2025 will be a year of change for sustainability initiativesGetty ImagesAs we start 2025, sustainability initiatives appear to face major headwinds. The United States has once again withdrawn from the Paris Agreement and key financial institutions have exited decarbonization alliances. All this against the backdrop of record global temperatures and unprecedented climate disasters. These developments have fueled a sense of pessimism, prompting many to ask: is sustainability in retreat?From my recent conversations with sustainability leaders and executives in the financial sector, the answer is clear: no, sustainability is not retreatingit is evolving. The challenges of today are not stopping progress but rather shaping a more mature, embedded, and economically driven approach to sustainability.In 2025, we are seeing three key shifts with big implications for businesses:A move away from high-profile public commitments toward quieter, results-focused action.The integration of sustainability into core business functions, making it part of the everyday fabric of firms.A stronger focus on sustainability as a driver of economic opportunity and client value.These shifts show how sustainability is adapting to become a vital part of how businesses operate in a rapidly changing world.Shift 1: Action over commitmentsThe first shift is a move away from splashy public commitments. Over the past few years, bold announcements about net-zero targets and ambitious climate goals dominated headlines. But now, the focus has turned inward. Organizations are prioritizing action over new promises, working to deliver on the commitments theyve already made.This change reflects pressures from both sides of the spectrum. On the one hand, it is a response to the anti-ESG movement in places like the United States, which views sustainability initiatives as distractions from a firms ability to provide value to its shareholders. On the other, it is a response to added scrutiny on existing commitments and the pressure to demonstrate tangible impacts. In many jurisdictions, as greenwashing regulations tighten, firms are becoming more careful about how they communicate their sustainability efforts. The appetite for making new commitments has diminished significantly, as the focus shifts to execution.MORE FOR YOUShift 2: Integration of sustainability into operationsThe second shift is companies integrating sustainability into the operations of their business, rather than as a standalone initiative. In my conversations with CSOs about how their roles have changed, there are a few things that stand out. Many of them mention that their role has become less externally facing and more focused on providing support across different parts of their organization. Their teams are increasingly being seen as internal experts and not just as reporting experts. Instead, they are seeing their input sought in new business, potential deals, supplier relationships, and strategic decision-making. Sustainability considerations are no longer separable from business considerations.This transformation parallels the rise of other cross-cutting business priorities, like data protection. Just as data protection became integral to operations, sustainability is increasingly being appreciated as a core component of business resilience and success. The idea that every financial decision is a sustainability decision is becoming a practical reality.Shift 3: Sustainability provides economic returnsPerhaps the most profound shift in sustainability is the move away from it being seen as an additional cost or a "non-financial" consideration as it becomes central to economic and financial decision-making. For too long and in too many firms, sustainability goals and financial goals have existed in opposition, or at best, isolation. No longer. Many firms are finally seeing the business value of sustainability from unlocking new markets and opportunities to supporting efficiencies that reduce costs.I have often heard executives say that for sustainability to be sustainable, it needs to make money. Now, with the global energy transition accelerating, investments in renewables, electric vehicles, batteries, and other green technologies are booming. These technologies are bolstered in many markets by policy incentives and climate conscious consumer preferences. On the operational side, improving supply chain sustainability is enabling firms reduce their energy costs and build resiliency in an increasingly chaotic world.Another positive development has been the renewed emphasis on helping clients achieve their financial and sustainability goals. Rather than focusing on what clients need to do to help the financial institution hit its goals, financial institutions are leaning into their role as a trusted partner to clients. Firms are providing clients with green financial products, guidance on navigating new regulations, and optimizing supply chains. This sustainability expertise is becoming a key differentiator and an effective way to win new business and nurture existing relationships.What These Shifts Mean For Your BusinessThese three shiftsfocusing on delivering results, integrating sustainability into everyday operations, and embracing the economic opportunityare signs of a major evolution in sustainability. For businesses looking to thrive, the implications are clear:Action Over Words: The time for pledges and announcements has passed. Credibility will come from delivering measurable results.Embedded Sustainability: Embedding sustainability throughout the firm is critical for providing the insights needed for effective operations.Value Creation: Sustainability must be about more than compliance; it must be about growth. Firms that innovate and help clients navigate the transition will be the ones to succeed.

7-Zip is a free and open-source file archiver utility compatible with many compression formats. By default, 7-Zip creates 7z-format archives with a .7z file extension, but when used for creating ZIP and GZIP formats, 7-Zip provides a compression ratio that is 2-10 % better than the ratio provided by PKZip and WinZip.You can use 7-Zip on any computer, even in commercial organizations free of charge. Most of the source code is under the GNU LGPL license. The unRAR code is under a mixed license: GNU LGPL + unRAR restrictions. You don't need to register or pay for 7-Zip.FeaturesHigh compression ratio in new 7z format with LZMA compressionSupported formats: Packing / unpacking: 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TARUnpacking only: RAR, CAB, ISO, ARJ, LZH, CHM, MSI, WIM, Z, CPIO, RPM, DEB and NSISFor ZIP and GZIP formats, 7-Zip provides a compression ratio that is 2-10 % better than the ratio provided by PKZip and WinZipStrong AES-256 encryption in 7z and ZIP formatsSelf-extracting capability for 7z formatIntegration with Windows ShellPowerful File ManagerPowerful command line versionPlugin for FAR ManagerLocalizations for 69 languages7-Zip works in Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7/8/10/11. There is a port of the command line version to Linux/Unix.What's NewThe default dictionary size values for LZMA/LZMA2 compression methods were increased.7-Zip now can calculate the following hash checksums: SHA-512, SHA-384, SHA3-256 and MD5.APM and HFS support was improved.If an archive update operation uses a temporary archive folder and the archive is moved to the destination folder, 7-Zip shows the progress of moving the archive file, as this operation can take a long time if the archive is large.The bug was fixed: 7-Zip File Manager didn't propagate Zone.Identifier stream for extracted files from nested archives (if there is open archive inside another open archive).Some bugs were fixed.Previous release notes:The bug was fixed: 7-Zip could crash for some incorrect ZSTD archives.The bug was fixed: 7-Zip could not unpack some ZSTD archives.New switch -myv={MMNN} to set decoder compatibility version for 7z archive creating. {MMNN} is 4-digit number that represents the version of 7-Zip without a dot. If -myv={MMNN} switch is specified, 7-Zip will only use compression methods that can be decoded by the specified version {MMNN} of 7-Zip and newer versions. If -myv={MMNN} switch is not specified, -myv=2300 is used, and 7-Zip will only use compression methods that can be decoded by 7-Zip 23.00 and newer versions.New switch -myfa={FilterID} to allow 7-Zip to use the specified filter method for 7z archive creating.New switch -myfd={FilterID} to disallow 7-Zip to use the specified filter method for 7z archive creating.Some bugs were fixed.

In brief: The new space race has attracted multiple private ventures. From cargo delivery to facility construction in orbit and on the Moon, the burgeoning space economy has everyone racing to get in on the ground floor. If successful, an upcoming mission will establish the first lunar data center. Florida-based startup Lonestar Data Holdings plans to launch the first Moon-based data center dubbed the "Freedom Data Center." The compact but fully operational information hub will piggyback on an upcoming lunar lander mission by Intuitive Machines aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in February. Lonestar says storing data on the Moon offers unique benefits.First, it provides unmatched physical security and protection from natural disasters, cyber threats, and geopolitical conflicts that could put Earth-based data at risk. The solar-powered mini-facility is also much more environmentally friendly than energy-hungry data centers on our home planet, utilizing naturally cooled solid-state drives.The company has already lined up some high-profile early customers for their lunar platform, including the state of Florida, the Isle of Man government, AI firm Valkyrie, and the pop rock band Imagine Dragons.The company has been working towards this milestone for years, successfully testing data storage on the Moon in February last year and aboard the International Space Station in 2021. However, putting something as complex as a data center on the lunar surface is still an enormous technical challenge.The harsh environment, maintenance difficulties, and astronomical costs could create some problematic issues. There are also inherent risks associated with space launch. There is no option for equipment recovery if something goes wrong. Thankfully, the data center will have a ground-based backup at a Flexential facility in Tampa. // Related StoriesLonestar has yet to release specific operational details or hardware specs. It will be interesting to see the company's plans for communication between lunar and ground-based facilities.Lonestar isn't the only venture planning to establish a lunar data center. Reuters reports that several other companies are eyeing similar space-based facilities, including Lumen Orbit, which recently raised $11 million at a $40 million valuation.Masthead credit: Pavel Chagochkin

HatchTable of ContentsTable of ContentsPricing and availabilityDesign and buttonsFeaturesVerdictThe Hatch Restore 3 is a wonderful bedside companion. Its primary function is that of a smart alarm clock, but its also capable of playing music to help you unwind at night and simulating the sunrise to ease you into the morning. Our Hatch Restore 3 review found it to be one of the best smart alarms on the market but how does it compare to the outgoing Hatch Restore 2? More specifically, should current Hatch Restore 2 owners feel obligated to upgrade?Heres a closer look at the Hatch Restore 3 and Hatch Restore 2 to help you decide if the newer model is worth the investment.Recommended VideosJon Bitner / Digital TrendsBoth the Hatch Restore 3 and Hatch Restore 2 cost $170. They also both support the Hatch+ membership plan, which costs $5 per month and unlocks a wealth of exclusive routines such as new meditations, soundscapes, music, and more. However, the Hatch Restore 2 is now only available via third-party resellers. That makes it easier to get your hands on the Hatch Restore 3, as its readily available on the Hatch website.Winner: Hatch Restore 3RelatedHatchThe Hatch Restore 3 looks very similar to the old Hatch Restore 2, but there are a few key differences that make it easier to use. Arguably the most important addition is the Big Button. This can be found on top of the Hatch Restore 3 and serves a variety of roles. It can start and advance through your Unwind routines, turn off and snooze your alarm, and it even rotates so you can use it as a dial to adjust your volume.Other buttons on the Restore 3 include a Swap button to advance through your Unwind routine, a Pause button, an alarm toggle to disable your alarms, and a Light button thats used to reset your device or sync with Bluetooth.By comparison, only two buttons and an alarm toggle are available on the Hatch Restore 2. This makes it a bit more challenging to manipulate especially when trying to use it in a dimly lit room.Winner: Hatch Restore 3Jon Bitner / Digital TrendsThese two devices offer pretty much all the same features. Heres a quick look at their standout features:Create alarmsPlay meditations, soundscapes, and other audio to assist with your morning and sleep routinesIlluminate their face a variety of colors to simulate the sunriseThe appearance of the Hatch Sleep app is slightly different between the two (for example, the Restore 2 uses a Morning Moment feature thats replaced by a two-step sunrise routine on the Restore 3), but they effectively serve the same purpose. So regardless of what youre looking for, these two offer pretty much the same features. Most people will find the Restore 3 to be slightly more customizable, but the Restore 2 still offers plenty of functionality.At the end of the day, both are capable of playing various soundscapes to help you unwind or sleep, then mimic the sunrise in the morning as it wakes you with a gentle alarm.Winner: TieThanks to its updated design and addition of several buttons, the Hatch Restore 3 is an undeniable upgrade from the Hatch Restore 2. Its also great that it carries the same $170 price tag. No doubt its still a bit pricey, but its great to see that the Restore 3 doesnt further inflate its price despite these big improvements.If you dont yet own a Hatch device, the Hatch Restore 3 is without a doubt the one to purchase. However, folks who currently own a Restore 2 probably dont need to rush out and upgrade. While youll find the Restore 3 to be slightly more customizable and the new buttons make it easier than ever to operate, its not different enough to warrant another $170 investment. Instead, consider using your Restore 2 as long as you can. But once youre ready to move on, the Restore 3 is a wonderful successor.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsAnora (2024)The Brutalist (2024)A Complete Unknown (2024)Conclave (2024)Dune: Part Two (2024)Emilia Prez (2024)Im Still Here (2024)Nickel Boys (2024)The Substance (2024)Wicked (2024)The nominations for the 2025 Oscars are now live. Netflixs Emilia Prezasserted its dominance with 13 Oscar nominations, one short of the record shared byAll About Eve, Titanic, andLa La Land. The Brutalist and Wicked each garnered 10 nominations and look to be Emilia Prezs toughest competition.The biggest prize of the night is Best Picture.The 10 films nominated for Best Picture are Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Prez, Im Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, and Wicked. Find out how to stream every Best Picture nominee below. Some movies are still in theaters, but several key nominees can be streamed at home.Recommended VideosThe 2025 Oscars are scheduled to air on March 2, 2025, on ABC.Written and directed by Sean Baker, AnoraAnora received six Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Baker), Best Actress (Madison), Best Supporting Actor (Yura Borisov), Best Original Screenplay (Baker), and Best Film Editing.Anorais available for purchase on digital services. It will eventually stream on Hulu.A24The Brutalist is Brady Corbets epic drama about Lszl Tth (Adrien Brody), a Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivor who immigrated to the United States in the late 1940s. Lszl, an architect, settles in Pennsylvania, where a wealthy client (Guy Pearce) changes his life.The Brutalist earned 10 Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Corbet), Best Actor (Brody), Best Supporting Actor (Pearce), Best Supporting Actress (Felicity Jones), Best Original Screenplay (Corbet and Mona Fastvold), Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, and Best Production Design.The Brutalist is now in theaters. It will eventually stream on Max.Searchlight PicturesTimothe Chalamet steps into the iconic role of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. Based on the novel Elijah Walds 2015 bookDylan Goes Electric!, A Complete Unknownfollows the rise of Dylan as a folk hero in the 1960s, culminating with his polarizing decision to play electric instruments at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.A Complete Unknownreceived eight Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (James Mangold), Best Actor (Chalamet), Best Supporting Actor (Edward Norton), Best Supporting Actress (Monica Barbaro), Best Adapted Screenplay (Mangold and Jay Cocks), Best Sound, and Best Costume Design.A Complete Unknown is now in theaters. It will stream on Hulu and Disney+ after its theatrical run.Focus FeaturesThe papal conclave becomes an election of lies, deceit, and betrayal in Conclave. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), the man in charge of the conclave, grapples with a nefarious secret that, if made public, could alter the Catholic Church forever.Conclave garnered eight Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Fiennes), Best Supporting Actress (Isabella Rossellini), Best Adapted Screenplay (Peter Straughan), Best Original Score, Best Editing, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design.Conclaveis now streaming on Peacock.Warner Bros. PicturesDenis Villeneuves second adaptation of Frank Herberts seminal novel comes to life in Dune: Part Two. Paul Atreides (Timothe Chalamet) is now living with the Fremen after the destruction of his house. To exact his revenge on House Harkonnen, Paul must embrace a destiny he initially refuses to accept.Dune: Part Twoearned five Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects.Dune: Part Twois now streaming on Max and Netflix.NetflixFrench auteur Jacques Audiard helms the crime musical Emilia Prez,the most nominated movie at the 2025 Oscars. Rita Mora Castro (Zoe Saldaa), a lawyer, is tasked with helping a cartel kingpin (Karla Sofa Gascn) leave the criminal world to undergo gender-affirming surgery.Emilia Prezearned 13 Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best International Feature Film, Best Director (Audiard), Best Actress (Gascn), Best Supporting Actress (Saldaa), Best Adapted Screenplay (Audiard), Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Cinematography, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song (twice).Emilia Prez is now streaming on Netflix.Im Still Here (2024)The surprise inclusion in Best Picture isIm Still Here, Walter Salles biographical drama. Golden Globe winner Fernanda Torres stars as Eunice Pavia, a Brazilian mother who searches for the truth behind the disappearance of her politician husband, Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello), during a time of military dictatorship.Im Still Hereearned three Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best International Feature Film, and Best Actress.Colson Whiteheads 2019 novel is the source material for RaMell RossNickel Boys. The story follows Elwood (Ethan Herisse) and Turner (Brandon Wilson), two young African Americans sent to a reform school in 1960s Florida.Despite the constant abuse from those in power, the boys forge a friendship in their quest for survival.Nickel Boysreceived two Oscar nominations: Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay (Ross and Joslyn Barnes).Nickel Boys is now in theaters. After its theatrical run, it will stream on Prime Video.MubiIn The Substance, Coralie Fargeat crafted this body horror that addresses sexism, ageism, and societal pressure on females. On her 50th birthday, veteran celebrity Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) is fired from her aerobics show. In a quest to look younger, Elisabeth takes a black-market drug, The Substance, which gives her a younger, beautiful version (Margaret Qualley) of herself.The Substanceaccumulated five Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Fargeat), Best Actress (Moore), Best Original Screenplay (Fargeat), and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.The Substanceis now streaming on Mubi.Universal PicturesWicked is the first part of the feature film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical. The movie explores the origins of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda (Ariana Grande), two young witches who meet at Shiz University. The duos encounter with the Wizard of Oz sets them on a course toward different destinies.Wickedreceived 10 Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Actress (Erivo), Best Supporting Actress (Grande), Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Production Design, Best Original Score, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects.Wickedis now in theaters and available for purchase on digital services. It will eventually stream on Peacock.Editors Recommendations2023 Oscars: where to watch all the Best Picture nominees

The actor stars as a version of the Arthur Conan Doyle character in a series set in the present day, following an American geneticist in the wake of Sherlock Holmess death.

Picture an elegant evening out during the Studio 54 era. The wine on the table: very likely a Gavi. Why doesnt this dry, dazzlingly acidic, very food-friendly white get more love today?

Agents among us OpenAI launches Operator, an AI agent that can operate your computer New research "Computer-Use Agent" AI model can jump in and help users with on-screen tasks. Benj Edwards Jan 23, 2025 5:24 pm | 0 Credit: josefkubes via Getty Images Credit: josefkubes via Getty Images Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreOn Thursday, OpenAI released a research preview of "Operator," a web automation tool that uses a new AI model called Computer-Using Agent (CUA) to control computers through a visual interface. The system performs tasks by viewing and interacting with on-screen elements like buttons and text fields similar to how a human would.Operator is available today for subscribers of the $200 per month ChatGPT Pro plan at operator.chatgpt.com. The company plans to expand to Plus, Team, and Enterprise users later. OpenAI intends to integrate these capabilities directly into ChatGPT and later release CUA through its API for developers.Operator watches on-screen content while you use your computer and executes tasks through simulated keyboard and mouse inputs. The Computer-Using Agent processes screenshots to understand the computer's state and then makes decisions about clicking, typing, and scrolling based on its observations.OpenAI's release follows other tech companies as they push into what are often called "agentic" AI systems, which can take actions on a user's behalf. Google announced Project Mariner in December 2024, which performs automated tasks through the Chrome browser, and two months earlier, in October 2024, Anthropic launched a web automation tool called "Computer Use" focused on developers that can control a user's mouse cursor and take actions on a computer."The Operator interface looks very similar to Anthropic's Claude Computer Use demo from October," wrote AI researcher Simon Willison on his blog, "even down to the interface with a chat panel on the left and a visible interface being interacted with on the right." An Operator demo video created by OpenAI. Watch and take actionTo use your PC like you would, the Computer-Using Agent works in multiple steps. First, it captures screenshots to monitor your screen, then analyzes those images (using GPT-4o's vision capabilities with additional reinforcement learning) to process raw pixel data. Next, it determines what actions to take and then performs virtual inputs to control the computer. This iterative loop design reportedly lets the system recover from errors and handle complex tasks across different applications.While it's working, Operator shows a miniature browser window of its actions.However, the technology behind Operator is still relatively new and far from perfect. The model reportedly performs best at repetitive web tasks like creating shopping lists or playlists. It struggles more with unfamiliar interfaces like tables and calendars, and does poorly with complex text editing (with a 40 percent success rate), according to OpenAI's internal testing data.OpenAI reported the system achieved an 87 percent success rate on the WebVoyager benchmark, which tests live sites like Amazon and Google Maps. On WebArena, which uses offline test sites for training autonomous agents, Operator's success rate dropped to 58.1 percent. For computer operating system tasks, CUA set an apparent record of 38.1 percent success on the OSWorld benchmark, surpassing previous models but still falling short of human performance at 72.4 percent.With this imperfect research preview, OpenAI hopes to gather user feedback and refine the system's capabilities. The company acknowledges CUA won't perform reliably in all scenarios but plans to improve its reliability across a wider range of tasks through user testing.Safety and privacy concernsFor any AI model that can see how you operate your computer and even control some aspects of it, privacy and safety are very important. OpenAI says it built multiple safety controls into Operator, requiring user confirmation before completing sensitive actions like sending emails or making purchases. Operator also has limits on what it can browse, set by OpenAI. It cannot access certain website categories, including gambling and adult content.Traditionally, AI models based on large language model-style Transformer technology like Operator have been relatively easy to fool with jailbreaks and prompt injections.To catch attempts at subverting Operator, which might hypothetically be embedded in websites that the AI model browses, OpenAI says it has implemented real-time moderation and detection systems. OpenAI reports the system recognized all but one case of prompt injection attempts during an early internal red-teaming session.However, Willison, who frequently covers AI security issues, isn't convinced Operator can stay secure, especially as new threats emerge. "Color me skeptical," he wrote in his blog post. "I imagine we'll see all kinds of novel successful prompt injection style attacks against this model once the rest of the world starts to explore it."As Willison points out, OpenAI acknowledges these risks in its System Card documentation: "Despite proactive testing and mitigation efforts, certain challenges and risks remain due to the difficulty of modeling the complexity of real-world scenarios and the dynamic nature of adversarial threats."And what about privacy? Since all the information Operator sees about what is on your screen gets sent over the Internet to OpenAI's cloud servers through periodic screenshots, you're putting a lot of trust in OpenAI.OpenAI says it has implemented several privacy controls: Users can opt out of having their data used for model training through ChatGPT settings, delete all browsing data with one click in Operator settings, and log out of all sites simultaneously. When users need to input sensitive information like passwords or payment details, a "takeover mode" activates where Operator stops collecting screenshots.Even with these precautions, Willison provided his own Operator privacy advice on his blog: "Start a fresh session for each task you outsource to Operator to ensure it doesn't have access to your credentials for any sites that you have used via the tool in the past. If you're having it spend money on your behalf, let it get to the checkout, then provide it with your payment details and wipe the session straight afterwards."Benj EdwardsSenior AI ReporterBenj EdwardsSenior AI Reporter Benj Edwards is Ars Technica's Senior AI Reporter and founder of the site's dedicated AI beat in 2022. He's also a tech historian with almost two decades of experience. In his free time, he writes and records music, collects vintage computers, and enjoys nature. He lives in Raleigh, NC. 0 Comments

"National embarrassment" All federal agencies ordered to terminate remote workideally within 30 days US agencies wasting billions on empty offices an embarrassment, RTO memo says. Ashley Belanger Jan 23, 2025 4:28 pm | 91 US President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order on remote work for government employees during the 60th presidential inauguration parade at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. Credit: Bloomberg / Contributor | Bloomberg US President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order on remote work for government employees during the 60th presidential inauguration parade at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. Credit: Bloomberg / Contributor | Bloomberg Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreAll federal agencies received a memo Wednesday requiring the termination of remote work options, with return-to-office plans due by end of day Friday.In the memo, the acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, Charles Ezell, told the heads and acting heads of all departments and agencies that the change is due to Donald Trump's Return to In-Person Work presidential memorandum, which carved out space for some exemptions and ordered:Heads of all departments and agencies in the executive branch of Government shall, as soon as practicable, take all necessary steps to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis, provided that the department and agency heads shall make exemptions they deem necessary.Empty offices a national embarrassmentAccording to the memo, "most federal offices presently are virtually abandoned," with "the vast majority of federal office workers" having "not returned to in-person work" after transitioning to remote work during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only has this "devastated" the local economy in Washington, D.C., the memo said, but having so many federal offices sitting empty also serves as a "national embarrassment.""Virtually unrestricted telework has led to poorer government services and made it more difficult to supervise and train government workers," Ezell said, citing a report from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.That report was published last week, calling out the lack of data supporting remote work policies. It found that "American taxpayers are wasting billions to pay for owned and leased federal office space that remain largely vacant" and accused the Biden administration of making "no real attempt to determine the effects of widespread telework.""While the Biden-Harris Administration has touted the benefits of telework, it generally has had no means of measuring the effects of telework on agency mission outcomes or on addressing any existing recruitment or retention challenges," the report noted among key findings.Exceptions may be grantedEzell's memo expanded criticism of the Biden administration's approach to remote work, suggesting that it enabled federal unions' alleged attempts "to abuse the collective-bargaining process to guarantee full-time telework into the indefinite future and forestall any requirement to return to the office."Suspecting that the "rampant use of telework is likely underreported," the committee's report concluded that "even the reported levels are excessive, there is little evidence that it is enhancing productivity or addressing recruitment and retention gaps, and there is evidence it is harming agency missions and citizen-facing services."To overcome these supposed deficiencies, the committee recommended that remote work policies be linked to performance metrics, rather than "employee preferences or union demands." Any remote work that is granted should be tracked through automated systems, the report further prescribed, and any attempts for federal agencies to compete for talent using remote work perks should not be tolerated.This will allow the government to alleviate the "national embarrassment" of empty offices and "dispose of unneeded property and terminate unnecessary leases," the report said.While some employees may be eligible for RTO exemptionseither to accommodate a disability or qualifying medical condition, or for some "other compelling reason certified by the agency head and the employees supervisor"Ezell's memo insisted that a general return-to-office push was necessary. He said that Trump's presidential memo reflected "a simple reality" that "the only way to get employees back to the office is to adopt a centralized policy requiring return-to-work for all agencies across the federal government.""Seeking to cajole individual agencies to try to get employees to return to the worksite has not succeeded," Ezell said.Although Trump's memo set no deadline for RTO efforts to begin, Ezell gave federal agency heads rather short notice to fall in line. All agencies must submit their RTO plans by 5 pm ET on Friday, January 24, Ezell's memo said.Those plans should specify "the date that the agency will be in full compliance with the new telework policy," with a recommended deadline of 30 days to comply, Ezell said.Ashley BelangerSenior Policy ReporterAshley BelangerSenior Policy Reporter Ashley is a senior policy reporter for Ars Technica, dedicated to tracking social impacts of emerging policies and new technologies. She is a Chicago-based journalist with 20 years of experience. 91 Comments

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks at the White House in Washington DC on 21 January 2025AARON SCHWARTZ/POOL/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockThis week, OpenAI and other tech companies joined US president Donald Trump at the White House to pledge a private investment of half a trillion dollars in US data centres over the next four years. The Stargate Project could power an ambitious expansion of AI technology with repercussions for the US electricity grid and the countrys energy future.The Stargate announcement comes as North America has been experiencing surging electricity demand in recent years. The grid is already straining to keep