Titan CEO is pleased to announce Holly Gotfredson of American Metalcraft and Finishing Dynamics as a 2025 Georgia Titan 100. The Titan 100 program recognizes Georgias Top 100 CEOs and C-level executives. They are the areas most accomplished business leaders in their industry using criteria that include demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. Collectively, the 2025 Georgia Titan 100 and their companies employ over 136,000 individuals and generate over $61 billion in annual revenues. This years honorees will be published in a limited-edition Titan 100 book and profiled exclusively online. They will be honored at the annual awards ceremony on May 8, 2025, and will be given the opportunity to interact and connect multiple times throughout the year with their fellow Titans. This years Titan 100 embody the true diversity of Georgias business landscape. Representing construction, marketing and advertising, financial services, food and beverages, information technology and services, and nonprofit sectors, among others.Georgias Titan 100 are redefining business with vision and purpose, setting new standards for growth, innovation, and impact. These trailblazing leaders inspire transformation across industries, uplift communities, and drive meaningful change. We proudly celebrate their legacy of excellence and unwavering commitment to shaping a brighter future for all, said Jaime Zawmon, president of Titan CEO. Holly Gotfredson isthe president ofAmerican Metalcraft and Finishing Dynamics. (Courtesy American Metalcraft)Holly Gotfredson, the president ofAmerican Metalcraft and Finishing Dynamics, stands at the helm of two WBE-certified architectural metal product companies that have been prominent forces in the industry for decades. Under her visionary leadership, American Metalcraft remains a trusted resource, providing an extensive array of high-quality solid plate aluminum, zinc, and stainless products, including rainscreens, wet seal systems, perforated panels, ornamental metal, custom sunshades, column covers, brake metal and decorative exterior elements.Finishing Dynamics, her in-house metal coating company, provides extrusion coatings for not only American Metalcraft products, but for other fabricators throughout the nation.Holly Gotfredson will be honored at the annual Titan 100 awards celebration on May 8, 2025, held at the Delta Flight Museum. The 68,000-square-foot Delta Flight Museum has allowed visitors from around the world to explore aviation history, celebrate the story and people of Delta, and discover the future of flight. This elegant, cocktail-style awards event will unite 100 Titans of Industry for an unforgettable evening of celebration, camaraderie, and networkingan evening unlike anything that exists in the Georgia business community.

A compound in Mexico City designed in the 1960s by Luis Barragn and his protg, Andrs Casillas as an equestrian ranch and property for recreational amusement is slated to be transformed into a public cultural destination later this year. La Cuadra San Cristbal, a 6.5-acre site and its signature bright pink walls have become a pilgrimage of sorts for traveling architects seeking an Instagram mecca. In 2016, Louis Vuitton staged a popular editorial campaign there, where model La Seydoux strutted before the equestrian estates polychromatic walls and horses. Fundacin Fernando Romero, a nonprofit established by architect and philanthropist Fernando Romero, announced plans this week to transform La Cuadra San Cristbal into a new, public cultural destination. The vision includes the addition of new pavilions and other temporary interventions. Romero said he hopes that, looking ahead, the compound will serve the local context in Mexico City, but also the global architecture community at large.La Cuadra San Cristbal was designed in the 1960s as an equestrian estate.(Yannick Wegner/Courtesy Fundacin Fernando Romero)Our work at the Fundacin is driven by the belief that architectural innovation and artistic production can help foster a more just and culturally vibrant world, Romero shared in a statement.It is a great honor to begin this work by envisioning La Cuadra as a dynamic cultural hub that encourages new possibilities at the intersection of art and architecture, Romero added. Through a range of programming, we aim to catalyze the power of architecture for the visiting public and celebrate the enduring cultural influence of Luis Barragn. The vision will transform the property into a hub for the arts and artists. (Yannick Wegner/Courtesy Fundacin Fernando Romero)Romero purchased La Cuadra San Cristbal in 2017, one year after the Louis Vuitton photoshoot. Now, he hopes to use the compound for displaying works by artists, architects, and designers.Over the next ten years, a multi-phase plan for the campus by Romero will add new pavilions adjacent to the Barragn compound, one of which will be a timber structure by Kengo Kuma. Marina Abramovi has been invited to create a temporary intervention in the campuss courtyard, where a shallow water feature and Barragns heavy use of color are on full view. Aside from the new pavilion by Kengo Kuma, other new features will include a permanent exhibition that tells the story of Barragns life and work; an artist residency program; additional galleries, including one gallery that displays the Archivo Collection of design objects. In addition to galleries and artist workshops the transformed La Cuadra San Cristbal will house a podcast production studio, a library, a multi-purpose event space, and of course a gift shop and cafe. Future temporary, site-specific installations are also planned for the property.Among the notable elements of the property are a water feature. (Yannick Wegner/Courtesy Fundacin Fernando Romero)The exhibition indebted to Barragn will be curated by Jorge Covarrubias, the same architect that restored Barragns Casa Prieto Lpez and Fuente del Bebedero. The exhibition will focus on a few key projects by the late designer, including Casa Prieto Lpez, Casa Glvez, Casa Gilardi, Casa Estudio Barragn, Convento de las Capuchinas, Torres de Satlite, Fuente del Bebedero, and of course, La Cuadra San Cristbal.La Cuadra San Cristbal will open to the public in October 2025.

ServiceNow has reported full-year revenue of $10.98bn, representing 22% year-on-year growth. Fourth-quarter revenue was close to $3bn, growing by 21% year-on-year.The supplier is making its artificial intelligence (AI) efforts front and centre of its messaging.Bill McDermott, chairman and CEO of ServiceNow, said: AI is fuelling a top to bottom reordering of the enterprise technology landscape. Leaders are embracing the ServiceNow platform as their AI agent control tower to unlock exponential productivity and seamlessly orchestrate endtoend business transformation. We are still in the early days of a massive opportunity. ServiceNows innovation, growth and profitability put us in a class of one.In its results statement, the company said it has 2,109 customers with more than $1m in annual contract value (ACV), representing 12% yearonyear growth in customers, and nearly 500 customers with more than $5m in ACV, representing 21% yearonyear growth.It added that the number of customers buying two or more of ServiceNows Pro Plus AI capabilities doubled quarter-on-quarter. It said it has nearly 1,000 agentic AI customers.Gina Mastantuono, ServiceNow president and chief financial officer, said: Our GenAI net new ACV stepped up meaningfully in Q4, as the number of Now Assist service desk deals grew over 150% quarteroverquarter. Were just scratching the surface of whats possible.The moves were making in 2025 arent just about maintaining our lead theyre about expanding it. We are setting ourselves up to define the future of agentpowered automation, solidify ServiceNow as the AI platform for business transformation, and deliver strong growth year after year.At the same time, the supplier announced some product updates, including AI Agent Orchestrator, which connects teams of AI agents working across tasks, systems and departments to drive workflows; AI Agent Studio, a low-code/no-code tool allowing customers to build customised AI agents; and thousands of pre-built, ready-to-deploy AI agents, designed for workflows across IT, customer service and HR.Raj Sharma, global managing partner at EY, said in support of ServiceNows agentic AI technology: AI agents are critical to empower teams with intelligent capabilities working in collaboration between humans and AI. This is why we are working with ServiceNow and our ecosystems partners to harness the full potential of agentic AI across our AI platforms at enterprise-scale, enabling us to integrate and contextualise data across our entire organisation in real time, with the high levels of trust and transparency we need built in.And another customer, Rachel Cameron, head of transformational programmes at Rolls-Royce, added: Rolls-Royce has always been at the forefront of engineering excellence and innovation, continuously finding ways to improve efficiency, resilience and employee experience. By integrating ServiceNow AI agents, we are streamlining operations, reducing manual effort and enabling faster, data-driven decision-making. AI-powered automation is helping us deflect service desk tickets, optimise workflows and provide intelligent insights, allowing our teams to focus on high-value activities while ensuring our operations remain efficient, secure and future-ready.ServiceNow ecosystemServiceNow announced, with its results statement, some partnership developments, including:An expanded partnership with Google Cloud: The ServiceNow Platform will be available on Google Cloud Marketplace and Google Distributed Cloud, and the companies will integrate ServiceNow Workflow Data Fabric and cross-enterprise workflows with Google Clouds AI infrastructure, development platforms and productivity tools.Oracle integration: Expansion of ServiceNows Workflow Data Fabric capabilities through an integration with Oracle data sources, turning insights into action for enhanced decision-making and agility.ServiceNows results were announced in the same week as those of its chairman and CEO Bill McDermotts former company, SAP.SAP announced full-year revenue of 34.2bn, representing 10% year-on-year growth, and fourth-quarter revenue of 9.4bn, up 11% year-on-year.The German-headquartered supplier also highlighted its AI story. CEO Christian Klein said: Q4 was a strong finish to the year, with half of our cloud order entry including AI. Looking at the full year, we exceeded our cloud goals, accelerating cloud revenue and current cloud backlog growth against a much larger base. Total cloud backlog now stands at 63bn, up 40%. Revenue growth has returned to double digits. Looking ahead, our strong position in data and business AI gives us additional confidence that we will accelerate revenue growth through 2027.In its results statement, SAP highlighted its October 2024 announcement of powerful new capabilities that complement and extend Joule, including collaborative AI agents imbued with custom skills to complete complex cross-disciplinary tasks. Joule is the suppliers cloud portfolio generative AI assistant.SAP also highlighted fourth-quarter customer sign-ups for its flagship Rise with SAP cloud migration programme. These included BASF, BP International, EY, Ford Motor Company and Hannover Medical School.It stated that, among others, North Yorkshire Council and Warrington Borough Council chose Grow with SAP, the suppliers mid-market programme aimed at increasing sales of the cloud version of its S/4 Hana enterprise resource planning (ERP) system in the suppliers words: An offering helping customers adopt cloud ERP with speed, predictability and continuous innovation.Read more about ServiceNowServiceNow introduces AI agent studios and orchestrator.ServiceNow ramps up partner incentives around AI.Gartner Symposium: Why ServiceNow wants to be seen as the AI platform for business transformation.

The first International AI safety report will be used to inform upcoming diplomatic discussions around how to mitigate a variety of dangers associated with artificial intelligence (AI), but it highlights there is a still a high degree of uncertainty around the exact nature of many threats and how to best deal with them.Commissioned after the inaugural AI Safety Summit hosted by the UK government at Bletchley Park in November 2023 and headed by AI academic Yoshua Bengio the report covers a wide range of threats posed by the technology, including its impact on jobs and the environment, its potential to proliferate cyber attacks and deepfakes, and how it can amplify social biases.It also examines the risks associated with market concentrations over AI and the growing AI R&D [Research and Development] divide, but is limited to looking at all of these risks in the context of systems that can perform a wide variety of tasks, otherwise known as general-purpose AI.For each of the many risks assessed, the report refrained from drawing definitive conclusions, highlighting the high degree of uncertainty around how the fast-moving technology will develop. It called for further monitoring and evidence gathering in each area.Current evidence points to two central challenges in general-purpose AI risk management, it said. First, it is difficult to prioritise risks due to uncertainty about their severity and likelihood of occurrence. Second, it can be complex to determine appropriate roles and responsibilities across the AI value chain, and to incentivise effective action.However, the report is clear in its conclusion that all of the potential future impacts of AI it outlines are a primarily political question, which will be determined by the choices of societies and governments today.How general-purpose AI is developed and by whom, which problems it is designed to solve, whether we will be able to reap its full economic potential, who benefits from it, and the types of risks we expose ourselves to the answers to these and many other questions depend on the choices that societies and governments make today and in the future to shape the development of general-purpose AI, it said, adding there is an urgent need for international collaboration and agreement on these issues.Constructive scientific and public discussion will be essential for societies and policymakers to make the right choices.The findings of the report which build on an interim AI safety report released in May 2024 that showed a lack of expert agreement over the biggest risks are intended to inform discussion at the upcoming AI Action Summit in France, slated for early February 2025, which follows on from the two previous summits in Bletchley and Seoul, South Korea.Artificial intelligence is a central topic of our time, and its safety is a crucial foundation for building trust and fostering adoption. Scientific research must remain the fundamental pillar guiding these efforts, said Clara Chappaz, the French minister delegate for AI and digital technologies.This first comprehensive scientific assessment provides the evidence base needed for societies and governments to shape AIs future direction responsibly. These insights will inform crucial discussions at the upcoming AI Action Summit in Paris.In examining the broader societal risks of AI deployment beyond the capabilities of any individual model the report said the impact on labour markets in particular is likely to be profound.It noted that while there is considerable uncertainty in exactly how AI will affect labour markets, the productivity gains made by the technology are likely to lead to mixed effects on wages across different sectors, increasing wages for some workers while decreasing wages for others, with the most significant near-term impact being on jobs that mainly consist of cognitive tasks.Improved general-purpose AI capabilities are also likely to increase current risks to worker autonomy and well-being, it said, highlighting the harmful effects continuous monitoring and AI-driven workload decisions can have, particularly for logistics workers.In line with a January 2024 assessment of AIs impacts on inequality by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which found AI is likely to worsen inequality without political intervention the report said: AI-driven labour automation is likely to exacerbate inequality by reducing the share of all income that goes to workers relative to capital owners.Inequality could be further deepened as a result of what the report terms the AI R&D divide, in which development of the technology is highly concentrated in the hands of large countries located in countries with strong digital infrastructure.For example, in 2023, the majority of notable general-purpose AI models (56%) were developed in the US. This disparity exposes many LMICs [low- and middle-income countries] to risks of dependency and could exacerbate existing inequalities, it said, adding that development costs are only set to rise, exacerbating this divide further.The report also highlighted the rising trend of ghost work, which refers to the mostly hidden labour performed by workers often in precarious conditions in low-income countries to support the development of AI models. It added that while this work can provide people with economic opportunities, the contract-style nature of this work often provides few benefits and worker protections and less job stability, as platforms rotate markets to find cheaper labour.Related to all of this is the high degree of market concentration around AI, which allows a small handful of powerful companies to dominate decision-making around the development and use of the tech.On the environmental impact, the report noted while datacentre operators are increasingly turning to renewable energy sources, a significant portion of AI training globally still relies on high-carbon energy sources such as coal or natural gas, and uses significant amounts of water as well.It added that efficiency improvements in AI-related hardware alone have not negated the overall growth in energy use of AI and possibly further accelerate it because of rebound effects, but that current figures largely rely on estimates, which become even more variable and unreliable when extrapolated into the future due to the rapid pace of development in the field.Highlighting the concrete harms that AI can cause as a result of its potential to amplify existing political and social biases, the report said it could lead to discriminatory outcomes including unequal resource allocation, reinforcement of stereotypes, and systematic neglect of certain groups or viewpoints.It specifically noted how most AI systems are trained on language and image datasets that disproportionately represent English-speaking and western cultures, that many design choices align to particular worldviews at the expense of others, and that current bias mitigation techniques are unreliable.A holistic and participatory approach that includes a variety of perspectives and stakeholders is essential to mitigate bias, it said.Echoing the findings of the interim report around human loss of control of AI systems which some are worried could cause an extinction-level event the report acknowledged such fears but noted that opinion varies greatly.Some consider it implausible, some consider it likely to occur, and some see it as a modest likelihood risk that warrants attention due to its high severity, it said. More foundationally, competitive pressures may partly determine the risk of loss of control [because] competition between companies or between countries can lead them to accept larger risks to stay ahead.In terms of malicious AI use, the report highlighted issues around cyber security, deepfakes and its use in the development of biological or chemical weapons.On deepfakes, it noted the particularly harmful effects on children and women, who face distinct threats of sexual abuse and violence.Current detection methods and watermarking techniques, while progressing, show mixed results and face persisting technical challenges, it said. This means there is currently no single robust solution for detecting and reducing the spread of harmful AI-generated content. Finally, the rapid advancement of AI technology often outpaces detection methods, highlighting potential limitations of relying solely on technical and reactive interventions.On cyber security, it noted while AI systems have shown significant progress in autonomously identifying and exploiting cyber vulnerabilities, these risks are, in principle, manageable, as AI can also be used defensively.Rapid advancements in capabilities make it difficult to rule out large-scale risks in the near term, thus highlighting the need for evaluating and monitoring these risks, it said. Better metrics are needed to understand real-world attack scenarios, particularly when humans and AIs work together. A critical challenge is mitigating offensive capabilities without compromising defensive applications.It added that while new AI models can create step-by-step guides for creating pathogens and toxins that surpass PhD-level expertise, potentially contributing to a lowering of the barriers to developing biological or chemical weapons, it remains a technically complex process, meaning the practical utility for novices remains uncertain.Read more about artificial intelligence technologyDigital Ethics Summit 2024 recognising AIs socio-technical nature: At trade association TechUKs eighth annual Digital Ethics Summit, public officials and industry figures and civil society groups met to discuss the ethical challenges associated with the proliferation of artificial intelligence tools globally and the direction of travel set for 2025.Barings Law plans to sue Microsoft and Google over AI training data: Microsoft and Google are using peoples personal data without proper consent to train artificial intelligence models, alleges Barings Law, as it prepares to launch a legal challenge against the tech giants.AI interview Thomas Dekeyser, researcher and film director: On the politics of techno-refusal, and the lessons that can be learned from a clandestine group of French IT workers who spent the early 1980s sabotaging technological infrastructure.

The SwitchBot Air Purifier Table would sound like a gimmick if it didn't actually work so well.

Contrary to popular opinion, Linux is an operating system that can be used and enjoyed by everyone and anyone. I mean,I taught my then-mother-in-law at the age of 79 how to use Ubuntu Linux, and we didn't even speak the same language! If she could do it, you can do it.The real problem is picking the best beginner Linux distribution for you. There are literally hundreds of desktop Linux distributions to choose from. Some, such asGentooandLinux From Scratch, are tough to use, but most of them are easy-peasy.What is the best Linux distribution for beginners right now?With three decades of Linux experience, I'm here to help you choose the version of Linux that will get you started on the right foot, so your journey is not only as easy as possible but also fun, reliable, and safe. I've tested all these versions myself, and my pick for the best Linux distribution for beginners overall isLinux Mintbecause its interface is easy to use, and like all Linux distros it won't cost you a dime. Oh, and by the way, it also gives you everything you need from a desktop if you're a pro-Linux user as well. Sort by All Best Linux distributions for beginners in 2025 Show less View now at Linux Mint Tired of Windows? Then consider turning to Linux Mint, in particular, the version using theCinnamon interface. I'm a Linux power user, and my current favorite desktop operating system isLinux Mint 22.1, but I can highly recommend it to anyone, even beginners.Mint, with several desktop environments such as Cinnamon 6.4, looks a lot like XP or Windows 7. It uses a Windows Icon, Menu, and Pointer (WIMP) interface, much like the one you probably already know and love. It's not a one-to-one match with XP or Windows 7, but most Windows users will find Cinnamon a comfortable fit. Linux users who grew up with theGNOME 2.xstyle interface will also love CinnamonAlso: 12 best Windows laptopsLike all Linux desktop distros, Mint is more than just an operating system -- it also comes with all the software you need.LibreOffice 24.2.7for office work and homework,Firefox 134for web browsing,Thunderbird 128.5.2for email and calendering, andGIMP 2.10.36for graphics editing. If you're a gamer, Linux Mint supportsSteam, which works the same way it does onWindows. All of this, including Mint, is free.Linux Mint features:Price:Free |Core code:Linux kernel 6.8 |Open source?Yes Pros Free Windows-like interface Excellent software installer program Cons No proprietary drivers (Nvidia, ATI, etc.) are included, but they can easily be installed via the Driver Manager Doesn't come with Snap support, but it can be added Tired of Windows? Then consider turning to Linux Mint, in particular, the version using theCinnamon interface. I'm a Linux power user, and my current favorite desktop operating system isLinux Mint 22.1, but I can highly recommend it to anyone, even beginners.Mint, with several desktop environments such as Cinnamon 6.4, looks a lot like XP or Windows 7. It uses a Windows Icon, Menu, and Pointer (WIMP) interface, much like the one you probably already know and love. It's not a one-to-one match with XP or Windows 7, but most Windows users will find Cinnamon a comfortable fit. Linux users who grew up with theGNOME 2.xstyle interface will also love CinnamonAlso: 12 best Windows laptopsLike all Linux desktop distros, Mint is more than just an operating system -- it also comes with all the software you need.LibreOffice 24.2.7for office work and homework,Firefox 134for web browsing,Thunderbird 128.5.2for email and calendering, andGIMP 2.10.36for graphics editing. If you're a gamer, Linux Mint supportsSteam, which works the same way it does onWindows. All of this, including Mint, is free.Linux Mint features:Price:Free |Core code:Linux kernel 6.8 |Open source?Yes Read More Show Expert Take Show less Also:How to choose the right Linux desktop distribution Show less View now at Google Chrome Do you use the web for everything? Do you write with Google Docs, use NerdWallet for your personal finances, and check Gmail for your email? If that's you, then what you want is a Chromebook, or to just replace Windows or macOS with ChromeOS Flex.Also: The 5 best ChromebooksChromeOS may not look like what you think of as Linux, but sure enough, underneath its Chrome web browser interface, ChromeOS is Linux. Chrome OS is the operating system that runs Chromebooks and is based onGentoo, which is an experts-only Linux. The good news is that you don't need to know a darn thing about Gentoo to use it. Whileyou can get to old-school Linux from ChromeOS, you'd never need to look under the hood.Anyone can use Chrome OS. I mean, if you're reading this article via a web browser, which you almost certainly are, you already know how to use "Linux" enough to work with a Chromebook.Heck, you don't even need to buy a Chromebook to use Chrome OS, Google's ChromeOS Flex. enables you to convert pretty much any PC or Mac that's been built since 2007 into a much safer and more usable Chromebook clone. No fuss, no muss, and much more useful than whatever you're currently running on an older PC.Finally, if you want to get deeper into Linux, you canrun Linux apps from your Chromebook, which helps convert it to a more traditional OS.Chrome OS features:Price:Free |Core code:Gentoo Linux |Open source?Yes Pros Free Easy to use Offered separately from Chromebooks Compatible with PCs and Macs from 2007 onward Cons No support for overclocking CPUs or GPUs --Very limited game support Do you use the web for everything? Do you write with Google Docs, use NerdWallet for your personal finances, and check Gmail for your email? If that's you, then what you want is a Chromebook, or to just replace Windows or macOS with ChromeOS Flex.Also: The 5 best ChromebooksChromeOS may not look like what you think of as Linux, but sure enough, underneath its Chrome web browser interface, ChromeOS is Linux. Chrome OS is the operating system that runs Chromebooks and is based onGentoo, which is an experts-only Linux. The good news is that you don't need to know a darn thing about Gentoo to use it. Whileyou can get to old-school Linux from ChromeOS, you'd never need to look under the hood.Anyone can use Chrome OS. I mean, if you're reading this article via a web browser, which you almost certainly are, you already know how to use "Linux" enough to work with a Chromebook.Heck, you don't even need to buy a Chromebook to use Chrome OS, Google's ChromeOS Flex. enables you to convert pretty much any PC or Mac that's been built since 2007 into a much safer and more usable Chromebook clone. No fuss, no muss, and much more useful than whatever you're currently running on an older PC.Finally, if you want to get deeper into Linux, you canrun Linux apps from your Chromebook, which helps convert it to a more traditional OS.Chrome OS features:Price:Free |Core code:Gentoo Linux |Open source?Yes Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less Ubuntu was long considered the best Linux distribution for new users, and while others may take that title these days, it's still a great distro for newbies. That's because it's simple, beginner- and user-friendly, and has a great deal ofcommunity support. If you have a question, someone out there has almost certainly had the same problem and found an answer to it.By default, Ubuntu uses the GNOME 3.x interface. It takes some learning if all you've known before is Windows, but it's really not that hard. Once you get accustomed to the interface, you'll see that it makes perfect sense (and you might even wonder why other desktop operating systems don't follow suit).While the most recent version of this Linux is Ubuntu 24.10, I recommend you use the current long-term support (LTS) version,Ubuntu 24.04. That edition has support for a dozen (yes, 12) years.Ubuntu features: Price:Free for individuals/Variable commercial pricing |Core code:Linux Kernel: 6.5.0 |Open source?Yes Pros Great for personal computers as well as companies Some of the best hardware recognition available Built in Snap support for installing thousands of applications 12 years of support Cons The UI might take some time for new users to learn Ubuntu was long considered the best Linux distribution for new users, and while others may take that title these days, it's still a great distro for newbies. That's because it's simple, beginner- and user-friendly, and has a great deal ofcommunity support. If you have a question, someone out there has almost certainly had the same problem and found an answer to it.By default, Ubuntu uses the GNOME 3.x interface. It takes some learning if all you've known before is Windows, but it's really not that hard. Once you get accustomed to the interface, you'll see that it makes perfect sense (and you might even wonder why other desktop operating systems don't follow suit).While the most recent version of this Linux is Ubuntu 24.10, I recommend you use the current long-term support (LTS) version,Ubuntu 24.04. That edition has support for a dozen (yes, 12) years.Ubuntu features: Price:Free for individuals/Variable commercial pricing |Core code:Linux Kernel: 6.5.0 |Open source?Yes Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Zorin So, you really, really don't like the idea of even learning a little bit of GNOME. In that case, give Zorin OS a try. It's based on Ubuntu, as is Mint. But you can use its custom Zorin Appearance appto provide the desktop with a Windows look and feel. Or, for that matter, it can give you a Chromebook or Mac look and feel. Zorin's very flexible.Zorin's whole reason for being is to help you move over from Windows or macOS to Linux. It also comes with documentation that's specifically designed to help you move from Windows to Linux. Zorin comes in three different versions: Core and Lite, which are free, and Pro, which can duplicate the Chromebook, macOS, or Windows look and feel, and costs $39. The Core edition really gives you everything you need, while the Lite version gives older machines a new lease on life. The most recent version, which is available for both the Core and Pro editions, is Zorin OS 17.Also: Want to save your aging computer? Try these Linux distributionsIf you prefer a Linux-style interface, all versions come with free GNOME and KDE front-ends. They may not be what you're used to, but they're still attractive, easy-to-use, and powerful.Zorin OS features: Price:Two of the three versions are free; Pro costs $39 |Core code:Ubuntu |Open source?Yes Pros Free and paid options No coding experience necessary ChromeOS, Mac, or Windows look and feel Works on both PCs and Macs Cons The Windows and macOS interfaces are only available in the paid version So, you really, really don't like the idea of even learning a little bit of GNOME. In that case, give Zorin OS a try. It's based on Ubuntu, as is Mint. But you can use its custom Zorin Appearance appto provide the desktop with a Windows look and feel. Or, for that matter, it can give you a Chromebook or Mac look and feel. Zorin's very flexible.Zorin's whole reason for being is to help you move over from Windows or macOS to Linux. It also comes with documentation that's specifically designed to help you move from Windows to Linux. Zorin comes in three different versions: Core and Lite, which are free, and Pro, which can duplicate the Chromebook, macOS, or Windows look and feel, and costs $39. The Core edition really gives you everything you need, while the Lite version gives older machines a new lease on life. The most recent version, which is available for both the Core and Pro editions, is Zorin OS 17.Also: Want to save your aging computer? Try these Linux distributionsIf you prefer a Linux-style interface, all versions come with free GNOME and KDE front-ends. They may not be what you're used to, but they're still attractive, easy-to-use, and powerful.Zorin OS features: Price:Two of the three versions are free; Pro costs $39 |Core code:Ubuntu |Open source?Yes Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at MX Linux A few years back, one of my favorite Linux desktops was MEPIS Linux. This Debian Linux-based distribution worked well. Eventually, though, its founder and maintainer, Warren Woodford, had to turn his attention to other businesses. MEPIS's fans joined forces with the relatedantiX Linuxcommunities and revived the project as MX Linux.Today, it's a good, solid lightweight desktop that usesXfceas its interface. It works well, and it's very popular. What I like most about it is that it's beginner-friendly, easy to pick up, and you can run it on even ancient Pentium II gear. In short, it's ideal if you want to get your feet wet with Linux on a PC that would otherwise be collecting dust in your closet.But you don't have to take my word for it. On Distrowatch, the one site that tracks all the Linux desktops, in recent years, MX Linux is almost always at the top of the list. They must be doing something right.The most recent edition available today is MX-Linux 23.5.MX Linux features:Price:Free |Core code:Debian |Open source?Yes Pros Works with much older computers Great for beginners Contact info for documentation and dev teams to report issues Cons No dual-boot option for Windows 8 and newer PCs Doesn't play well with Ubuntu PPAs A few years back, one of my favorite Linux desktops was MEPIS Linux. This Debian Linux-based distribution worked well. Eventually, though, its founder and maintainer, Warren Woodford, had to turn his attention to other businesses. MEPIS's fans joined forces with the relatedantiX Linuxcommunities and revived the project as MX Linux.Today, it's a good, solid lightweight desktop that usesXfceas its interface. It works well, and it's very popular. What I like most about it is that it's beginner-friendly, easy to pick up, and you can run it on even ancient Pentium II gear. In short, it's ideal if you want to get your feet wet with Linux on a PC that would otherwise be collecting dust in your closet.But you don't have to take my word for it. On Distrowatch, the one site that tracks all the Linux desktops, in recent years, MX Linux is almost always at the top of the list. They must be doing something right.The most recent edition available today is MX-Linux 23.5.MX Linux features:Price:Free |Core code:Debian |Open source?Yes Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at elementary OS For a stretch of about five years, elementary OS was my default Linux distribution. I initially adopted it because of the elegant Pantheon desktop, which made using Linux a real treat. I continued using elementary OS because it never failed me. It was rock solid, easy to use, and performed like a champ, no matter how much time had passed. Eventually, I gave up elementary OS because I started purchasing System76 hardware that shipped with Pop! OS. However, I do miss those days of elementary OS. It really is that good.The only caveat to using elementary OS is that the app center doesn't have nearly the amount of software found in, say, the Pop! OS Pop Shop or the Ubuntu Software app. Fortunately, however, elementary OS does ship with both Flatpak and Snap pre-installed, so you can install a wealth of applications from the command line (as neither Flatpak or Snap support is built into the graphical user interface).I would recommend elementary OS to any user looking to either migrate from MacOS or to a Linux distribution that offers a simple-to-use, beautiful interface and doesn't mind installing apps from the command line. The latest version if elementary OS 8.0. Give it a try. I think you'll be glad you did.elementary OS Features:Price:Free option available (Price is pay what you can) |Core code:Ubuntu LTS |Open source?Yes Pros Very elegant and user-friendly Easy learning curve Performs well on most machines Consistent look and feel macOS-like UI Very stable Cons Limited apps in the AppCenter Updates can be slow to arrive Full OS upgrades require clean installation For a stretch of about five years, elementary OS was my default Linux distribution. I initially adopted it because of the elegant Pantheon desktop, which made using Linux a real treat. I continued using elementary OS because it never failed me. It was rock solid, easy to use, and performed like a champ, no matter how much time had passed. Eventually, I gave up elementary OS because I started purchasing System76 hardware that shipped with Pop! OS. However, I do miss those days of elementary OS. It really is that good.The only caveat to using elementary OS is that the app center doesn't have nearly the amount of software found in, say, the Pop! OS Pop Shop or the Ubuntu Software app. Fortunately, however, elementary OS does ship with both Flatpak and Snap pre-installed, so you can install a wealth of applications from the command line (as neither Flatpak or Snap support is built into the graphical user interface).I would recommend elementary OS to any user looking to either migrate from MacOS or to a Linux distribution that offers a simple-to-use, beautiful interface and doesn't mind installing apps from the command line. The latest version if elementary OS 8.0. Give it a try. I think you'll be glad you did.elementary OS Features:Price:Free option available (Price is pay what you can) |Core code:Ubuntu LTS |Open source?Yes Read More Show Expert Take Show less ZDNET contributor Jack Wallen contributed to this story.What is the best Linux distro for beginners? My pick for the best Linux distribution for beginners is Linux Mint. It has a user interface that looks and feels very much like Windows for easier transitioning, as well as a free and open-source code for making your own tweaks. The best part is that Linux Mint doesn't collect your data at all, so you can use it with confidence that your personal info won't end up on a server somewhere to be sold to advertisers.Linux distroPriceCore codeOpen source?Linux MintFreeGNOME 2.xYesChrome OSFreeGentoo LinuxYesUbuntuFree for individuals/Variable commercial pricingGNOME 3.xYesZorin OSFree for individuals/$39 for commercial licenseUbuntuYesMX LinuxFreeDebianYeselementary OSFree option available (pay what you can)Ubuntu LTSYesSo, ready to give Linux a try? It's worked well for me for over 30 years, and it can work well for you for the next 30. While mostdesktops seem to be heading to a DaaS model--including Windows-- I can guarantee you Linux will still be available for your PC decades from now. Show more Which Linux distro for beginners is right for you? Choose this...If you want...Linux MintWindows-like feel and operationChrome OSA pick-up-and-play operating systemUbuntuA more in-depth OS for learning codeZorin OSSupport for ChromeOS, Mac, and Windows-style interfaces.MX LinuxA robust online community for open-source code tweakingelementary OSA user-friendly distribution with a similar UI to macOSIn the end, the best Linux distro for you is whichever one feels the most familiar. Some of the picks on our list have user interfaces that are very, very close to older versions of Windows to make it easier to learn something new. Others allow for dual-booting so you can swap back and forth between operating systems when you want to poke around in Linux for an afternoon or need to get some work done in Windows.You also want to choose a version of Linux that is supported by a robust online community of coders, documentation teams, and regular users. That way, if you have any issues with installation, downloading programs, or just general questions, you can get the help you need. Show more How did we choose these Linux distros for beginners? While compiling these picks, we paid careful attention to each Linux distribution's ease of use, price, and core code.Check out: The 3 tiers of Linux distribution difficultyEase of use: Since these systems are for beginners, we considered how a novice would interact with the user experience of an operating system that isn't Windows or macOS. These beginner systems should feel familiar but not overwhelming.Price: If you are new to Linux, you probably don't want to invest a sum of money into it if you are unfamiliar with the system. That's why we included picks that had free options as well as paid options.Core code: A core Linux distro contains a kernel that helps you install the operating system. However, beginners can find this confusing. We considered which distros' core code would be easiest to navigate. Show more FAQs on Linux distributions Is it hard to install applications on Linux? It used to be hard to install programs on Linux, but that's no longer the case. Under the hood, things can still be complex, but now almost all distros have application stores. These make installing new programs as simple as pick and click. Show more Can you get more from Linux than Windows or MacOS? Yes, you can get a lot more from Linux if you know how to do shell programming and the like. But that's also true of Windows and PowerShell. With both operating systems, you don't need to know the deep ins and outs of either one to get your work done.So why would you move? Well, for starters, Linux is far more secure than its rivals. Looking ahead, as Ed Bott points out, many of you may end up facing asecurity disaster if you keep using Windows 10.Also, Linux, unlike Windows 11, will run on pretty much any PC you've got lying around. Linux doesn't require much in the way of a computer to do just fine. For example, I have a 2007-vintage HP Pavilion Media Center TV m7360n PC with a 2.8GHz Pentium D 920 dual-core processor, 2GBs of RAM, and a 300GB SATA drive PC that's still running Linux to this day. Good luck running any modern version of Windows on that!Sure, it used to be hard to install programs on Linux, but that's no longer the case. Under the hood, things can still be complex, but now almost all distros have application stores. These days, installing Linux programs is as easy as picking and clicking.If you still need some Windows programs, you can always tryCrossover Linuxto run them on Linux. It won't run all Windows apps by any means, but it runs many of them surprisingly well.In any event, since most such programs, even Adobe PhotoShop arenow available as Software-as-a-Service(SaaS), there's less need than ever for Windows-specific programs. Indeed, we're moving to a business world where all you really need is a web browser to enable you to use aDesktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) platform.The future of the desktop aside, unlike Windows, where your only real choices today are Windows 10 or 11, there arehundreds of Linux desktop distributions. On top of those are numerous Linux desktop interfaces, each with its own distinctive look and feel, such asKDE,GNOME,Cinnamon,Lxde,Xfce, and many more. Most distributions have a primary user interface, such asFedoraand GNOME andOpenSUSEand KDE, but also enable you to pick from one to three others. Since you're just starting with Linux, I recommend you stick with the distro's main interface.What's a would-be Linux desktop user to do? Luckily for you, you don't have to try them all out to find a good fit. The key question is: "What do you want to use Linux for?" For beginners, I look at what's the easiest to pick up, the best overall Linux desktop, the simplest Linux for Windows users, and the easiest Linux for users with older machines. Show more Can you run Windows programs on Linux? If you still need some Windows programs, you can always tryCrossover Linuxto run them on Linux. It won't run all Windows apps by any means, but it runs many of them surprisingly well. Some Microsoft programs are now available natively on Linux. These include the Edge browser and Teams.You can also run Windows 365 Cloud PC, a full Windows 10 or 11 cloud-based desktop, from Linux. This subscription service costs a pretty penny. Or, for free, you can run Microsoft 365 for the web(formerly Office 365), which gives you access to a subset of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote's functionality. Show more Do you need security software on desktop Linux? No, not really. True, while Linux is much safer than Windows, it's not totally immune from attacks. But, those attacks tend to be much rarer than those that plague Windows or macOS.That said, you should still run a firewall, which Linux has built-in, and for stopping malware in its tracks you might consider installing ESET Endpoint AntiVirus for LinuxorClamAV. Show more Other Linux distributions worth considering Further ZDNET Tech Coverage Smartphones Smartwatches Tablets Laptops TVs Other Tech Resources ZDNET Recommends

Announcing the Stargate project, U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the White House alongside ... [+] Larry Ellison of Oracle, Masayoshi Son of SoftBank and Sam Altman of OpenAI on January 21, 2025. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesOn the second day of his new term in office last week, President Donald Trump made a big splash by announcing Stargate, a new private joint venture that could have a major impact on AI innovation in the U.S. and beyond. Although many details of the venture are unclear at this early stage, Stargate intends to build up to 20 large AI datacenters in the U.S., with an initial investment of $100 billion and plans for up to $500 billion by 2029. Even without knowing all the specifics, this is clearly a monumental initiative aimed at reinforcing the U.S.s position as the undisputed global leader in artificial intelligence.Joining Trump for the announcement were Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, Larry Ellison, chairman of Oracle, and Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank. Their three companies serve as the principals of the new joint venture. They are joined by a fourth equity investor, the AI-focused Emirati investment fund MGX, which is controlled by the government of Abu Dhabi. Besides OpenAI and Oracle, key technology contributors include Microsoft, Nvidia and Arm.So what else do we know about Stargate, and what could it mean for the U.S. position in AI?How Is Stargate Organized?On its website, OpenAI posted a 300-word announcement about Stargate that mentioned building new AI infrastructure for OpenAI in the United States, and said that it will enable creative people to figure out how to use AI to elevate humanity. In line with OpenAIs company mission, the announcement also (briefly) emphasized the development of artificial general intelligence. In the long run, AGI is intended to perform a wide array of tasks with human-like intelligence, potentially revolutionizing fields including materials science, finance, medicine and environmental science.For the project, SoftBank and OpenAI are categorized as lead partners . . . with SoftBank having financial responsibility and OpenAI having operational responsibility, including AI model development and training. SoftBanks Son will serve as chairman.The initial buildout of 10 datacenters has already begun. As announced nearly a year ago, an AI supercomputer equipped with tens of thousands of A100 GPUs from Nvidia is being built for OpenAI in Abilene, Texas by Microsoft. Once site evaluations are complete, the project will be expanded to other locations. The initial goal is to build 10 datacenters of 500,000 square feet each, then expand the project to another 10 datacenters across the United States.MORE FOR YOUFrom a collaborative perspective, the roster of partners makes sense. Microsoft has been a major backer and partner of OpenAI for years, and OpenAI has collaborated closely with Nvidia since 2016. Microsoft also knows Nvidia very well from using so many of its GPUs in Azure datacenters. The partnership between OpenAI and Oracle is more recent, but AI cant function without massive amounts of high-quality, accessible data, and Oracle will use its data-handling expertise to feed the Stargate datacenters. Having said all that, we dont yet know precisely how this computing environment will be configured.What Will Stargate Actually Do?Heres where the lack of detail leaves us with fewer answers and plenty of questions. Its sensible to think that the Stargate datacenters will be used in the development and operation of multiple AI models but what exactly will that look like?From an infrastructure perspective, will Stargate function as an R&D platform? An AI cloud? A GPU cloud? Or something more than that? Ten separate 500,000-square-foot datacenters racked with AI-specific infrastructure sounds an awful lot like a cloud, but maybe it isnt.If it is a cloud, what does Stargate mean for the cloud market? Anything? While were at it, will Stargate be reserved only for the largest use cases AGI, for instance that would typically require an on-premises cluster? Or will its net be spread wider to enable AI incubation for larger and smaller use cases and organizations?Connecting those questions to a customer perspective, what exactly is the product or service being offered? For that matter, who will have access to Stargate? At the launch event, Ellison spoke in general terms about the potential for personalized vaccines and cancer treatments. That is one of countless use cases that Stargate might support. However, it is fair to say that even a project as ambitious as Stargate cant support every use case for every type of customer. It would be very good to understand more about what Stargate will and wont do, and for whom.From a timeline perspective, the investment of $500 billion over four or five years is incredible. But how soon will the first customer, partner or other user actually get to use it? Regardless of the specific answer, it seems likely that significant ROI on this project will be years further out. Maybe the point is to ramp up to creating 100,000-plus well-paying jobs, secure in the knowledge that a thirsty AI market will find uses for these datacenters in short order.The Geopolitical And Economic Context Of The Global AI RaceBy this point in AIs development, its clear that AI will change the way we live our lives and conduct business, from individual consumers to the largest of organizations. While this observation is not in dispute, a host of questions remain about how AI will be developed, activated and regulated across the private and public sectors.Although the U.S. has led the world in AI innovation and development so far, the AI scene in other countries is also running hot. China, in particular, has aggressively incubated AI innovation both for domestic use and for export to the rest of the world. While the U.S. government has responded to Chinas AI rise with export restrictions and other measures, China has not slowed down its pursuit. For example, Alibabas Qwen model now rivals models from the U.S. On top of that, the past week has been dominated by news of the highly efficient open source Chinese model DeepSeek. Its maker claims to be able to train a model equivalent to GPT (an equivalence OpenAI denies) at a small fraction of the cost. Early news about DeepSeek seemed to spook investors in U.S. tech companies over the prospect that the new model could radically change the calculus of AI infrastructure investment.While there are many other areas of AI competition (and nations wanting to compete) that we could mention, these two examples give a taste of the intensity of the global AI race and its potential long-term impacts.Project Stargate Is About U.S. Dominance In AI But Challenges RemainOpenAIs published announcement addressed global AI competition crisply: This infrastructure will secure American leadership in AI, create hundreds of thousands of American jobs and generate massive economic benefit for the entire world. This project will not only support the re-industrialization of the United States but also provide a strategic capability to protect the national security of America and its allies.Kudos to the Stargate partners and the federal government for recognizing the need for the United States to stay far ahead of its competitors in the hugely important field of AI. This project should create significant economic and security benefits for the U.S., not least because of the impact of advanced AI, and especially AGI, on national and military security. This could enhance U.S. capabilities in data analysis, surveillance and cybersecurity to safeguard against strategic threats, which would be an additional justification for the giant investments in the project beyond simple economic gain.The company leaders who joined Trump at the press conference last week emphasized that his reelection played a key role in moving ahead with Stargate, with Son of SoftBank particularly vocal on that point. For his part, Trump praised the companies ambitious efforts and pledged to ease any concerns about getting adequate electricity to run the new Stargate datacenters.That said, no project is without its challenges, and thats especially true for something with the scale of Stargate. Out of the many potential hurdles that may arise, here are four that attract our attention.Sons enthusiasm notwithstanding, obtaining $500 billion for the project by 2029 may not be easy. Last week Elon Musk publicly disputed whether the group had raised even the initial $100 million, although Altman quickly rebutted him. (Its worth recalling that the two men have a history of disagreements.) If any funding problems do arise, we wonder whether the U.S. government might use economic and national-security justifications to step in and help arrange additional financing.President Trumps assurances about electricity are welcome, but energy is already a persistent issue for large AI datacenters. Although future sites are likely being chosen with available energy as a key criterion, OpenAI and its partners should still be considering how to tap alternative energy sources such as nuclear power or hydrogen if needed. Any energy shortages would likely impose delays on the project.There is already a shortage of AI expertise in the U.S. and beyond, and it is unknown how many new AI professionals will be required to build and manage Stargate.The real impacts of the DeepSeek announcement have yet to be determined. Among other open questions, we are unsure whether the claims about its low cost are accurate. However, we do know that large AI models have important advantages and capabilities presently beyond the reach of smaller models.Moving From More Questions To More AnswersThe Stargate project has clearly come a long way from the initial plan for Microsoft to build a supercomputer with a $100 billion price tag exclusively for OpenAI. To truly evaluate the project, we need more information on how the venture has evolved, how it is being implemented now and how the partners intend to address the infrastructure, market and timeline questions we posed earlier.When the President of the United States shines a spotlight on a big project let alone one as ambitious as this one people take notice. And it seems clear that if Stargate is implemented in line with what we already know, it should have a significant impact on U.S. competitiveness in the global AI race. We hope that as the project moves from plans to reality over the coming months and years, the partners (and maybe the government) will share more information so we can better understand the how, why, what, when and where of Stargate.

In context: The Doomsday Clock, created in 1947 by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a group co-founded by Albert Einstein, is a striking symbolic timekeeper. Midnight on the metaphorical clock represents a world-shattering cataclysm. The closer we get to midnight, the more dire the Bulletin judges the current existential threats from nuclear weapons, climate change, disruptive technologies like AI, and more. On January 28, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists updated the Doomsday Clock from 90 to 89 seconds until "midnight," as world-ending threats continue escalating at a terrifying pace. Bulletin scientists listed several conditions that influenced the clock update.Experts see the war in Ukraine, which still rages into its third year, as posing real risks of going nuclear through accident or madness. Nuclear powers like the US, China, and Russia continue pouring staggering resources into modernizing and building up their doomsday arsenals rather than negotiating limitations. Greenhouse gas emissions climbed again last year as most nations failed to do enough about climate change.The Bulletin adds that new bioweapons research and lack of oversight also heightens the potential for human-engineered pandemics. Meanwhile, AI capabilities continue to advance rapidly despite calls for regulations to slow it down. Experts fear uncontrolled AI growth will supercharge the spread of misinformation, undermine democracy, and potentially turn autonomous machines hostile."Trends that have deeply concerned the Science and Security Board continued, and despite unmistakable signs of danger, national leaders and their societies have failed to do what is needed to change course," writes the Bulletin.If all this isn't enough to keep you up at night, the scientists highlighted AI's growing ability to turbocharge misinformation and fake news. This "corruption of the information ecosystem" is kneecapping democratic discourse and honest debate over all these challenges.The Bulletin's statement warns that blindly continuing on the current path is a "form of madness." It singles out the US, China, and Russia as the nations with the collective power to push the Doomsday Clock to midnight. The group believes in an urgent need for the leaders of these countries to conduct high-level talks to lower the potential of disaster. // Related StoriesThe United States, China, and Russia have the collective power to destroy civilization. These three countries have the prime responsibility to pull the world back from the brink, and they can do so if their leaders seriously commence good-faith discussions about the global threats outlined here. Despite their profound disagreements, they should take that first step without delay. The world depends on immediate action.There remains some question as to whether the metaphorical Doomsday Clock resonates as strongly as the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists hopes. While the experts' annual warnings about global risks are certainly grave, decades of pronouncing that we are just minutes from midnight make the warnings feel hollow. Fortunately, the clock can run backward and has several times following world-changing events.

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Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector Score DetailsCitizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector balances survival stress and transhumanist optimism, even if those ideas are sometimes at odds with one another.ProsSame winning tabletop hookMore layered survival gameplayHopeful storytellingConsLearning curve can be steepSome underexplained systemsMy first escape attempt was a disaster.Table of ContentsTable of ContentsStress and survivalA transhumanist taleRecommended VideosCitizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, the sequel to 2022s indie critical darling, kicks off in a high-stakes fashion that I wasnt prepared for. Rather than hiding out on The Eye and quietly trying to survive, Im immediately on the run. Terrified that Ill be caught if I stay on any one planet too long, I begin to make hasty decisions that leave me in a deficit. My energy depletes, I dont have the chits to maintain my ship, and each of my dice shatters one by one, limiting what I can accomplish in a day. Im left hungry, stressed, and stranded. With each passing cycle, I sink into despair. How is anyone expected to survive in such an unforgiving world?Its only through that first failure that I could find the hope that powers developer Jump Over the Edges sci-fi sequel. Citizen Sleeper 2s steep learning curve can be frustrating, leaving players to juggle an overwhelming number of cold survival systems that often feel at odds with its warmth. Learn to master those nuances, though, and youll unravel a compassionate story about reclaiming and rebuilding oneself body and all in the face of overwhelming cruelty.Like its predecessor, Citizen Sleeper 2 is a narrative RPG that draws its inspiration from tabletop games. It once again follows a runaway Sleeper, a human whose emulated consciousness is placed into a synthetic body by the shady Essen-Arp Corporation. They are indentured servants who have been robbed of all autonomy until they can pay off their debt. This time around, our Sleeper cant just hide out on one space station; they have to hop around the galaxy to evade the villainous Laine, who gets closer with each passing day (or cycles, as theyre called here). Its a heart-pounding setup that finds tension in minimalism.To reinforce that, Starward Vector doubles down on Citizen Sleepers comparatively light survival systems for better or worse. The core gameplay loop remains unchanged even with more locations to explore. Each day, five six-sided dice are randomly rolled. These are used to carry out actions, from working for chits to taking on odd jobs, via skill checks tied to proficiencies like intuition. Its deceptively simple, and thats how I initially ended up in such a hole on my first try. Players need to think carefully about where they spend each die in order to maximize what they can pull off each day especially because a counter ticks up every day to note that Laine is closing in. Once hes close, its time to move somewhere else to cool it down.Fellow TravellerTheres a lot more to manage this time around, which can be overwhelming early on. Theres a hunger system that forces players to replenish energy to fight off starvation. The ship needs fuel to travel between planets. A stockpile of supplies is needed to take on multi-day odd jobs. Theres a stress meter that can lead to a die shattering, which then needs to be repaired with precious scraps to use it again. A push system increases my stress, but buffs my crewmates dice. Its a lot, and those systems arent always easy to understand. What broke me in my first playthrough was my glitch meter, an underexplained system that can leave a die with a permanent debuff. I quickly found myself with an array of broken dice, limiting my ability to refill all my other resources and leaving me hopelessly stranded.That friction feels functional early on, even if it makes for a tough opening. While Citizen Sleeper 2 is a work of cyberpunk media, it calls a much more grounded media touchpoint to mind: Wendy and Lucy. Kelly Reichardts 2008 drama tells the story of a homeless woman trying to make her way from Oregon to Alaska with her dog in hopes that she can survive in a state with a lower cost of living. The quiet story finds her in economic purgatory, as every few bucks she manages to scrape together immediately has to be spent to survive another day. Shes trapped in a cycle that feels impossible to escape. Citizen Sleeper 2 carries that same weight in its hard sci-fi, which makes perfect sense. Both are anti-capitalist works that play into tangible human anxiety.I only found my groove once I dialed down the difficulty and started from scratch.That survival edge can feel at odds with the storys long-term tone, though, which isnt nearly as hopeless as its allegorical setup suggests. For all its dystopian gloom, Citizen Sleeper 2 is almost sweet in nature. Once the escape premise cools down, the story becomes more about putting together a ragtag crew of recruitable companions who lend a few extra dice on contract jobs. Where Citizen Sleeper felt isolated, Starward Vector embraces the warmth of community. The additional stress born from resource management feels like a more of a match for a bleaker strategy game like The Banished Vault or Frostpunk 2.I only found my groove once I dialed down the difficulty and started from scratch. It was there I found a flow that better fit Citizen Sleeper 2s broader themes, more hopeful ones centered around the desire to build a better, more manageable world. I needed that first failure to really get that, though. I had to feel the crushing weight of it all to feel like life just gets worse and worse with no relief in order to take a deep breath and plot out how I could live in spite of it all. Both in life and Citizen Sleeper, reset is not a dirty word.With its systems tamed, I could more clearly appreciate Citizen Sleeper 2s optimism. Yes, its a searing anti-capitalist game about humans forced into corporate slavery. It all takes place on rusting space stations floating in a sea of darkness. Starward Vector doesnt wallow in the void; instead, its about carving out a livable place in it.Thats accomplished through a wider scope than its predecessor, which was confined to one claustrophobic space. Here, we get to a wider look at what disparate communities look like in one corner of space, a setup that feels spiritually linked to the island-hopping Seasalt Chronicles. Once Im able to cut my way through asteroid belts, I begin to find hope in unexpected places. On one stray ship, I discover a successful farming community. The more cycles I dedicate to helping out with contracts, the more Im able to benefit from the ecosystem and top off my energy and supplies. Its the first moment where I feel like its possible to not just escape this world but find a home in it.Fellow TravellerHome is not just an external place; its my own body, too. Building on the series transhumanist themes, Starward Vector puts a greater emphasis on its Sleepers quest to reclaim their own body something that carries a double meaning. Theres a clear commentary on gender dysphoria as characters talk about being uncomfortable in their own synthetic skin. Its a thoughtful analogy, though that reading is complicated by the storys sci-fi framework. The Sleepers bodily transformation at the heart of it all isnt so much a process they want so much as one thrust upon them in a dubious manner. The spirit is there, but its perhaps too tangled up in corporate villainy.The smoother reading is about reclaiming ones body from a capitalist system, an idea that feeds into the other. The Essen-Arp Corporation literally owns peoples bodies in this world, but the heightened metaphor isnt far off from the real world. There have been several accounts of Amazon employees pushed to work long shifts with limited opportunities for bathroom breaks. Video game workers have to contend with a widespread crunch culture that can leave developers sleeping in their offices. This kind of corporate overreach modeled in Essen-Arp isnt science fiction. Only by escaping its clutches can Starward Vectors Sleeper begin to take back their body and make it their home again. No one else can tell them what they can and cant do with it.Its comfort is in the belief that we can carve out a home in a world thats built to box us out.Sometimes it all feels a little too easy. Maybe its just the cynic in me; there are moments where all the optimism feels like Jump Over the Edge telling me what I want to hear in screenshot-friendly dialogue. When I complete a quest that ends with me meeting a stowaway kitty, I wonder if Im being coddled a bit. A warm blanket draped over an abyss. My day-to-day life still feels monotonous by the end. I slot in my dice every cycle, clocking in and out. My chits go back into my bills. I work, earn chits, and use that money to eat, refuel my ship, and reduce my stress. Repeat. There is a freedom dangled in front of me that Im skeptical exists outside the Starward Belt.It takes a late conversation with one of my companions to set me right. Citizen Sleeper 2 isnt about living in a perfect world free from oppressive systems, nor does it posit that such a thing is possible. Its comfort is in the belief that we can carve out a home in a world thats built to box us out. Thats accomplished through the people we keep close, the communities we build, and what we do with our bodies. These should be the things that no one can take from us.I want to build something here, in spite of everything, in spite of the fact that they could take it all away, one character tells me in a moment that almost feels like theyve sensed my misunderstanding through my mouse. Because thats the point. To go on living without conceding.Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector was tested on PC and Steam Deck.