Hello, my name is Oleksandr, I’m a Senior UX/UI Designer at Ubisoft. At Games Gathering Kyiv ’24, I gave a presentation titled “Layers of Player Experience. Why is everyone on the team a UXer”. This article is a supplement and an alternative form of that presentation.Tutorials Menu in The Last of Us Part IITo have an experience, we first need a user (player). As a result, users interact with the product and gain that experience.A game is a tool — a generator of experiences, emotions, and memories for the audience. And that’s why games are bought, loved and hated. It is for the experience they provide. Exceptions, when we tend to accumulate: we buy games during some Steam sale, so we will never launch them.You can’t design an experience; you can design a product through which people gain an experience. That is, our Figma prototype is UI, and as soon as we let people use it. They share thoughts, impressions, expectations, feelings… this is UX. And even memes talk about it.UX MemesOur goal is not a game, but the player’s experience. I came across a thought that stood out to me:“The Game Direction is the concrete manifestation of the Target Game Experience and is the first thing you should aim for. This makes game development a sort of “reverse-engineering process”At the moment, in the essence of UX, and in our context of Player Experience, I have identified 4 layers-components that influence the perception of the product.UX LayersFunctionalityLet’s start with the first one: functionality is the basic and most objective part. It answers the question: Does the game work properly?For example, does it meet such requirements as load time, memory usage, number of frames per second (FPS), etc. In an ideal world, there are no crashes, friezes, softlocks (inability to progress in the game, although the game technically works), servers can withstand a large number of players, excellent optimization for different platforms and adaptation for input/output devices, various edge cases, Poka-yoke protection, etc. are also considered and covered. And of course, it affects the audience experience. Some critical moments can make the game completely unplayable, while others become memes.Assassin’s Creed UnityUsabilityThe next level is usability — it defines how easy and convenient the product is to use.The main task of this area is to minimize cognitive (attention, memory, …) and physical (muscles, vision, hearing, fine motor skills…) loads during interaction. In many products and services, teams aim to track and remove all friction and difficulties users may face. In games, however, we look for and remove only those obstacles that are not there by design (intended challenge).For example, in the VR shooter Half Life Alyx, reloading is implemented as follows: you need to press a button on the controller to eject the empty magazine from the weapon, then reach back to grab a new one and carefully install it. From a usability perspective, this is not ideal, requiring a certain physical dexterity, and it would technically be simpler to assign these actions to a single button. But this would reduce the challenge in the game, the immersion in the world, and would likely not improve the overall gaming experience.Half Life AlyxOn the other hand, if players get lost in the menu, cannot perform the actions they need, do not understand why their character dies every time, fails a mission, or cannot master a certain mechanic due to lack of and poor tutorials. Something definitely needs to be done about this. Otherwise, players may feel frustrated — like the game is being unfair or not entirely honest with them.Usability in games relies on the same methods and research as other software development. Covers the following sections and disciplines:Interaction Design, IxDVisual DesignHeuristics, for example Jakob Nielsen’s in gamesPlatform Guidelines (PC, Xbox, PS, Switch, Steam Deck…)Accessibility Standards: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Xbox Accessibility Guidelines (XAG)Primary research:Card sorting (information architecture development)Moderated and unmoderated usability tests (find interaction issues in a product at the current stage of development)Eye-tracking (heat maps)A/B testing (can say which of 2 solutions works better, but won’t say why)Secondary research:Market and competitor analysis (definition of patterns, interaction standards, glossary of terms…)Open source data analysis (streams, articles, social networks, forums…)Closed source data analysis (telemetry)Usability is an important aspect of a game. Moreover, even for the entire platform or industry. The market is full of direct and indirect competitors (apps, streaming, social networks…), all fighting for our time and attention.Let’s look at the Quick Resume function on Xbox Series, which allows you to instantly switch between multiple games, preserving their state, like Alt-Tab between windows. Moreover, thanks to it, after turning off the console, players can continue the game exactly from where they left off, just by pressing one button:I press the Xbox logo on the gamepad → the console turns on → the TV automatically turns on via HDMI-CEC and selects the HDMI console source → the console launches the last session game → I get into the game exactly where I stopped.This greatly simplifies interaction, reduces the number of steps for players to reach Value, and bypasses competitors, as the operating system screen of the TV often contains preview sections for Netflix, YouTube, etc. Our brain already finds this action, playing a game, more appealing because it requires less effort.In the book “Show Your Work” by Austin Kleon, author of the bestsellers “Steal Like an Artist” and “Show Your Work”, writes:“Your attention is one of the most valuable things you have, so everyone wants to steal it from you.”https://medium.com/media/d464918f88fb6d2a57eeedab67211cc7/hrefAestheticsLet’s go further — there’s a branch of philosophy called aesthetics. It’s the study of sensory, non-utilitarian ways of understanding the world, a critical reflection on art, culture, and nature.In our field, aesthetics relates to the physical and digital form of the product. It encompasses sensory aspects such as appearance, sound, tactility, taste, and smell. Accordingly, I have identified 5 types of aesthetics:VisualMusic/AuditoryTactileTasteScentVisual AestheticsIt doesn’t always mean “beautiful”, “pleasant to the eye”. It’s about how the game looks… what impressions it evokes because of this. It can be “beautiful” as is usually considered, and “ugly”, “terrible”, or even “disgusting”, “repulsive”. Each game has its own proportion, somewhere more beauty — the Ori series, Ghost of Tsushima, Just Dance, … Somewhere ugliness, horror, and disgust — Scorn, Resident Evil, Dead Space, Little Nightmares…It’s the same in art — just look at the works of Zdzisław Beksiński, H.R. Giger, or Ukrainian artist Ivan Marchuk, the founder of the plentanism technique.Paintings by Zdzislaw BeksinskiPaintings “Awakening” and “Sorrow” by Ivan MarchukAesthetics should correspond to the game’s setting and lore, support immersion in this fictional world. An interesting unique visual style is another way to stand out in the market. For example, the creators of Cuphead were inspired by the aesthetics of 1930s cartoons, surrealism, and the jazz era.CupheadThe game is known for its distinctive crafted animation and soundtracks, which make it recognizable and stand out among others. The loud title of the marketing book “Differentiate or Die” comes to mind.In design and development, there is often a challenge: to find a balance between functionality, convenience, and aesthetics. You can overdo it with visual effects, animations, which will reduce performance and optimization. Get carried away with graphic elements, and this will add “visual noise”, lower readability, and accordingly, worsen usability.This dilemma is present in other subject areas as well. For example, chess sets. Pieces can be extremely detailed, made of expensive materials, but not very usable because players confuse their roles due to a certain unique, non-standard appearance. These obstacles do not contribute to the game and can ruin the entire experience, especially if the mistake leads to critical consequences in the match. Or take industrial design: for some time, Apple devices did not have as many ports/interfaces as their competitors’ devices. That is, for the sake of aesthetics, they neglect certain convenience and practicality. Maybe too convenient things form “convenient” people? ;)Auditory AestheticsIt greatly influences the atmosphere, emotions, and mood of the players. These include all the sounds that accompany the game: soundtracks, ambient sounds, sound design, dialogues, dubbing, and more. This has a significant impact on the gaming experience, even down to the goosebumps.This game component can be reflected in other products, such as vinyl records. It offers a new experience for users, providing auditory, tactile, and visual aesthetics.Alan Wake 2 Vinyl RecordsTactile AestheticsThese refer to the sensations related to physical perception during the game — from how we interact with peripheral devices.A few examples: gamepad vibration (Haptic Feedback), Dual Sense adaptive triggers, steering wheel and pedals, special gloves or suits with tactile feedback. All this serves to provide greater immersion and inform about the game state.Special game editions with additional materials, such as 3D models, figurines, maps, or other items from the game world, can also be considered part of tactile aesthetics. This adds a physical aspect to the game interaction experience, can enhance the sense of involvement and value for players. It provides a certain tactile contact with the game universe, even when our PC or console is turned off due to a power outage.S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Ultimate EditionTaste AestheticsHmm, can we try a game by taste? “Of course!” — marketing and business will joyfully exclaim. But no one will force us to gnaw on consoles or game discs. The approach is more gentle and courteous.So, on the shelves of grocery stores, we’ll find Nuka-Cola from the Fallout universe, Butterbeer, or Beans with different flavors from the Potterverse. The line between the game world and reality is blurring, and here we enter the realm of product placement: Calorie Mate (energy bars popular in Japan) appear in Metal Gear Solid, Monster Energy drinks in Death Stranding, and Nonstop in S.T.A.L.K.E.R..Nuka-Cola from the Fallout universeScent AestheticsI began exploring this topic and discovered GameScent — a device that reacts to game events such as shooting, explosions, racing, storms, and forests, releasing corresponding smells. It’s a form of 4D gaming, an attempt to expand the gaming experience to another sense. But I think we should be careful with this — who knows what it might emit when burning cannabis fields in Far Cry 3.GameScentBut in fact, if we delve deeper, we can think about certain new niches. The Moth and Rabbit perfume brand, founded in 2016, is known for its unique approach. They create unisex perfumes inspired by movies and stories, such as Parasite, The Lobster, La Haine, and The Color of Pomegranates. The focus is not only on the scent but also on the emotional and sensory experience.I feel like perfumers and marketers could easily craft fragrance concepts for games like GTA, RDR2, or The Last of Us… Thus adding a new dimension of experience for the audience. I will share my own associations — what perfumes remind me of different parts of Far Cry.FUN (Engagement)Now we have reached the core, the center that creates the desire to use this or that entertainment product. You can fix bugs, work on optimization, improve usability, and create aesthetics as much as you want. However, if a game has no fun, it is not interesting to play, and it is most likely doomed to fail.There is an expression Usable yet Useless. Because many products appear on the market that don’t find their purpose, have no value for the customers. And of course, we know a lot of such examples among published games. Or those that were canceled in development because the team never found the “FUN recipe” in practice. That said, projects can also be canceled for many other reasons — finances, the market, team issues, tech limitations, shifting priorities, or strategic decisions…Well, fun is a rabbit hole — a vast and complex topic that touches many areas. A person’s impression of it is individual, personal, and subjective.“We are not many standard selves, but many different universes” — Vasyl Symonenko.Making a game that works for everyone is possible (Functionality). Making a game that is interesting and liked by everyone — I don’t think so. Here, I will try to describe certain components of fun as simply as possible.MotivationAgain, it’s not easy because there is no single theory of motivation. But the dominant framework, which is also described in management books, is the self-determination theory (SDT). It suggests that our motivation comes from both intrinsic drivers (internal desires) and extrinsic drivers (external rewards).Let’s start with the three intrinsic ones:Competence is a need to feel successful, skilled, and to see yourself progress and develop. It’s about growth and providing players with the right level of challenge to showcase their skills. Competence is one of the key drivers. A nice real-life example would be when you give a riddle to your friends. Time passes, and they don’t want you to give them the answer — they want to solve it themselves to experience the feeling of “We did it!”Autonomy is a need for self-expression, to feel that you have an impact, that your choices matter. This is a certain level of freedom in the game, the ability to customize characters, their belongings, make decisions, participate in dialogues that change the further course of events…Relatedness is a need to have meaningful social connections, whether through cooperation or competition, because we are social beings. Accordingly, these are all kinds of coop or competitive modes in online or offline game mods.Extrinsic drivers are external rewards. Ideally, they also immerse and help progress, providing some recognition, feedback on the players’ competence. Goals and rewards should be meaningful to the players (make sense, have value, logical justification).More on player motivation in this talk by Celia Hodent, former Director of User Experience at Epic Games.EmotionEmotions are very important, they affect our perception, decision-making and memory — the more emotional the experience, the better we will remember it. Here I have highlighted:Immersion, which is also shaped by aesthetics.The feeling of the game — 3C (Camera, Characters and Controls)Linking Narrative (how the story is presented) — Story (what happens in the game world) — Plot (how it is revealed to the players)Surprises and new content: locations, seasons, tournaments, modes, etc.So to speak, we ride the emotional roller coaster. In any case, it is better in the game than in life. So as not to complain like Chris Isaak in the song Wicked Game “What a wicked game you play to make me feel this way”.FlowThe state of flow, a concept introduced by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, occurs at the appropriate level of challenge and skills. The mental state in which a person is fully engaged in what they are doing is a feeling of focus, concentration, and success during the activity. Flow can occur during various activities such as sports, work, daily life, creativity, and others.State of FlowThe main components and conditions in a game are:Difficulty curve — the level of challenges, “match of skills and challenges”Learning curve — onboarding players and step-by-step distributed tutorials (learn by doing);Pacing — a rhythm of stress and rest. The best rest is a change of activity.The state of flow is so captivating that we lose track of time.Ethical Aspects and ResponsibilityThis is about the conscious and unconscious use of deceptive design patterns (aka Dark), to increase business revenue. It is an exploitation of our biases and perception. Some companies have lawsuits regarding these decisions in certain countries.There is also a book written in a simple, concise form “Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products” — Nir Eyal, Ryan Hoover. It allowed me to look at various products, services from a different angle and notice, recognize their methods of engagement.Summary about FunIn the book “A Theory of Fun for Game Design” by Raph Koster, there is a phrase “Learning is the drug”. The feeling of fun is the brain’s emotional reaction to learning. Even curiosity is enjoyable in itself, which is why we dislike spoilers — or at least, part of us does.Just as in games we solve puzzles, learn combos, scripts, and timings for further progress, so is it in life. A cat that drops things from the table for its learning (or just to annoy) or scientists trying to solve the mystery of the universe. Our brain always wants to find a pattern, a cause-and-effect relationship, to create structure in chaos. And as soon as it finds it, it becomes uninteresting and boring. As Dua Lipa sings in her song “New Rules”, “Now I’m standin’ back from it, I finally see the pattern.”Brand ConnectionWe can combine these layers and add another one around that also affects the game’s perception by the audience and its loyalty. This is the company’s brand, its philosophy, position, previous experience with its products and services. As well as personal brand: Neil Druckmann (The Last of Us), Dan & Sam Houser (GTA), Hideo Kojima (Death Stranding), etc.https://medium.com/media/f9db10894c4401ea10cc154898d1c065/hrefTeamEach of these components of the Game UX is handled by specific teams and stakeholders. In the image below, I have only indicated a part of the job titles that came to mind. In game development, especially for large projects, there are significantly more roles, and the credits are proof of that. Management is responsible for effective coordination and cooperation of these teams. Moreover, the R&D process of the game is impossible without the support of other company departments — HR, infrastructure, operational team, finance, etc.UX Layers & TeamAll these layers-components are closely interconnected, influencing and depending on each other. People from “Fun” tell we need a game world without seams and loading, while people from “Functionality”, having studied this issue, say that at the moment it is impossible, or requires additional resources, technologies. The search for a solution, a compromise is ongoing.Although my main focus is usability and aesthetics. It is necessary to collaborate with a large number of different teams. For example, when I worked on the High Contrast Mode feature, I first aligned with the Game Design team and then shared prototypes with the Render team, which made its implementation possible. All these layers-components are important for players’ experiences.On the FinalA game can bring not just fun, but also a deeper experience, raising and revealing important themes. It is an important medium for exploring social, ethical, and psychological issues. Games evoke emotions and empathy, allowing players to experience stories, situations that raise questions about morality, responsibility, and human values.Valiant HeartsWe love games with all their advantages and disadvantages. After all, there are no perfect products, as they are created by imperfect people, and perhaps a bit by hallucinating AI.“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” — Leonard Cohen, Anthem.Thank you!Why is everyone on the team a UXer? Layers of player experience was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Empowering engineering teams with more tools for building AI factories, NVIDIA today announced a significant expansion of the NVIDIA Omniverse Blueprint for AI factory digital twins, now available as a preview. The blueprint features new integrations across the AI factory power, cooling and networking ecosystems with industry leaders Delta Electronics, Jacobs and Siemens, joining existing partners Cadence, Schneider Electric with ETAP and Vertiv. This growing ecosystem unifies the design and simulation of billions of components required to build digital twins of AI factories. The expanded blueprint will equip engineering teams to design, simulate and optimize entire AI factories in physically accurate virtual environments, enabling early issue detection and the development of smarter, more reliable facilities. Built on reference architectures for NVIDIA GB200 NVL72-powered AI factories, the blueprint taps into Universal Scene Description (OpenUSD) asset libraries. This allows developers to aggregate detailed 3D and simulation data representing all aspects of the data center into a single, unified model, enabling them to design and simulate advanced AI infrastructure optimized for efficiency, throughput and resiliency. The Omniverse Blueprint for AI factory digital twins unifies AI factory power, cooling and networking components in one simulation. AI Factory Ecosystem Teams With NVIDIA The Omniverse Blueprint for AI factory digital twins brings together diverse partners and tools to optimize the design, simulation, deployment and operations of AI factories. Today, NVIDIA announced that new partners are contributing to the framework. Siemens is building 3D models according to the blueprint and engaging with the simulation-ready, or SimReady, standardization effort, while Delta Electronics is adding models of its equipment. Because these are built with OpenUSD, users get accurate simulations of their facility equipment. Jacobs is helping test and optimize the end-to-end blueprint workflow. They join leaders in data center power and cooling solutions like Schneider Electric with ETAP and Vertiv, which contribute SimReady assets to populate the digital twin of the AI factory with 3D models of power, cooling and mechanical systems. “As AI factories continue to scale at an unprecedented pace, the energy demands they generate are reshaping the entire digital infrastructure landscape,” says Tanuj Khandelwal, CEO of ETAP. “Using the Omniverse Blueprint and SimReady assets, customers can test and optimize energy efficiency for the complexity and intensity of their AI workloads before even breaking ground.” Connections to the Cadence Reality Digital Twin Platform and ETAP provide thermal and power simulation, enabling engineering teams to test and optimize power, cooling and networking long before construction begins. These contributions help NVIDIA and its partners reshape how AI infrastructure is built to achieve smarter designs, avoid downtime and get the most out of AI factories. “Digital twins are fundamental to meet the escalating global demand for AI factories,” said Ben Gu, corporate vice president of R&D for multiphysics system analysis at Cadence. “The integration of the Cadence Reality Digital Twin Platform with the NVIDIA Omniverse Blueprint transforms the entire engineering process to design AI factories more efficiently and operate them more effectively than ever before. We are excited to continue our full-stack collaboration with NVIDIA.” Building SimReady Assets for AI Factories The OpenUSD-based models within the blueprint are inherently SimReady, designed from the ground up to be physics-based. This is especially valuable for developing and testing physical AI and agentic AI within these AI factories, enabling rapid and large-scale industrial AI simulations of power and cooling systems, building automation and overall IT operations. SimReady standardization workflow enables developers to view standardized simulations of thermal airflow within a digital twin environment. A key enhancement to this blueprint is the SimReady standardization workflow. Originally developed as a SimReady standardization proposal to streamline NVIDIA’s internal creation of OpenUSD assets, this now publicly available, industry-agnostic resource offers standardized requirements and processes for developing SimReady capabilities. It empowers data center developers and owners to efficiently establish, optimize and rigorously test their own digital twins of critical infrastructure, particularly for electrical and thermal management within AI factories. A Smarter Road to AI Infrastructure The expansion of the NVIDIA Omniverse Blueprint for AI factory digital twins marks a significant leap forward in how engineers design, simulate and build the sophisticated infrastructure required for industrial AI. By providing a unified and physically accurate digital twin, built on the robust foundation of OpenUSD and guided by SimReady standardization, this blueprint enables the industry to de-risk development, optimize performance and accelerate the deployment of next-generation AI factories. Learn more about NVIDIA Omniverse and preview the Omniverse Blueprint for AI factory digital twins. Watch the COMPUTEX keynote from NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang, as well as NVIDIA GTC Taipei 2025 sessions. See notice regarding software product information. Featured image courtesy of Cadence, ETAP, Schneider Electric, and Vertiv.

Lead Graphics EngineerCD ProjektBoston MA us2 hours agoApplyJob DescriptionCD PROJEKT RED is seeking a Lead Graphics Engineer to lead the development and optimization of cutting-edge graphics systems for our next title, Project Sirius, a multiplayer game set within the world of The Witcher. In this role, you will collaborate closely with artists and engineers to deliver industry-leading visuals through advanced rendering, shaders, lighting, and graphical enhancements. Your expertise will ensure that our graphics solutions are performant, efficient, and aligned with the game's creative vision.RESPONSIBILITIES:Design, implement, and optimize rendering systems to meet high visual fidelity goals.Collaborate with the art team to create performant tools and workflows for impactful visuals.Work across disciplines to develop innovative rendering solutions for large-scale, open-world environments.Maintain, debug, and enhance existing graphics systems for improved performance and memory utilization.Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance to the team.Ensure adherence to the team's coding standards and contribute to overall code quality.Actively solicit and integrate feedback to enhance system performance and design.Qualifications7+ years of experience in game development, with at least 1 year as a lead.Proficiency in C++ with a robust foundation in graphics programming.Expertise in rendering techniques, shaders, and GPU/CPU architecture.Experience with Unreal Engine 4/5, ideally with a shipped title using the engine.Familiarity with low-level graphics APIs (DirectX12, Vulkan, etc.) and debugging tools (RenderDoc, Pix).Extensive multithreaded programming skills.Demonstrated ability to profile and optimize performance at a low level.Exceptional problem-solving skills, communication, and a collaborative mindset.NICE TO HAVES:Experience working on AAA console titles, particularly with Unreal Engine.Familiarity with memory management and platform-specific optimizations.Additional InformationThis job can be hybrid/in-office from Boston or fully remote.Health & Well-beingCompany paid medical healthcare (dental vision & mental).Paid Leave — 20 days of holiday for every team member per year (26 days after two years).No dress-code — we like to keep it casual.401K with employer matching.Gym Membership Reimbursement.Perks & Professional GrowthFlexible working hours.Trainings, lectures and courses — internal workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available. There’s always something to learn!Merch — gifts for newborn rebels and regular chances to nab some cool swag!A welcome pack filled with goodies — to help you feel right at home once you join the team.Life in the OfficeDog-friendly office — dog owner? Bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There’s always a furry friend or two to meet at the studio.Truly international working environment — a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.If you have observed any irregularities in our recruitment process please click here to report them.Company DescriptionTo create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers — this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company’s culture? Explore our social media and check out our YouTube channel where we share behind-the-scenes insights and stories direct from our team members! Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply

Ever since Google teased the Android XR in December, users have been intrigued by more details about the extended reality devices. At I/0 2025, Google gave a clearer picture of the Android XR glasses and the capabilities they would be packed with. The tech giant elaborated that the mixed reality glasses running Android will feature microphones, cameras, and speakers to carry out the intended functionality. Google finally demoed the Android-powered XR glasses, and it is letting users control how immersive the experience would be Google talked majorly about the AI advancements and features it has packed up for this year at the I/O event today and also let on about the future direction it has set for itself in advancing further in the technology, but that was not all the tech community was looking forward to as the Android XR glasses also had everyone hooked. Google offered a deep look into the Android XR glasses and how they can be used in our everyday lives to make daily tasks and functions more seamless. The glasses are designed in a way that they can be used alongside your smartphone, allowing you to engage in a hands-free experience without taking your phone out of your pocket. With the help of these XR glasses, you can have more natural and integrated integrations and even make use of the in-lens display, although that is optional. To bring these Android XR glasses to life, Google is getting on board with brands such as Warby Parker and Gentle Monster that can help not only present the glasses as tech products but also something you can use as everyday wear and look trendy. The tech giant is pushing for a design that helps blend seamlessly and can help the device become more desirable. The XR glasses are not just highly interactive but contextually aware, allowing for voice commands, real-time navigation, and even recalling things seen. Google is also further going ahead in its collaboration with Samsung as it is now stepping beyond headsets and including XR glasses as well. This would help boost the XR ecosystem and the developers would be able to access the platform later this year. The company took its chance to highlight how it is yet testing and collecting feedback and is increasingly committed to refining experiences. Additionally, the tech giant is teaming up with XREAL to develop the second Android XR device. While Project Moohan is still on track and coming out later this year, these collaboration efforts do highlight its commitment to expanding the XR devices further. Deal of the Day

Limited access Under anti-vaccine advocate RFK Jr, FDA to limit access to COVID-19 shots FDA will require big, pricy trials for approvals for healthy kids and adults >65. Beth Mole – May 20, 2025 3:18 pm | 16 U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on Capitol Hill on May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Credit: Getty | Tasos Katopodis U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on Capitol Hill on May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Credit: Getty | Tasos Katopodis Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more Under the control of anti-vaccine advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Food and Drug Administration is unilaterally terminating universal access to seasonal COVID-19 vaccines; Instead, only people who are age 65 years and older and people with underlying conditions that put them at risk of severe COVID-19 will have access to seasonal boosters moving forward. The move was laid out in a commentary article published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, written by Trump administration FDA Commissioner Martin Makary and the agency's new top vaccine regulator, Vinay Prasad. The article lays out a new framework for approving seasonal COVID-19 vaccines, as well as a rationale for the change—which was made without input from independent advisory committees for the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Normally, the FDA's VRBPAC (Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee) and the CDC's ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) would publicly review, evaluate, and discuss vaccine approvals and recommendations. Typically, the FDA's scope focuses on licensure decisions, made with strong influence from VRBPAC, while the CDC's ACIP is principally responsible for influencing the CDC's more nuanced recommendations on usage, such as for specific age or risk groups. These recommendations shape clinical practice and, importantly, health insurance coverage. Makary and Prasad appear to have foregone those norms, even though VRBPAC is set to meet this Thursday to discuss COVID-19 vaccines for the upcoming season. Restrictions In the commentary, Markary and Prasad puzzlingly argue that the previous universal access to COVID-19 vaccines was patronizing to Americans. They describe the country's approach to COVID boosters as a "one-size-fits-all" and write that "the US policy has sometimes been justified by arguing that the American people are not sophisticated enough to understand age- and risk-based recommendations. We reject this view." Previously, the seasonally updated vaccines were available to anyone age 6-months and up. Further, people age 65 and older and those at high risk were able to get two or more shots, based on their risk. So, while Makary and Prasad ostensibly reject the view of Americans as being too unsophisticated to understand risk-based usage, the pair are installing restrictions to force their own idea of risk-based usage. Even more puzzlingly, in an April meeting of ACIP, the expert advisors expressed clear support for shifting from universal recommendations for COVID-19 boosters to recommendations based on risk. Specifically, advisors were supportive of urging boosters for people age 65 and older and people who are at risk of severe COVID-19—the same restrictions that Makary and Prasad are forcing. The two regulators do not mention this in their NEJM commentary. ACIP would also likely recommend a primary series of seasonally matched COVID-19 vaccines for very young children who have not been previously exposed to the virus or vaccinated. ACIP will meet again in June, but without a permissive license from the FDA, ACIP's recommendations for risk-based usage of this season's COVID-19 shots are virtually irrelevant. And they cannot recommend usage in groups the FDA licensure does not cover. It's unclear if a primary series for young children will be available and, if so, how that will be handled moving forward. New vaccine framework Under Makary and Prasad's new framework, seasonally updated COVID-19 vaccines can continue to be approved annually using only immunology studies—but the approvals will only be for people age 65 and over and people who are at high risk. These immunology studies look at antibody responses to boosters, which offer a shorthand for efficacy in updated vaccines that have already been through rigorous safety and efficacy trials. This is how seasonal flu shots are approved each year and how COVID boosters have been approved for all people age 6 months and up—until now. Moving forward, if a vaccine maker wants to have their COVID-19 vaccine also approved for use in healthy children and healthy adults under age 65, they will have to conduct large, randomized placebo-controlled studies. These may need to include tens of thousands of participants, especially with high levels of immunity in the population now. These trials can easily cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and they can take many months to complete. The requirement for such trials will make it difficult if not impossible for drug makers to conduct them each year and within a timeframe that will allow for seasonal shots to complete the trial, get regulatory approval, and be produced at scale in time for the start of respiratory virus season. Makary and Prasad did not provide any data analysis or evidence-based reasoning for why additional trials would be needed to continue seasonal approvals. In fact, the commentary had a total of only eight references, including an opinion piece Makary published in Newsweek and a New York Times article. "We simply don’t know whether a healthy 52-year-old woman with a normal BMI who has had COVID-19 three times and has received six previous doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will benefit from the seventh dose," they argue in their commentary. Their new framework does not make any mention of what will happen if a more dangerous SARS-CoV-2 variant emerges. It also made no mention of vaccine usage in people who are in close contact with high-risk groups, such as ICU nurses or family members of immunocompromised people. Context Another lingering question from the framework is how easy it will be for people dubbed at high risk to get access to seasonal shots. Makary and Prasad lay out a long list of conditions that would put people at risk of severe COVID-19 and therefore make them eligible for a seasonal booster. The list includes: obesity; asthma, lung diseases; HIV; diabetes; pregnancy; gestational diabetes; heart conditions; use of corticosteroids; dementia; physical inactivity; mental health conditions, including depression; and smoking, current or former. The FDA leaders estimate that between 100 million and 200 million Americans will fit into the category of being at high risk. It's unclear what such a large group of Americans will need to do to establish eligibility every year. In all, the FDA's move to restrict and hinder access to seasonal COVID-19 vaccines is in line with Kennedy's influential anti-vaccine advocacy work. In 2021, prior to taking the role of the country's top health official, Kennedy and the anti-vaccine organization he founded, Children's Health Defense, petitioned the FDA to revoke authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines and refrain from issuing any approvals. Ironically, Makary and Prasad blame the country's COVID-19 policies for helping to erode Americans' trust in vaccines broadly. "There may even be a ripple effect: public trust in vaccination in general has declined, resulting in a reluctance to vaccinate that is affecting even vital immunization programs such as that for measles–mumps–rubella (MMR) vaccination, which has been clearly established as safe and highly effective," the two write, including the most full-throated endorsement of the MMR vaccine the Trump administration has issued yet. Kennedy continues to spread misinformation about the vaccine, including the false and debunked idea that it causes autism. "Against this context, the Food and Drug Administration seeks to provide guidance and foster evidence generation," Makary and Prasad write. Beth Mole Senior Health Reporter Beth Mole Senior Health Reporter Beth is Ars Technica’s Senior Health Reporter. Beth has a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attended the Science Communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She specializes in covering infectious diseases, public health, and microbes. 16 Comments

LONDON - NOVEMBER 03: Production staff. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)Getty Images To call psychological safety a strategic imperative across industries is no exaggeration. It is a proven driver of high-functioning teams, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood concepts. In complex, high-reliability sectors like healthcare and technology, where outcomes hinge on rapid decision-making, cross-disciplinary coordination and adaptive learning, creating an environment where ideas and people feel safe to speak, challenge and contribute is vital to cultivating a resilient and high-performing culture. Peer-reviewed studies consistently link psychological safety to greater innovation, more effective leadership, enhanced collaboration and measurable improvements in team performance. But widespread misconceptions often dilute its impact, framing it as comfort over honesty or consensus over constructive tension. This article examines the influence, common misconceptions and high-stakes applications of psychological safety, particularly within the evolving landscapes of healthcare, technology and modern organizational leadership. Understanding Psychological Safety Psychological safety refers to an individual’s perception of the consequences of taking interpersonal risks in a particular context, such as the workplace. It is the belief that one can speak up, offer ideas, ask questions or admit mistakes without fear of punishment or shame. This concept, introduced by Amy Edmondson in 1999, has since been recognized as a cornerstone of effective team dynamics across multiple industry sectors. Psychological Safety And Widespread Misunderstandings A prevalent misinterpretation is equating psychological safety with comfort or the absence of conflict. However, proper psychological safety fosters an environment where challenging the status quo and engaging in constructive dissent are not only accepted but encouraged. It’s not about creating a conflict-free zone, but about ensuring that team members and employees feel secure enough to express diverse viewpoints and take calculated risks. Psychological Safety As A Public Health Issue As a health journalist, I’ve spent years tracing the ripple effects of emotional environments on the workplace. What I’ve learned is this: Psychological safety is a significant multiplier of well-being. When people feel unsafe expressing themselves, asking for help or communicating discomfort, the stress follows them into the other areas of their lives; it settles in the nervous system and accumulates gradually over time. The body and mind respond to social threats in the same way they respond to physical threats. It spikes cortisol, disrupts sleep, suppresses immune function and erodes the capacity for recovery, emotional resilience and self-regulation. Research from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2022) suggests that low levels of psychological safety in the workplace are significantly associated with increased rates of burnout, anxiety and emotional exhaustion, particularly among healthcare workers and employees in high-demand industries. Conversely, when psychological safety is present, teams perform and function more effectively. Individuals report increased levels of self-efficacy, greater emotional resilience and improved job satisfaction. Over time, this translates into better health and well-being outcomes, including lower inflammation, a more stable mood, enhanced relationships and a greater ability to self-regulate under pressure. If we want to future-proof our workforces and protect collective mental health, psychological safety is key in a world that increasingly runs on speed, precision, and pressure. The most humane and high-performing environments will be the ones that make it safe to be human. Healthcare & Technology, Two Climactic Industries A study published in Frontiers in Psychology emphasized that healthcare professionals who feel psychologically safe are more likely to voice concerns, ask questions and deliver feedback, leading to improved patient safety and overall care quality. Further, fostering psychological safety can mitigate burnout and enhance job satisfaction among healthcare workers. In the fast-paced tech industry, psychological safety is equally vital. Research indicates that teams with high psychological safety are more innovative, as members feel empowered to share ideas and admit mistakes without fear of retribution. An analysis in PLOS ONE found that psychological safety has a positive influence on employee innovative performance through enhanced communication behaviors. Why Psychological Safety Starts With Leadership While psychological safety flourishes within teams, its foundation is built by leadership. Business leaders are more than strategic architects; they are cultural stewards. Their behaviors set the tone for what is spoken, what is silenced and how people relate to risk. In psychologically safe environments, for instance, leaders model intellectual humility and leadership competency by inviting dissent, acknowledging uncertainty and rewarding sincerity, even when their ideas can be challenged. A 2023 study in the European Management Journal suggested that leaders who display transformational and servant leadership qualities, such as empathy, empowerment and active listening, inspired their followers to lead themselves. Conversely, fear-based leadership and micro-management can be correlated with team withdrawal, silence and reduced innovation. For executives navigating high-pressure sectors such as healthcare and technology, the implications are profound. When team members feel secure enough to challenge inadequate systems, report ethical concerns or propose unconventional ideas, organizations become more agile, transparent and resilient. And the benefits aren’t abstract. Companies that prioritize psychological safety report lower turnover, faster problem-solving and stronger employee engagement. For example, Google’s landmark Project Aristotle study on effective teams implied that psychological safety was the most critical factor driving team performance, surpassing expertise, intelligence or even tenure. In brief, psychological safety encompasses not only how people feel and behave, but also how they interact with others. It's about how leaders lead and inspire others to do the same within their organization while welcoming their teams' voices, input and feedback. Strategies For A Psychological Safety Toolkit Leadership Commitment: Leaders must model vulnerability and openness, encouraging team members to speak up and share their thoughts. Inclusive Practices: Implementing structured communication methods, such as regular check-ins and feedback sessions, can promote inclusivity. Training and Development: Providing training on effective communication and conflict resolution can equip teams with the tools to maintain psychological safety. Feedback Mechanisms: Establishing anonymous feedback channels can help identify and address issues promptly. Psychological Safety, A Competitive Advantage Psychological safety is a biological, emotional and cultural imperative. In industries like healthcare and technology, where lives are saved and systems are built in real-time, the ability to speak up without fear is a key difference between innovation and inertia, between resilience and risk. And the data is clear: teams that feel safe to share unpolished ideas, ask questions and admit mistakes outperform those that don’t. They adapt faster. They solve more complex problems. They build stronger cultures of trust where performance doesn't come at the expense of human fulfillment. Ultimately, leaders who cultivate psychological safety are raising the bar for relational excellence. They understand that creativity is fragile, feedback is transformational and psychological safety is the fertile soil in which both flourish. Whether you’re a hospital executive, a tech founder, or a team lead navigating daily pressures, the boldest act of leadership today may be about listening more deeply, inviting more voices and making it safe to fail forward. Because the future of work and well-being depends not only on what we build, but also on how bravely we allow others to co-create it with us.

Solar Panels | © Uitbundig via Unsplash Have you ever wondered how to power your home without relying on the traditional utility grid? Off-grid solar power systems offer a fascinating solution, allowing you to harness the sun’s energy to meet your electricity needs independently. This approach provides a sense of freedom from rising energy costs and potential outages and aligns with sustainable living practices. In this article, we’ll explore the essential components of an off-grid solar system, such as solar panels, battery storage, charge controllers, and inverters. We’ll also delve into factors that influence the number of panels you need and guide you through calculating your household’s energy requirements. Whether motivated by environmental concerns or simply seeking autonomy, understanding these systems can empower you to make informed decisions about your energy future. Understanding Off-Grid Solar Power Systems According to Sun Valley Solar Solutions experts, when considering an off-grid solar power system, it’s essential to understand its core components and how they work together to provide energy independence. An off-grid solar system allows you to generate and store electricity without relying on the public utility grid. This setup typically includes several key components: solar panels, battery storage, charge controllers, and inverters. Solar panels capture sunlight and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity, which charge controllers then regulate to ensure efficient battery charging. Batteries store the electricity for use during periods when sunlight is insufficient, such as at night or on cloudy days. Inverters play a crucial role by converting the stored DC electricity into alternating current (AC), making it compatible with standard household appliances. One of the significant benefits of an off-grid solar power system is the ability to generate and store your electricity, offering a sense of autonomy and sustainability. By being independent from the public utility grid, you can avoid rising energy costs and potential power outages. Additionally, off-grid systems promote environmental responsibility by utilizing renewable energy sources. The main components work in harmony to ensure a reliable power supply: Solar Panels: Capture sunlight efficiently. Batteries: Store excess energy for later use. Charge Controllers: Prevent battery overcharging. Inverters: Convert DC to AC for home use. This self-sufficient approach reduces your carbon footprint and provides peace of mind, ensuring that your energy needs are met sustainably. Factors Influencing the Number of Solar Panels Needed When planning to run a house off the grid using solar power, several factors come into play that will determine the number of solar panels you’ll need. One of the primary considerations is your household’s energy consumption. It’s essential to understand how much electricity your home uses daily, as this will directly impact the size of your solar array. Typically, an average American household consumes about 30 kWh per day. However, your needs might be lower if you focus on energy efficiency. To get a clearer picture, analyze your electricity bills and calculate your daily kilowatt-hours (kWh) usage. Another critical factor is the amount of sunlight your location receives. This varies significantly depending on geographic location and can influence how many panels are necessary to meet your energy needs. Areas with more peak sunlight hours require fewer panels than regions with less sun exposure. For instance, locations like California or Texas might enjoy up to 5 peak sunlight hours per day, while northern regions may only receive around 3 hours. Additionally, the efficiency of the solar panels you choose plays a vital role in determining their effectiveness. High-efficiency panels can generate more electricity from the same amount of sunlight than their lower-efficiency counterparts. When selecting panels, consider those with higher efficiency ratings to maximize energy production. Calculating Your Household’s Energy Needs Solar panels installed on roof | © Paul Teysen via Unsplash To effectively determine how many solar panels you’ll need for your off-grid home, it’s essential to start by calculating your household’s daily energy consumption. This involves a close examination of your electricity bills. Identify your monthly energy usage, typically measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Once you have this figure, convert it into a daily average to better understand your energy needs. For instance, if your monthly usage is 900 kWh, divide this number by 30 days to find that your daily consumption is approximately 30 kWh. This step is crucial as it sets the foundation for determining the size of the solar system required to meet your energy demands. Understanding your daily energy consumption helps you plan an efficient off-grid solar power system. Here’s a simple method to follow: Review Your Electricity Bills: Gather several months of electricity bills for an accurate monthly usage average. Calculate Daily Usage: Divide the monthly kWh by the number of days (usually 30) to find your daily consumption. Consider Seasonal Variations: Energy usage can vary with the seasons due to heating or cooling needs. By accurately assessing these figures, you can make informed decisions about the number and type of solar panels needed, ensuring that your off-grid system is practical and reliable. This approach not only aids in achieving energy independence but also contributes to sustainable living practices. Estimating Sunlight Hours in Your Location When planning to set up an off-grid solar power system, understanding your location’s average peak sunlight hours is essential. Peak sunlight hours are when the sun’s intensity is strong enough to produce maximum energy from your solar panels. This measurement is crucial because it directly impacts how much electricity your solar panels can generate daily. For instance, if you live in a region with five peak sunlight hours, your panels will produce energy at full capacity for those 5 hours daily. Knowing this helps you accurately size your solar system to meet your household’s energy needs. You can use several resources and methods to determine your area’s average peak sunlight hours. Here are some suggestions: Online Solar Maps: Websites like the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) offer interactive maps that provide detailed solar radiation data for different regions. Local Weather Stations: Contacting local meteorological stations can give you historical data on sunlight patterns specific to your location. Solar Installers: Consulting with local solar installation companies can provide insights based on their experience and data from previous installations in your area. By utilizing these resources, you can gather accurate information about sunlight availability, ensuring that your off-grid solar power system is efficient and reliable throughout the year. Choosing the Right Solar Panels for Efficiency When considering solar panels for your off-grid system, it’s essential to understand the different types available and their efficiency ratings. Solar panels come in various forms, including monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin film. Each type has its own set of advantages and drawbacks. Monocrystalline panels are known for their high efficiency and sleek appearance, making them a popular choice for those with limited space. On the other hand, polycrystalline panels are generally more affordable but slightly less efficient. Thin-film panels offer flexibility and lightweight options but often require more space due to lower efficiency levels. The efficiency of a solar panel directly impacts how much energy it can generate from sunlight. Higher-efficiency panels convert more sunlight into electricity, crucial for maximizing energy production in an off-grid setup. When selecting panels, consider their efficiency and factors like durability and warranty. Look for panels with a high-efficiency rating that suits your budget and space constraints. Additionally, investing in quality brands known for reliability can ensure long-term performance and peace of mind. Choosing the right solar panels can enhance your system’s overall performance and allow you to enjoy a sustainable energy solution. Step-by-Step Guide to Calculating Solar Panel Requirements Solar panels installation | © Raze via Unsplash When planning to transition your home to an off-grid solar power system, understanding how to calculate the number of solar panels you’ll need is essential. This process begins with a detailed formula that considers your household’s energy consumption, the average sunlight hours in your location, and the wattage of the solar panels you intend to use. To start, determine your daily energy usage by reviewing your electricity bills and converting your monthly consumption into daily kilowatt-hours (kWh). For instance, if your monthly usage is 900 kWh, divide this by 30 days to find a daily consumption of 30 kWh. Next, consider your area’s average peak sunlight hours, which will influence how much energy your panels can generate daily. In regions with about five peak sunlight hours per day, a standard 300-watt panel can produce approximately 1.5 kWh daily. With these figures in mind, you can apply the formula: Total Energy Consumption ÷ (Peak Sunlight Hours × Panel Wattage) = Number of Panels Needed. For example, if your home uses 30 kWh daily and receives 5 hours of sunlight, you would require around 20 panels rated at 300 watts each. Here’s a quick breakdown: Daily Energy Usage: Calculate from monthly bills. Sunlight Hours: Research local averages. Panel Efficiency: Choose high-efficiency panels for better performance. This method ensures a reliable estimate tailored to your needs, helping you make informed decisions about your off-grid solar setup. Cost Considerations for Off-Grid Solar Systems Understanding the cost implications is crucial for effective budgeting when setting up an off-grid solar system. The total expense can vary significantly based on several components and factors. First, consider the cost of solar panels, which typically range from $2.50 to $3.50 per watt. For a standard 6kW system, you might spend between $15,000 and $21,000. Next, battery storage is a vital component of energy independence. Depending on the capacity and technology, such as lithium-ion or lead-acid batteries, prices can range from $5,000 to $15,000. Beyond these essentials, don’t overlook the expenses for inverters and charge controllers, which convert and manage the electricity flow; these can add another $1,000 to $3,000 to your budget. Based on system complexity and local labor rates, installation costs vary from $2,000 to $10,000. If you opt for a backup generator for added security during low sunlight periods, expect to invest an additional $2,000 to $5,000. To manage these costs effectively: Research different suppliers to find competitive pricing. Consider energy-efficient appliances to reduce overall consumption. Plan for future expansions by choosing scalable systems. By carefully evaluating each component’s cost and considering long-term savings on utility bills, you can make informed decisions that align with your financial goals while achieving energy independence. Summary Off-grid solar power systems offer a pathway to energy independence by allowing individuals to generate and store electricity without relying on the public utility grid. These systems comprise several vital components: solar panels, battery storage, charge controllers, and inverters. Solar panels capture sunlight and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity. Charge controllers then regulate this electricity to ensure efficient charging of batteries, which store the energy for use when sunlight is insufficient. Inverters play a crucial role by converting stored DC electricity into alternating current (AC), making it compatible with standard household appliances. Choosing an off-grid solar power system provides numerous benefits, including autonomy from rising energy costs and protection against power outages. Additionally, these systems promote environmental responsibility by utilizing renewable energy sources. The main components work together seamlessly to ensure a reliable power supply: solar panels efficiently capture sunlight, batteries store excess energy for later use, charge controllers prevent battery overcharging, and inverters convert DC to AC for home use. This self-sufficient approach reduces your carbon footprint and offers peace of mind, knowing that your energy needs are met sustainably. Off GridSolar Panels by ArchEyes Team Leave a comment

Invisible Narratives has just shared that production is underway on filmmaker Michael Bay’s exploration of Skibidi Toilet. Not sure exactly what an “exploration” looks like, but we’re expecting something unique from this experienced set of creators. The studio is producing, developing and financing the project, based on one of the most unlikely breakout IPs, the crazy, hugely popular short series from creator Boom! that since launching in February 2023, has generated a vast creator ecosystem that includes the franchise's flagship YouTube channel and Skibidi Creator Alliance network of channels. Together, they collectively boast over 110 million subscribers and more than 35 billion views, that according to the studio, cements its status “as a defining cultural force for Generation Alpha.” Invisible Narratives has helped drive the property’s multi-platform expansion, growing the IP beyond digital into consumer products, publishing, gaming, and global licensing. Geared towards kids and teens, the original Skibidi Machinima series produced using Source Filmmaker defies description to most older audiences. In essence, the videos follow the war between toilets with human heads, the skibidi toilets, and humanoid enemies with cameras for heads. Here’s the short that started it all – 250 million views worth: Bay is the fifth highest-grossing director of all time and the creative force behind such global hits as The Rock, Armageddon, Bad Boys, and the Transformers franchise. He has been working on Skibidi since it was first publicly announced last summer and has been collaborating with the architects of his creative team, Academy Award-nominated production designer Jeffrey Beecroft (12 Monkeys, Transformers, A Quiet Place) and three-time Academy Award-winning VFX supervisor Rob Legato (Titanic, Avatar, Hugo, The Jungle Book). Adam Goodman, founder and CEO of Invisible Narratives, is the former head of Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks SKG, who began building billion-dollar properties like Transformers in the early 2000s and oversaw global hits such as Paranormal Activity and Interstellar. For updates and more information visit: skibidi.watch  Source: Invisible Narratives Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.

About the RoleSearchStax is the leader in Open Source Search in the Cloud with headquarters in Los Angeles, CA and has teams located across the United States and around the world.This is an excellent opportunity to join SearchStax Cloud team, providing technical support to customers and ensuring the availability and reliability of our search service. We are looking for a self-motivated Linux and Systems Engineer with a passion for professional service excellence who want to build on their experience and make a real difference to our cloud solutions. This entails installing, configuring, maintaining, supporting, and optimizing open source and custom-built software.Initiatives will include analysis and improvements around application reliability, disaster recovery, cloud management, distributed systems, and cluster management.This is a contract opportunity. The successful candidate will be required to participate in on-call shifts as part of the role.If this sounds like you, let’s talk! What You Will DoYou will collaborate closely with Engineers and Other Cloud Operations engineers to ensure high availability and smooth daily operations of the service.Resolve customer support tickets and service incidents and requests in a timely and professional manner via effective investigation, triage and resolution of these requests.Treat every customer professionally and with respect; ensure positive customer experience and satisfaction.Work within a global support team covering 24x7x365 cloud operations - effectively managing handoffs from shift-to-shift for cloud support issues.Respond to escalated customer service issues within the defined process with a high level of reactivity.You will be responsible for setting up backups, deploying software, upgrading systems, and performing other routine maintenance tasks - Manually or using Automation (ideally via Ansible or other scripting language).You will be responsible for configuring and generating reports, alerts on Core Infrastructure using Datadog, Zabbix or custom scripts.You will perform periodic security audits of the system.You will perform service requests by customers or internal teams with high quality and detail by following and contributing to Standard Operating Procedures.You will be part of an on-call rotation schedule.What You Must Have Strong communication skills and strong command on English2+ years- experience in Linux system (Ubuntu/CentOS) administrationAt least 1 cloud provider experience (AWS, Azure or GCP)Knowledge of network issues (firewall, routing, load balancing)Familiarity in writing scripts using Bash or PythonPractical knowledge of MySQL and NoSQL (MongoDB) database system as an administrator (backing up, replication, optimization)Experience in web server administration (e.g. Apache, Nginx)Exposure to ITIL processWillingness to learn new technologiesAbility to work independently and as a teamKnowledge of DevOps tools (we use Ansible, Terraform and Python) would be a plusApply NowLet's start your dream job Apply now Meet JobCopilot: Your Personal AI Job HunterAutomatically Apply to Remote DevOps and Sysadmin JobsJust set your preferences and Job Copilot will do the rest-finding, filtering, and applying while you focus on what matters. Activate JobCopilot

Microsoft have just made a major announcement that will shake the business model of popular AI based code editors Cursor and Windsurf. Both of these companies are built around forks of Visual Studio Code that build AI tooling “into the bones”. Microsoft have just announced they are open sourcing GitHub Copilot Chat Extension and will be building the functionality into the core of Visual Studio Code. Details from the Visual Studio Code announcement: We believe that the future of code editors should be open and powered by AI. For the last decade, VS Code has been one of the most successful OSS projects on GitHub. We are grateful for our vibrant community of contributors and users who choose VS Code because it is open source. As AI becomes core to the developer experience in VS Code, we intend to stay true to our founding development principles: open, collaborative, and community-driven. We will open source the code in the GitHub Copilot Chat extension under the MIT license, then carefully refactor the relevant components of the extension into VS Code core. This is the next and logical step for us in making VS Code an open source AI editor. It’s a reflection that AI-powered tools are core to how we write code; a reaffirmation of our belief that working in the open leads to a better product for our users and fosters a diverse ecosystem of extensions. Why open source now? Over the last few months, we’ve observed shifts in AI development that motivated us to transition our AI development in VS Code from closed to open source: Large language models have significantly improved, mitigating the need for “secret sauce” prompting strategies. The most popular and effective UX treatments for AI interactions are now common across editors. We want to enable the community to refine and build on these common UI elements by making them available in a stable, open codebase. An ecosystem of open source AI tools and VS Code extensions has emerged. We want to make it easier for these extension authors to build, debug, and test their extensions. This is especially challenging today without access to the source code in the Copilot Chat extension. We’ve gotten a lot of questions about the data that is collected by AI editors. Open sourcing the Copilot Chat extension enables you to see the data we collect, increasing transparency. Malicious actors are increasingly targeting AI developer tools. Throughout VS Code’s history as OSS, community issues and PRs have helped us find and fix security issues quickly. Next steps In the coming weeks, we will work to open source the code in the GitHub Copilot Chat extension and refactor AI features from the extension into VS Code core. Our core priorities remain intact: delivering great performance, powerful extensibility, and an intuitive, beautiful user interface. Open source works best when communities build around a stable, shared foundation. Thus, our goal is to make contributing AI features as simple as contributing to any part of VS Code. The stochastic nature of large language models makes it especially challenging to test AI features and prompt changes. To ease this, we will also make our prompt test infrastructure open source to ensure that community PRs can build and pass tests. In unrelated news, Microsoft also announced the open-sourcing of WSL or Windows Subsystem for Linux. You can learn more in the video below.