We are in need of a Virtual Assistant to that will manage customer inquiries, assist with sales and inventory management, and handle administrative tasks to ensure smooth operations. Your focus will be on enhancing customer experience, generating leads, and improving back-office efficiency.Key Responsibilities:Customer Support: Respond to inquiries, schedule test drives, and provide vehicle information.Lead Generation & Follow-Up: Manage leads, follow up with prospects, and send personalized communications.Sales & Promotions: Assist with promotional content and monitor campaign success.Inventory Management: Track vehicle inventory, update systems, and coordinate restocking.Appointment Management: Organize test drives, sales meetings, and service appointments.Document Management: Process sales contracts, insurance, and registration paperwork.CRM Management: Update customer information and track feedback in CRM systems.Data Entry & Reporting: Generate reports on sales performance and customer engagement.After-Sales Support: Ensure customer satisfaction and coordinate maintenance scheduling.Administrative Support: Handle phone calls, emails, and office tasks.Required Skills:Proven experience as a Virtual Assistant or similar role.Strong communication skills (phone, email, chat).Familiarity with CRM systems (Salesforce, HubSpot).Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.Strong organizational and time-management skills.This position is remote, offering flexibility to work alongside our sales, marketing, and management teams to drive success. Related Jobs See more Customer Support jobs

This article first appeared in The Checkup,MIT Technology Reviewsweekly biotech newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Thursday, and read articles like this first,sign up here. This week marks a strange anniversaryits five years since most of us first heard about a virus causing a mysterious pneumonia. A virus that we later learned could cause a disease called covid-19. A virus that swept the globe and has since been reported to have been responsible for over 7 million deathsand counting. I first covered the virus in an article published on January 7, 2020, which had the headline Doctors scramble to identify mysterious illness emerging in China. For that article, and many others that followed it, I spoke to people who were experts on viruses, infectious disease, and epidemiology. Frequently, their answers to my questions about the virus, how it might spread, and the risks of a pandemic were the same: We dont know. We are facing the same uncertainty now with H5N1, the virus commonly known as bird flu. This virus has been decimating bird populations for years, and now a variant is rapidly spreading among dairy cattle in the US. We know it can cause severe disease in animals, and we know it can pass from animals to people who are in close contact with them. As of this Monday this week, we also know that it can cause severe disease in peoplea 65-year-old man in Louisiana became the first person in the US to die from an H5N1 infection. Scientists are increasingly concerned about a potential bird flu pandemic. The question is, given all the enduring uncertainty around the virus, what should we be doing now to prepare for the possibility? Can stockpiled vaccines save us? And, importantly, have we learned any lessons from a covid pandemic that still hasnt entirely fizzled out? Part of the challenge here is that it is impossible to predict how H5N1 will evolve. A variant of the virus caused disease in people in 1997, when there was a small but deadly outbreak in Hong Kong. Eighteen people had confirmed diagnoses, and six of them died. Since then, there have been sporadic cases around the worldbut no large outbreaks. As far as H5N1 is concerned, weve been relatively lucky, says Ali Khan, dean of the college of public health at the University of Nebraska. Influenza presents the greatest infectious-disease pandemic threat to humans, period, says Khan. The 1918 flu pandemic was caused by a type of influenza virus called H1N1 that appears to have jumped from birds to people. It is thought to have infected a third of the worlds population, and to have been responsible for around 50 million deaths. Another H1N1 virus was responsible for the 2009 swine flu pandemic. That virus hit younger people hardest, as they were less likely to have been exposed to similar variants and thus had much less immunity. It was responsible for somewhere between 151,700 and 575,400 deaths that year. To cause a pandemic, the H5N1 variants currently circulating in birds and dairy cattle in the US would need to undergo genetic changes that allow them to spread more easily from animals to people, spread more easily between people, and become more deadly in people. Unfortunately, we know from experience that viruses need only a few such changes to become more easily transmissible. And with each and every infection, the risk that a virus will acquire these dangerous genetic changes increases. Once a virus infects a host, it can evolve and swap chunks of genetic code with any other viruses that might also be infecting that host, whether its a bird, a pig, a cow, or a person. Its a big gambling game, says Marion Koopmans, a virologist at the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. And the gambling is going on at too large a scale for comfort. There are ways to improve our odds. For the best chance at preventing another pandemic, we need to get a handle on, and limit, the spread of the virus. Here, the US could have done a better job at limiting the spread in dairy cows, says Khan. It should have been found a lot earlier, he says. There should have been more aggressive measures to prevent transmission, to recognize what disease looks like within our communities, and to protect workers. States could also have done better at testing farm workers for infection, says Koopmans. Im surprised that I havent heard of an effort to eradicate it from cattle, she adds. A country like the US should be able to do that. The good news is that there are already systems in place for tracking the general spread of flu in people. The World Health Organizations Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System collects and analyzes samples of viruses collected from countries around the world. It allows the organization to make recommendations about seasonal flu vaccines and also helps scientists track the spread of various flu variants. Thats something we didnt have for the covid-19 virus when it first took off. We are also better placed to make vaccines. Some countries, including the US, are already stockpiling vaccines that should be at least somewhat effective against H5N1 (although it is difficult to predict exactly how effective they will be against some future variant). The US Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response plans to have up to 10 million doses of prefilled syringes and multidose vials prepared by the end of March, according to an email from a representative. The US Department of Health and Human Services has also said it will provide the pharmaceutical company Moderna with $176 million to create mRNA vaccines for pandemic influenzausing the same quick-turnaround vaccine production technology used in the companys covid-19 vaccines. Some question whether these vaccines should have already been offered to dairy farm workers in affected parts of the US. Many of these individuals have been exposed to the virus, a good chunk of them appear to have been infected with it, and some of them have become ill. If the decision had been up to Khan, he says, they would have been offered the H5N1 vaccine by now. And we should ensure they are offered seasonal flu vaccines in order to limit the risk that the two flu viruses will mingle inside one person, he adds. Others worry that 10 million vaccine doses arent enough for a country with a population of around 341 million. But health agencies walk a razor-thin line between having too much vaccine for something and not having enough, says Khan. If an outbreak never transpires, 340 million doses of vaccine will feel like an enormous waste of resources. We cant predict how well these viruses will work, either. Flu viruses mutate all the time, and even seasonal flu vaccines are notoriously unpredictable in their efficacy. I think weve become a little bit spoiled with the covid vaccines, says Koopmans. We were really, really lucky [to develop] vaccines with high efficacy. One vaccine lesson we should have learned from the covid-19 pandemic is the importance of equitable access to vaccines around the world. Unfortunately, its unlikely that we have. It is doubtful that low-income countries will have early access to [a pandemic influenza] vaccine unless the world takes action, Nicole Lurie of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) said in a recent interview for Gavi, a public-private alliance for vaccine equity. And another is the impact of vaccine hesitancy. Making vaccines might not be a problembut convincing people to take them might be, says Khan. We have an incoming administration that has lots of vaccine hesitancy, he points out. So while we may end up having vaccines available, its not very clear to me if we have the political and social will to actually implement good public health measures. This is another outcome that is impossible to predict, and I wont attempt to do so. But I am hoping that the relevant administrations will step up our defenses. And that this will be enough to prevent another devastating pandemic. Now read the rest of The Checkup Read more from MIT Technology Review's archive Bird flu has been circulating in US dairy cows for months. Virologists are worried it could stick around on US farms forever. As the virus continues to spread, the risk of a pandemic continues to rise. We still dont really know how the virus is spreading, but we do know that it is turning up in raw milk. (Please dont drink raw milk.) mRNA vaccines helped us through the covid-19 pandemic. Now scientists are working on mRNA flu vaccinesincluding universal vaccines that could protect against multiple flu viruses. The next generation of mRNA vaccines is on the way. These vaccines are self-amplifying and essentially tell the body how to make more mRNA. Maybe theres an alternative to dairy farms of the type that are seeing H5N1 in their cattle. Scientists are engineering yeasts and plants with bovine genes so they can produce proteins normally found in milk, which can be used to make spreadable cheeses and ice cream. The cofounder of one company says a factory of bubbling yeast vats could replace 50,000 to 100,000 cows. From around the web Bird flu has been circulating in US dairy cows for months. Virologists are worried it could stick around on US farms forever. As the virus continues to spread, the risk of a pandemic continues to rise. We still dont really know how the virus is spreading, but we do know that it is turning up in raw milk. (Please dont drink raw milk.) mRNA vaccines helped us through the covid-19 pandemic. Now scientists are working on mRNA flu vaccinesincluding universal vaccines that could protect against multiple flu viruses. The next generation of mRNA vaccines is on the way. These vaccines are self-amplifying and essentially tell the body how to make more mRNA. Maybe theres an alternative to dairy farms of the type that are seeing H5N1 in their cattle. Scientists are engineering yeasts and plants with bovine genes so they can produce proteins normally found in milk, which can be used to make spreadable cheeses and ice cream. The cofounder of one company says a factory of bubbling yeast vats could replace 50,000 to 100,000 cows.

EPR Architects body of work was shortlisted for last yearsAYAs, as the practice was named a finalist for two awards, includingRefurbishment and Reinvention Architect of the Year.In this series,we take a look at one of the teams entry projects and ask the firms board director, Geoff Hull, to break down some of the biggest specification challenges that needed to be overcome.What were the key requirements of the clients brief? How did you meet these both through design and specification?EPR Architects was first approached by our client, the Hinduja Group, in 2015. The overarching brief was to repurpose Britains iconic, grade II-listed Old War Office Building (OWO) from a fortress into a memorable, world-class destination. Luxury operator Raffles was an appropriate choice for the hotel and branded residences, as they embraced the history and culture of the existing building and its context.We began by studying the original architects designs, including the geometry and proportions of the facade and roofscape. We established the multiple protected viewpoints around the site, exploring opportunities to alter plans below and above ground whilst respecting the existing cellular masonry loadbearing form.Alongside a talented team of designers and specialist contractors, we incorporated an extensive array of exciting new interventions, including a combination of one-, two- and three-storey roof extensions, where traditional materials such as Portland stone, slate roofing and timber casement windows were selected to blend the old and new seamlessly. Each new additional storey sets back from the existing, with parapets to ensure that the proportion and scale seen at street level are not affected, whilst six new basement levels allow for a four-storey spa and a new grand ballroom.The overarching brief was to repurpose Britains iconic, grade II-listed Old War Office Building from a fortress into a memorable, world-class destinationWhat were the biggest specification challenges on the project, and how were they overcome?Projects of this scale and complexity, particularly when dealing with a listed building, present unique and multifaceted challenges, but the rewards are unparalleled.The projects transformation into a luxury destination required us to navigate various key challenges, including structural, fire safety, water ingress, acoustics and thermal performance. These challenges arose from the buildings original design as a purpose-built government office (designed to keep people out) and the heightened demands of converting it into a modern luxury hotel and residences.From the surface, the Old War Office was perfectly preserved. However, for The OWO to stand confidently amongst the competitive hotel market, EPR needed to replan, restructure and reconfigure the existing buildings layout. Logistical planning for this central London site was equally critical, including temporary works such as the partial removal of the listed facade to allow for site traffic and the excavation of approximately 65,000 cubic meters of soil.It was the ultimate schoolboy dream to be involved in designing and creating something so iconicWhat are the three biggest specification considerations for the project type? How did these specifically apply to your project?The three largest specification considerations for the project were fire protection, water ingress and the replication of existing materials.Fire safety and the introduction of a life safety network, including a fully operational sprinkler system and compartmentation, had to be carefully integrated into the existing fabric to respect its listed status. This required a thoughtful and respectful approach to ensure the new safety features were sympathetically incorporated into the historic elements of the building.A series of mitigation measures needed to be implemented to address water ingress in the basement. These included upgrading the existing moat, replacing non-return valves and water motors, installing flood doors and incorporating a cavity drain system to protect the space from incoming water.The project also involved the replication of existing materials to maintain the buildings historic character. This included sensitively preserving or recreating decorative elements such as cornice work, marble stair balustrades, timber panelling and mosaic flooring, ensuring the new additions blended harmoniously with the original features.Do you have a favourite product or material that was specified on the project?I think the Aston Martin artwork displayed within the Spy Bar has to be my favourite! For me, it was the ultimate schoolboy dream to be involved in designing and creating something so iconic and something one would typically only see in a James Bond movie.The three largest specification considerations for the project were fire protection, water ingress and the replication of existing materialsAre there any suppliers you collaborated with on the project that contributed significantly? And what was the most valuable service that they offered?Ardmore, the main contractor, took a highly proactive approach in sourcing the right expertise for each specialised, bespoke trade required for the project. This included a wide range of complimentary and matching stone elements, hand-carved timber fireplaces, secondary glazing and comprehensive restoration efforts.Skilled artisans were brought in to handle ornate cornice work, custom doorsets, lighting and detailed timber panelling, among many other trades. Their collaborative efforts played a key role in the successful repositioning and transformation of the building, ensuring that each detail contributed to the overall vision of the restoration.What did you think was the biggest success on the project?The response to the opening and operation of The OWO has been nothing short of overwhelming. As architects, our involvement of almost a decade has certainly come with its fair share of challenges, but the immense sense of pride and emotional reward has been exceptional. Its fantastic to see people finally enjoying the building and all the incredible facilities it now has to offer.As advocates for retrofit and reuse, were proud to breathe new life into characterful, neglected or underutilised historic buildings, and we hope this new addition to Londons luxury market leaves a lasting impression on all who choose to visit, whether they come to stay, dine, or make it their home.1/9show captionProject detailsArchitect and lead designerEPR ArchitectsDeveloper and investor Whitehall Residences LtdMain contractors Keltbray (soft strip), Toureen (demo, substructure and superstructure) and Ardmore (envelope and fit-out)Structural engineer Elliott WoodServices engineer AecomInterior designer The Office of Thierry Despont (hotel),1508 (residential),Goddard Littlefair (spa),Winch (penthouse apartment)Pavilion design Dae Wha Kang DesignDevelopment manager Westminster Development ServicesQuantity surveyor Gardiner & TheobaldPlanning consultant Gerald EveHistoric advisors Donald InsallFire engineer Jensen HughesApproved inspector Bureau VeritasSpecialist lighting dpaLighting consultants ProjectMarketing and PR Graf LondonOur What made this project series highlights the outstanding work of our Architect of the Year finalists.To keep up-to-date with all the latest from the Architect of the Year Awards visithere.

Just 2,260 sites were approved between July and September (Q3) last year, marking the lowest quarterly total since HBF reporting began in 2006.A rolling annual total of 10,180 sites approved also represented a record low, according to the HBF.The trade association, which published the Glenigan-gathered data in a housing pipeline report this week, says the all-time low in Q3 of 2024 was symptomatic of a continued downward trend in planning approvals, which fell 10 per cent between the second and third quarters of the year.AdvertisementAlthough there was a slight increase in the number of actual housing units approved in Q3 compared with Q2 creeping up by 2 per cent to 57,356 the total was still 40 per cent lower than the highest-ever peak.The decline was most pronounced in the North East, Yorkshire & the Humber and the West Midlands, with housing planning approvals plummeting by 61 per cent, 49 per cent, and 55 per cent respectively.London and a handful of other regions saw slight increases, but approvals remained far below historic levels, according to the HBF.Based on the data, approvals would need to increase by more than 150 per cent in order for the government to meet its annual housebuilding target of 370,000 homes, the organisation has said.Separate BBC analysis published yesterday (9 January) found that some local authorities in England would need to see at least a five-fold increase in new housing in order to meet their government targets.AdvertisementAcross England, 16 local authorities have been set targets that are 400 per cent or more of what they have recently delivered, according to the BBC.Responding to the stark statistics, the HBF has declared an urgent need for targeted interventions to address the decline in planning approvals. It describes government changes to the NPPF as encouraging but says swift action is now needed to streamline the planning process, tackle regional imbalances, and ensure the necessary infrastructure for new developments.HBF chief executive Neil Jefferson described the continued decline in housing planning approvals as deeply concerning.He said the significant regional discrepancies highlight the need for targeted interventions that not only speed up planning processes but also provide clear support for both developers and homebuyers.Jefferson added: The lack of affordable housing is impacting communities across the country and, without a stable demand for new homes, the industry lacks the confidence to invest in building the homes that are desperately needed.Despite the record-low approval rates, there was a slight uptick in on-site construction starts in the final quarter of 2024 (Q4), according to separately -published Glenigan data.Residential construction starts increased by 7 per cent between October and December, compared with the preceding three months, according to Glenigans January 2025 construction index although this was still 3 per cent lower than 2023 figures.On-site starts on social housing performed poorly on both counts, falling 1 per cent between Q3 and Q4, and plummeting by 17 per cent compared to the final quarter of 2023.2025-01-10Anna Highfieldcomment and share

Refinance rates were mixed, but one key rate climbed higher.

A few important mortgage rates ticked up. Here's what experts say is next for the housing market this year.

If your iPhone or iPad is running short of free storage, you may think twice about enablingApple Intelligence. When the first features were made available in iOS 18.1, Apple said the Apple Intelligence features needed at least 4GB of space. Now with iOS 18.2, that requirement has jumped to 7GB. What's going on?Since much of the processing for features such as text summaries, Image Playground,Image Wand, writing tools andGenmojihappen on-device, iOS needs to store AI libraries locally and uses some storage for caches and other temporary files. That makes things tighter if you were already running up against the edges of your device's storage.See also:How to reclaim iCloud storage.It could also be that you're simply not interested, which would put you into the majority. A newsurvey by SellCellindicates that 73% of Apple users think AI adds little to no value to the phone experience, while CNET found that25% of smartphone owners are not interested at all.If Apple Intelligence holds no appeal for you, or if you'd rather wait until the tech matures a bit more, it's easy to turn it off entirely or selectively disable some of the features.I'm not an AI crank -- I appreciate features such as notification summaries and the Clean Up tool in the Photos app. And yet, Apple Intelligence is also a work in progress, an evolving set of features that Apple is heavily hyping while gradually developing. I wouldn't hold it against you if you wanted to not be distracted or feel like you're doing Apple's testing for them (that's what the developer and public betas are for).Remember that Apple Intelligence works only on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro or M-series Macs and iPads (plus the newest iPad mini). And if you've alreadyupdated to iOS 18.2, you need toadd yourself to the queuefor access to the new features.Here's what you need to know about disabling it. Watch this: Does Apple Think We're Stupid? Apple Intelligence Ads Say Yes 06:15 How to turn off Apple Intelligence entirely (iPhone, iPad and Mac)OpenSettings(iPhone or iPad) orSystem Settings(Mac) and chooseApple Intelligence & Siri. Then turn off theApple Intelligenceoption. Confirm your choice in the dialog that appears by tappingTurn Off Apple Intelligence. Turn off Apple Intelligence entirely with one switch. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNETHere's what you lose:Writing toolsNotification summariesVisual Intelligence (on iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro)Genmoji (on iPhone and iPad; it's not available yet on Mac)Image Playground -- the app remains, but you can't create new imagesChatGPT support for SiriImage Wand in the Notes app(Curiously, the Clean Up tool in Photos sticks around even when Apple Intelligence is turned off, perhaps because the first time you use it the app downloads resources for it.)How to turn off individual Apple Intelligence featuresMaybe you're finding some Apple Intelligence features helpful while others are annoying (or just highlyamusing). You can turn off specific features in the settings for apps to which they apply.For example, to disable text summaries in Messages notifications, go toSettings > Apps > Messagesand switch off theSummarize Messagesoption. Turn off Messages summaries while still using other Apple Intelligence features. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNETSome features are not as app-specific. Writing Tools, which use Apple Intelligence to proof or rewrite text, appear as an option when you select text, regardless of the app. To turn that off, you need to disable Apple Intelligence system-wide.Also note that nearly every app includes an Apple Intelligence & Siri option in Settings, with a Learn from this Appoption (turned on by default). That applies just to whether Apple Intelligence and Siri can monitor how you use it to make suggestions; it doesn't affect any particular Apple Intelligence features.How to view the amount of storage Apple Intelligence is usingIf you're concerned about the storage requirements of Apple Intelligence, you can find out how much the system is using by going toSettings > General > iPhone (or iPad) Storage > iOS (or iPadOS). See how much space Apple Intelligence is using in Settings. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNETUnfortunately, from my testing it does not appear that turning off Apple Intelligence reclaims that storage space: After doing so and restarting my devices, theApple Intelligenceitem and amount are unchanged.For more on iOS 18.2, seehow the Mail app in iOS 18.2 sorts messages into categories andif you haven't upgraded already, make a good backup first. 11 Essential Accessories Your iPhone Wants for the Holidays See all photos

Network test registration for Elden Ring co-op spin-off Nightreign starts in just a few hours timeChop to it.Image credit: FromSoft News by Victoria Kennedy News Reporter Published on Jan. 10, 2025 You will very soon be able to register to take part in the network test for Elden Ring's upcoming co-op spin-off, Nightreign.Those who are keen to participate in the test can register from this afternoon at 2pm UK time.The test itself is scheduled for 14th to 17th February, and will run in three hour blocks. On the 14th (so, Valentine's Day, and really, what is more romantic than Elden Ring?), the session will run between 11am and 2pm UK time. On the 15th, there will be two sessions. The first will run from 3am until 6am, the second will run between 7pm and 10pm. The session on the 16th will run between 11am and 2pm once again, and the final session on 17th will run from 3am until 6am.ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN REVEAL GAMEPLAY TRAILER. Watch on YouTubeNightreign's test will be available across PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, although the developer notes the full game will also be available to those on PC via Steam, as well as Xbox One and PS4 consoles."The network test is a preliminary verification test in which the selected testers play a portion of the game prior to the full game launch," reads the information page for Nightreign's network test (where I also presume a link for registration will also be made available). "Various technical verifications of online systems will be examined by conducting large-scale network load tests." Image credit: FromSoftPlayers who take to Elden Ring: Nightreign on its release will have to "outlast a three day-and-night cycle, making split decisions about combat and exploration across changing maps to become strong enough to take down terrifying bosses at the end of each day".Towards the end of last year, FromSoftware boss Hidetaki Miyazaki stated Elden Ring 2 isn't in development. However, this standalone spin-off is still expanding upon the franchise, and not too long after Elden Ring received its widely praised expansion Shadow of the Erdtree.

Square Enix shares new policy to protect employees from fan harassmentAnd will "take action as necessary".Image credit: Square Enix News by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on Jan. 10, 2025 Square Enix has shared a new Group Customer Harassment Policy to protect its workers from toxic fan behaviour.The policy states there are instances where "certain customers take actions... that constitute 'customer harassment'" of employees, be that through violence, defamation, intimidation or other means."Such actions do not only prevent our employees and partners from engaging in their work with a sense of security but also causes disruptions to other customers," the policy reads. "Square Enix will not tolerate harassment and will take action as necessary."Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Destined for RebirthWatch on YouTubeAlongside a definition of what it deems to be harassment, the company said it reserves the right to cease providing support services or products, and to protect employees through legal action or criminal proceedings.The policy does not specify examples of this harassment, though it's clearly been put in place as the result of such behaviour.In particular, the Final Fantasy 7 fandom is notorious for divided opinions on Aerith and Tifa and their relationships with Cloud."I say this with love: FF7 shippers need to touch noses," said Aerith voice actor Briana White back in December. "We're all the same family in loving these characters so relax."To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Last January, Cloud voice actor Cody Christian said shippers "ruin great story development" with overt sexualisation.Meanwhile, Final Fantasy 14 producer and director Naoki Yoshida has addressed abuse against the game's developers on multiple occasions.Back in January 2022, Yoshida addressed abuse aimed at developers. "I mean, I can take it, even though it doesn't make it less bad, but staff members will feel really down after getting those words when they gave their absolute best into trying to create something where everyone can enjoy, and this may end up making them no longer create things that are fun from there on," he said.Then last year, following the release of latest expansion Dawntrail, he commented on transphobic abuse sent to Wuk Lamat voice actor Sena Bryer."I'm afraid one of our staff members received very negative comments and it almost felt like a personal attack, which breaks my heart, because she worked really hard and these criticisms were not constructive at all," said Yoshida. "It doesn't do anything except make the staff lose motivation, and in the end that could potentially damage the quality of our game and take away from what makes this game so interesting. So if there are any sort of criticisms, bring it to me, because I'm the one approving this material. I wanted to reiterate that, please refrain from personal attacks against our staff."While Square Enix should be commended for protecting its staff, it's sad that fan behaviour makes such a policy necessary.

AMD's new AI-based FSR 4 upscaler impresses in hands-on testing at CES 2025 on RX 9070-series hardwareThis "research project" fixes long-standing FSR issues.Image credit: Digital Foundry Feature by Will Judd Deputy Editor, Digital Foundry Published on Jan. 10, 2025 Despite ostensibly launching its new RDNA 4 graphics cards and FSR 4 AI-based upscaler at CES 2025, there was much more information released to journalists in pre-briefings than in AMD's 45-minute CES 2025 keynote. Thankfully, Digital Foundry's Alex and Oliver got to see both in an AMD suite on the show floor, with a machine learning upscaling "research project" on an RX 9070-series GPU that is almost certainly FSR 4. The game of choice was Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, one of our go-to titles for comparing upscaling technologies thanks to its support for nearly all of them. That gave us a great opportunity to see how FSR 4 is shaping up ahead of its launch with the new GPUs later this quarter - and we've got to say, we're impressed. The advantage here is that FSR is moving from being an hand-tuned analytic upscaler to one that takes advantage of ML or machine learning (one of the many technologies under the 'AI' umbrella). We saw a similar evolution from Nvidia between the original DLSS upscaler and DLSS 2, and that brought about a huge improvement to image quality - so is it the same for FSR 4? In a word, yes. In side-by-side comparisons between two PCs running Rift Apart in 4K performance mode, one with FSR 3.1 and one with FSR 4, the new ML-based technique looks to solve many of the previous versions' biggest issues. Want to see FSR 4 in action? Even limited to handheld footage, the differences here are noticeable - and that's exciting. Watch on YouTubeMost notably, image quality seemed noticeably improved on the "research project" PC across a variety of scenes. The fine texture of the red carpet in the game's opening level is a hard one to reproduce, for example, with FSR 3.1 compressing a fair amount of detail and producing a moir pattern, but FSR 4 managing to better preserve the individual fibres. Similarly, the use of SSAO produces some artefacting on FSR 3.1, with occlusion appearing and disappearing from frame to frame, whereas this appeared to have been fixed on FSR 4. The image also looked fairly sharp, without the soft look that characterises some upscalers running in a similarly challenging 1080p to 4K mode. The fast-moving confetti particles that accompany Ratchet and Clank's first-level parade is another traditional trouble spot, but again FSR 4 exhibited little of the ghosting or trails we've seen in various versions of FSR. An even more obvious improvement comes with the movement of the bystanders in the stadium seating, with their claps and cheers causing disocclusion fizzle in FSR 3.1 - that looks to be fixed in FSR 4. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Of course, we recently discussed the Amethyst partnership between AMD and Sony, which describes a joint effort by the companies to develop new AI-based technologies, so could it be possible for this upscaler to be a derivative of what Sony produced for the PlayStation 5 Pro? In short, it doesn't seem likely - we didn't see any of the fundamental stability issues (eg fizzle in fine detail) evident across all implementations of PSSR, and Ratchet and Clank on PS5 Pro looks noticeably different to the game on the "research project" PC. While what we saw at CES was impressive, it's important to underscore that this is not the finished article. We haven't been able to grab direct capture, we had no access to settings, and it's clear that this is an in-development version of FSR 4 being run on unreleased hardware with pre-launch drivers. Regardless though, what we did see was impressive, and we look forward to taking a closer look at the new tech when AMD is ready to show it off properly.