canvas" to watch movies or productivity tools. New apps have been slow to come, however.According to a report from The Wall Street Journal in October, developers have been slow to make apps for the headset, with just 10 apps added to the Vision Pro App Store in September, bringing it to a total at the time of around 1,770, per figures from data firm Appfigures. "Vision Pro is too expensive for what it can do," MacEwan said. "It's not yet at a high enough image quality to enable real work such as on spreadsheets, and it simply doesn't have that density of apps and experiences yet."In an interview with Wired published this month, Cook pushed back on the criticisms around the Vision Pro's slow start by arguing that it is "an early adopter product, for people who want tomorrow's technology today."Playing catch-up on AI Apple has been gradually rolling out its AI features since October. Apple Cook's other big bet this year, Apple Intelligence, has also had its fair share of issues.Apple's generative AI push, first introduced at its WWDC event in June and then hyped up at its annual iPhone event in September, was supposed to mark Apple as a leader in a field that has been dominated by rivals like Google and Microsoft since ChatGPT's launch two years ago.While Apple talked up several of its generative AI features such as writing aids and a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating systems a lack of standout features and a slow rollout has taken the air out of the launch.The launch of the iPhone 16 in September came with no Apple Intelligence features, though software updates since then have slowly started to drop AI tools into devices. Much more is expected in 2025, but impressions around existing features aren't instilling confidence in them.In November, high-profile tech reviewer Marques Brownlee posted a video to YouTube dissecting the features currently available from Apple Intelligence. His takeaway? Apple's big promise to shake-up products with AI "is starting to fade."A summarizing feature, Brownlee said, doesn't work for some longer documents and is "almost useless" when used to summarize notifications from apps. The Image Playground tool, which creates cartoon-like images, is of "debatable usefulness," he said."If you disaggregate the features of Apple Intelligence, you won't find anything terribly unique or distinctive or something that hasn't already been around for some time," said Dipanjan Chatterjee, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester.The company is also facing challenges in introducing top AI features to an important overseas market: China. Apple's OpenAI partnership will not be available to consumers in China, which has reportedly led Apple to explore partnerships with Chinese tech firms Tencent, ByteDance, and Baidu to bring ChatGPT-like features to iPhones there.According to The Information, its tie-up with Baidu is running into problems with accuracy when responding to prompts. With Apple facing increasing competition from local companies like Huawei in the smartphone market, failure to roll out AI tools in China risks hurting sales in the country.An uncertain road ahead Tim Cook has led Apple as its CEO since 2011. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Apple, for its part, is exercising caution about the future of its new products.In its latest annual report, the company warned that its "new products, services and technologies may replace or supersede existing offerings and may produce lower revenues and lower profit margins."Others remain confident Apple can succeed in at least some of its new bets. In a research note last month, Dan Ives, a senior analyst at Wedbush, offered a vote of confidence in Apple Intelligence, suggesting its continued rollout "over the next few months kick-starts a new era for Cupertino."Forrester's Chatterjee, meanwhile, sees "much of Apple Intelligence's success in the near term being measured by "what it can deliver in iPhone upgrades." He's not convinced that it'll trigger an "upgrade super cycle" anytime soon.Whether the AI rollout or the Vision Pro can match the hype surrounding them is up in the air. Cook's mission for 2025 and beyond is to try and get them to land.

Sports betting feels like its everywhere. Ads for online sportsbooks like BetMGM, DraftKings, or FanDuel are ubiquitous, whether on social media or while youre watching a game and they all offer some amount of free money for your first wager. During pregame shows or on sports podcasts, youll hear the odds for every contest; youll hear about prop bets, like whether LeBron James will be the first player to score for the Lakers against the Warriors on Christmas Day; and youre likely to hear about risky, multistep bets called parlays that could turn a $25 wager into $237,553. The explosion of sports gambling into the zeitgeist is the result of a 2018 Supreme Court ruling that undid a nearly nationwide ban on gambling on competitive sports. Since that ruling, sports betting has been legalized in 38 states and the District of Columbia, and the American Gambling Association reports that the American sports betting industry posted a record-high in revenue with $10.92 billion in 2023; according to a recent poll by Seton Hall Universitys Stillman School of Business, more than one in three Americans have at some point placed a bet on sports.For the athletes competing, like three-time NBA champion and podcast host Danny Green, who retired from professional basketball in the fall, hearing from bettors who are upset about lost wagers has become the norm. They say, You owe me money, Green told Today, Explained about angry sports bettors messaging him on social media. Theyre obviously cussing, saying, You bleep! You son of a you-know-what! You cost me. Couldnt you just get two more rebounds? Superstars like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have also spoken out about how legalized sports gambling has changed the relationship between athletes and fans. Gambling and sports betting has completely taken the purity and the fun away from the game at times, let me just be honest with yall, Irving said on the streaming platform Twitch last year. The harassment doesnt stop at professional sports, either. The NCAA, which governs college sports, released data this year that shows one in three high-profile collegiate athletes receive abusive messages from someone with a betting interest, and that 90 percent of harassment against athletes is happening online via social media.Charles Fain Lehman recently wrote about sports betting for The Atlantic, where he argues that legalizing sports gambling was a mistake. With the holidays underway and loads of sports on TV, Today, Explained reached out to Lehman who usually writes about addiction, drugs, and public safety to ask: Whats so bad about legalized sports gambling? A partial transcript of the conversation, edited for length and clarity, follows. Listen to the full conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find podcasts.Sean RameswaramCharles, what do you think that legalized sports gambling is doing to our country? Charles Fain LehmanWhen you do the cost-benefit math, gambling looks like any other addictive substance, which is that most of the people who participate in it get some small sort of utilitarian hedonic benefit. They get some fun out of it. And then a smaller subset of those people will become seriously addicted and do serious harm to themselves, to others, and potentially ruin their lives. Gambling addiction is associated with all sorts of terrible outcomes, including loss of your home, loss of family, loss of life through personal action. And so weve created this enormous concentrated social harm, and in return, weve gotten some anemic tax revenue and a bunch of ads everywhere. It just doesnt seem like a worthwhile trade-off to me.Sean RameswaramWow. It sounds like you really dont like it.Charles Fain LehmanI dont! I dont! I dont like it for the reasons that Im skeptical of a lot of vice goods. I think we tend to systematically underrate their harms, but the problems are the same in every case, which is that they concentrate in a small number of users who will do the overwhelming majority of the using and will experience the overwhelming majority of the harm. And everybody else is sort of benefiting off of their backs, which is an alarming arrangement to me.Sean RameswaramDo we actually have any receipts of the widespread legalization of sports gambling increasing how many lives are ruined due to legal sports betting in this country? Charles Fain LehmanAbsolutely. You know, and I think at this point, many Americans know somebody whos been affected by this. I was at a wedding recently and a friend of mine from college told me about a friend of his back home in Erie, Pennsylvania. He works at the post office. Not a well-off guy whos $28,000 in the hole on sports betting. Just a tremendous problem. The interesting thing about gambling legalization: We have information on this, mostly from the UKs experience, which is pretty grim. Theres one estimate that says 8 percent of all suicides in the UK are attributable to sports gambling addiction.Sean RameswaramYikes. Charles Fain LehmanBecause gambling was legalized in different states at different times in the US, economists can use a fairly specific set of methods to isolate the causal effect of sports gambling not just the correlates to sports gambling but what sports gambling causes on a number of different outcomes. One of the studies that I point to, from economists at Northwestern University, estimates that for every dollar spent on sports gambling, households put $2 less into investment accounts. There are big increases in the risk of overdraft in your bank account or maxing out a credit card. Theres another paper from economists at UCLA and USC looking specifically at online sports gambling. They find that legalization increases the risk of bankruptcy by 25 to 30 percent.The other thing that really sticks out in those studies is that the harms tend to concentrate among the most economically precarious, right? The harms tend to concentrate in the areas with the highest levels of poverty, and they also tend to concentrate among young men who are already at risk for all sorts of not-great financial decision making. And so its not just that gambling harm befalls some people, its that gambling harm often befalls the people who can least afford to have it come down on them.Sean RameswaramDo we know how much money, on average, people are losing versus winning? Charles Fain LehmanAbsolutely. Theres another study from folks at Southern Methodist University where they have a panel of 700,000 sports bettors and they show a couple of really interesting things. Only about 5 percent of people in the panel withdrew more from the apps than they deposited. So 95 percent of people are losing money. The really interesting thing is that about 3 percent of bettors drive 50 percent of sports gambling profits. Sean RameswaramHow much does the amount people are losing have to do with how much gambling has changed with the little devices that we keep in our pockets?Charles Fain LehmanIts a big part of the story in more ways than one. One component of it is its just much more readily available, which is to say, if I have to go to a casino to gamble, I may not want to take the time out of my day. I may not get drawn in, and so over the long run, you generate fewer people who are addicted because they never get exposed in the first place. The virtue of keeping gambling in Las Vegas is you have to go to Vegas to do it. The much more alarming thing is that app-based gaming facilitates algorithmic discrimination on the part of the sportsbook provider. They can tell who the people are who are going to spend the most. They know when you check your bets in the middle of the night.They know when you are watching the game, they know what you are doing and how much you are betting. And then what they can do is algorithmically reinforce that. They can make you offers, they can assign you a personal concierge who encourages you to bet more. This is actually what they do in casinos in Vegas if you are a whale, a big spender youll get all sorts of good stuff comped. But instead of that happening in a dingy hotel or even in a glamorous hotel, thats happening on your phone all day, every day, until they get all of your money. Sean RameswaramIts quite clear from speaking with you that theres a lot of harm being introduced to states across the country from legal sports betting and its especially hitting young men. But it was legalized with the promise that it was going to bring a lot of benefits to the states that approved it. You seem to believe that isnt paying off.Charles Fain LehmanI think that there were a few arguments here. One is tax revenue, and thats a big selling point. And the reality is that the tax revenue has been pretty anemic. If you look at the 38 legal states in their most recent count, together gambling is generating about half a billion dollars a quarter, which is not nothing but is a drop in the bucket compared to not just most state revenue needs but also substantially less than you get from alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana. Another argument is that you would reduce the reach of the offshore gambling sites. That doesnt really appear to be happening. Theres a survey out of Massachusetts where they found that bettors were just as likely to use unauthorized betting sites after legalization. But it makes sense if youre an active sports bettor, youre betting on multiple sportsbooks, youre trying to get as much action as possible. And so the offshore sites are just complements. They arent substitutes.And then the third argument is one that I think we should take seriously, which is the hedonic benefits and the individual liberty benefits. But we didnt live in a terrible dictatorship in 2017. If you and I made a bet together, neither of us was at any risk of going to jail, right? That is, it was not illegal for us to make an interpersonal bet. The thing that was illegal was for big businesses and states to get involved in the action. And Im just not that upset about restricting the liberty of the state of Georgia to get involved in your and my bets.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

The Nintendo Switch 2 rumours are coming thick and fast as the New Year approaches and a new one has seemingly revealed just how powerful the new console will beTech11:34, 31 Dec 2024Updated 11:56, 31 Dec 2024The Switch changed Nintendo's fortunes(Image: Future via Getty Images)The Nintendo Switch 2 is one of the most anticipated gaming releases for 2025, and while it's been almost eight years since Nintendo first debuted the original console, it'd be fair to say it's never really been about the power.The console's nature as a handheld hybrid means it's more focused on battery life than performance for the most part, and while there have been technically impressive titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it feels like it's running a little low on steam.Pokemon Scarlet and Violet were big disappointments in terms of performance, and we've become accustomed to picking up third-party titles years earlier on more powerful hardware but that could change soon.Content cannot be displayed without consentOn paper, the original Switch has been described as having similar power to a PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 generation console, which puts it significantly behind the times, but now rumours on social media are suggesting the next console, which will reportedly be called the Switch 2, will offer power similar to the PS4 Pro at least when docked, with the handheld version running closer to a PS4.Even if it's closer to the base PS4 even while docked, that'd be a big step up generation to generation, and hopefully means backward compatible titles would run better (we're looking at you, Pokemon) while also giving Nintendo more headroom for more ambitious titles.It's worth noting this is all from users on X (formerly Twitter) working through as-yet-unconfirmed technical specs, but it's not outside the realms of possibility to expect a spec bump. After all, the Steam Deck is a portable system that can run the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 on a handheld, something we'd have thought impossible back in 2020 when that game launched.And, even if you're just joining the Switch family toward the end of the current generation, you'll be able to build a huge library of fantastic titles to take with you onto the next console.Article continues belowIn case you missed it, a render based on leaked information went viral yesterday, and if true it's clear the Switch 2 will be a looker.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Rockstar Games may not have spoken about GTA 6 in over a year, but Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has been more bullish in a new interview with the Financial TimesTech11:10, 31 Dec 2024Updated 11:14, 31 Dec 2024GTA 6 could gross $3.2 billion at launch(Image: Rockstar Games/AFP via Getty Ima)GTA 6 is widely expected to be the biggest game of all time when it hopefully launches in 2025, but as we reported yesterday, some fans are feeling a little salty about Rockstar's continued radio silence.One theory suggested we'd get a trailer on December 27, while another seems to suggest we're waiting for another moon phase in GTA Online.Still, while Rockstar Games is keeping quiet, its parent company's CEO is enjoying talking about the upcoming project. Take-Two's Strauss Zelnick has already said the game will be "extraordinary", but he's gone further in a new interview with the Financial Times.GTA 6 will be the biggest game of the year, unless it slips to 2026(Image: Rockstar Games)Zelnick has told the outlet that "Rockstar will once again deliver something phenomenal", with the Financial Times reporting what we all know that GTA 6 is set to be the biggest entertainment launch of 2025, transcending gaming.""I never claim victory before it occurs," Zelnick is quoted as saying."That said, I think Rockstar Games will once again deliver something absolutely phenomenal. Certainly the anticipation is high."Zelnick also said that GTA 6 is expected to generate a staggering $3.2billion at launch, which would be roughly double that of a blockbuster movie like Inside Out 2. For context, GTA 5 hit $1billion in three days back in 2013, suggesting that'll be blown out of the water by GTA 6.'Anticipation is high' might be understatement of the century as fans grapple with all sorts of madcap theories about when the game's second trailer will arrive.The first, which debuted in December 2023, was the last official news we've received from Rockstar about GTA 6, leaving the community clutching at no end of straws, but the studio is reportedly "geeking out" over fan theories, according to a former employee.After an entire calendar year of silence, GTA 6 has already broken a Rockstar Games record, but in the meantime we can at least console ourselves with the new Agents of Sabotage update for GTA Online to give us our GTA fix in the meantime.Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

10 of Seperation House / Atelier RZLBDSave this picture! Riley SnellingHousesToronto, CanadaArchitects: Atelier RZLBDAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:600 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Riley Snelling More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Located in one of the most affluent neighborhoods in Toronto, the Hoggs Hollow, 10 of Separation is a simple, rational, and ethical response to the existing geographical context and nature of the site, as well as the client's needs for a retirement home.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The site exhibited two major complexities. First, the property lot was shaped as an irregular polygon, with a curved front lot line running along the curved street. In such a haphazard shape of a lot, the zoning by-laws such as front yard setback and building length were determined by the curved front lot line, which imposed a curved building footprint. Second, the steep forest hill was located at the northeast corner of the lot, which imposed setbacks from the regional flood line and the stable toe of the slope, confirmed by TRCA (Toronto and Region Conservation Authority). This unusual landscape dictated the particular orientation and arrangement of the building and the rear yard.Save this picture!Save this picture!Responding to these two characteristics of the site, the house, assuming its maximum footprint as a square, is divided into two equal, 16m x 8m rectangles, each positioned perpendicularly to a point in the curved front lot line, resulting in a rotation of a 10 angle. The interstitial space between the two rectangles caused by the rotation, the "wedge" as it is termed, connects the two rectangular volumes as a grand hallway on all three floors. Materials express this spatial concept straightforwardly. Handmade brick, which is thinner and longer than a typical brick, is used to finish the exterior walls of the two rectangular volumes. A more earthy, natural, and dark color is chosen so that the buildings can blend with its rich forest, especially during winter. Dark stucco and dark bronze anodized aluminum cladding are used for the wedge and the appendix respectively, to complement and give attention to the brick volumes. Inside, the floor of the wedge is finished with large terrazzo tiles, each cut into a trapezium in order to fit into a trapezoidal shape of the floor. It allows one to experience, and literally stand on, the 10 angle rotation within the house as well as to demarcate the two rectangular floors on both sides, which are finished in white oak hardwood.Save this picture!The project features many exterior and interior designs and architectural details. Particularly, the U-shaped staircase is designed to express and celebrate the 10 angle rotation, by centering the two staircase flights to different rectangular volumes. The trapezoidal skylight is placed at the top of the staircase shaft, bringing natural light all the way down to the basement through the central void. On the ground floor, the third step of the staircase transforms into a built-in bench, curved along the staircase wall, which acts as a waiting room between the main entry and the home office. On the outside, all the windows on the two rectangular volumes are recessed over 2' and the main entry over 6'. By grouping multiple windows into four massive, recessed openings, scaled to the buildings rather than a human body, the sun casts large, sharp, and uninterrupted light and shadow on the building surfaces, engaging in an intimate conversation with the building. The house exudes a sublime presence, resisting a typical image of a house as represented in the area yet surrendering to the natural environment.Save this picture!Save this picture!The rear yard is designed as a compound that celebrates the beautiful scenery of the forest hill. Respecting the proposed 6m setback from the stable toe of the slope, concrete decks, platforms, retaining walls, a feature tree, a cabana, and a swimming pool encircle a large green area in the middle. The cabana, finished in the same dark brick, directly faces the forest hill and the yard on the same axis. In the front yard, near the main entry walkway is erected a 4' x 4' stone slab above grade, cut into a 10 right triangle in plan, which is an extension of the wedge of the building. This freestanding stone is a prelude to what lies ahead inside the house. As a totem for the house, the name of the project, 10 of Separation, is chiseled on the stone surface.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeAtelier RZLBDOfficeMaterialBrickMaterials and TagsPublished on December 31, 2024Cite: "10 of Seperation House / Atelier RZLBD" 31 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025106/10-degrees-of-seperation-house-atelier-rzlbd&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Conserving Black Modernism: An Initiative to Preserve African American Architectural Heritage in the United StatesSave this picture!Robert T. Coles House, designed by Robert T. Coles and built in 1961 | Buffalo, NY. Image Jalen WrightThe Getty Foundation's Conserving Black Modernism initiative, launched in 2022, represents a pivotal effort to preserve and celebrate the architectural contributions of African American architects in the Modernist movement. This initiative, a partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, aims to address historical oversight and ensure the legacy of these trailblazing architects is protected for future generations. Over three funding cycles from 2023 to 2025, the program supports conservation planning, professional training, and storytelling to highlight the cultural and architectural significance of these sites.In its inaugural year of 2023, the initiative awarded funding to preserve eight significant buildings, including the Charles McAfee Swimming Pool and Pool House in Wichita, Kansas, and the Watts Happening Cultural Center in Los Angeles, California. These sites, rich with historical and community importance, received support for planning, limited capital repairs, and other preservation activities. Building on this momentum, the 2024 cycle expanded its reach to eight additional sites, such as Azurest South in Virginia, designed by Amaza Lee Meredith, and Langston Terrace Dwellings in Washington, D.C., a landmark public housing project by Hilyard Robinson.As announced last week, the program continues to gain attention for its role in diversifying the narrative of modern architecture. The program showcases Getty's dedication to preserving endangered modernist sites and empowering local communities through technical support and resources. By the initiative's conclusion in 2025, it will have played a transformative role in reshaping how the history of modernism includes the contributions of African American architects, aiming to promote a more inclusive understanding of this influential movement Related Article Rediscovering Modernism in Africa: From Nostalgia to Optimism Read on to discover the 8 chosen sites of 2024, along with descriptions provided by the Getty Foundation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.Azurest South / Amaza Lee MeredithPetersburg, Virginia, 1934Completed in 1934, Azurest South is the home and studio designed by the pioneering African American architect Amaza Lee Meredith. Located on the Virginia State University campus, where she established the Fine Arts program and lived with her partner Dr. Edna Meade Colson, the home is a colorful example of the International Style. Funding will support the implementation of a conservation management plan for the building.Save this picture!Dansby, Brawley, and Wheeler Halls at Morehouse College / Leon AllainAtlanta, Georgia, 1970sLeon Allain, a prominent African American architect in the Atlanta area, designed Dansby, Brawley, and Wheeler halls at Morehouse College through the early 1970s. Funding will support building assessments and a Historic Structures Report for the three halls.Save this picture!Ira Aldridge Theater, Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts / Hilyard Robinson and Paul R. WilliamsHoward University, Washington, D.C., 1961The Ira Aldridge Theater was named for a famed 19th-century African-American actor, best known for his performances of Shakespeare. Designed by Hilyard Robinson and Paul R. Williams, the theater was completed in 1961 as part of Howard University's campus. Funding will support a Historic Structures Report and an interpretation plan.Save this picture!John F. Kennedy Community Center / Robert T. ColesBuffalo, New York, 1963The JFK Recreation Center was designed by Robert T. Coles as his thesis project at MIT and completed in 1963. The building currently hosts a range of nonprofits and community activities. Funding will support a comprehensive preservation plan.Save this picture!Kenneth G. Neigh Dormitory Complex / J. Max Bond Jr.West Point,Mississippi, 1970Designed by J. Max Bond Jr. and completed in 1970, the Kenneth G. Neigh Dormitory Complex is currently in an advanced state of deterioration as Mary Holmes Community College has been closed since 2005. Funding will support an adaptive reuse feasibility study for the complex.Save this picture!Masjid Muhammad, Nations Mosque / David R. ByrdWashington, D.C., 1960Completed in 1960, Masjid Mohammad, Nations Mosque was designed by David R. Byrd. The building represents one of the oldest Black Muslim congregations in the United States. Funding will support engineering and environmental studies for the building's planned expansion, in addition to limited capital improvements.Save this picture!Robert T. Coles House / Robert T. ColesBuffalo, New York, 1961Robert T. Coles, the first African American Chancellor of the American Institute of Architects, designed and built his House and Studio in 1961. The two-story building is composed of prefabricated units set back in a garden and courtyard. Funding will support a Historic Structures Report, a conservation plan, and a reuse and feasibility study.Save this picture!Universal Life Insurance Co. Building / McKissack and McKissackMemphis, Tennessee, 1947Designed in 1947 by McKissack and McKissack, one of the oldest Black-owned architectural firms in the United States, the Universal Life Insurance Company Building was completed in 1949. Funding will support a cultural interpretation plan and critical repairs to certain building sections.Save this picture!Editor's Note: This article was originally published on November 22, 2024. View the 2023 list of chosen sites here. Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorNour FakharanyAuthorCite: Nour Fakharany. "Conserving Black Modernism: An Initiative to Preserve African American Architectural Heritage in the United States" 31 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1023915/preserving-black-modernism-celebrating-the-architectural-legacy-of-african-american-visionaries&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream