There are probably a dozen ways of sending money that are easier than faxing a check. Even so, it is still possible and legal to send a check with fax — and you might find yourself in a situation where it’s your only choice. If you ever need to fax a check, it’s important to follow a few steps to make sure it’ll work properly and that you’re doing it securely. What to know before you fax a check Most people moved on from faxing, but the technology still works, and it is still around. Some businesses (typically in highly regulated markets) and some government agencies still rely on the ability to work with faxed checks. There are individuals who prefer faxing checks when they need to pay a business with a check by a certain deadline and wouldn’t be able to mail it in time. Since a fax goes through instantly, it can help save you from late fees if you find yourself in that unlikely situation. Additionally, faxing a check is also secure because it leaves a paper trail for you to prove that you sent in the check by a certain date. Before you fax a check, there are a few things you should do first to ensure it goes well. Confirm that the business accepts checks. In most cases, if you’re faxing a check to businesses, it’s because they’ve specifically requested you to do so; if they haven’t, double-check before you send a faxed check that won’t be accepted. Make a photocopy of your check. Most fax machines require full-sized paper to send faxes, so a check is likely to be too small to put through the machine. Make a copy of the check first on printer paper, and hold onto the original. Find a fax machine or an online fax service. You can send faxes with almost any computer or cellphone if you use an online fax service, or you can go to a print shop or UPS store to use an analog fax machine. If you have your own Multi-Function Printer (MFP) at home, you might be able to send a fax using that. Draft a fax cover sheet. Faxes need cover sheets so the recipient knows what they’re getting. Write that you’re sending a check for a certain amount and include the reason you’re sending the check—for instance, “Payment for account 123.” Fill out the check memo. This can also be, “Payment for account 123,” or whatever the reason is that you’re sending the check. This goes in the memo field of the check itself. Keep the company’s contact information close by. You’ll obviously need the fax number, but you’ll also want to follow up with the business via phone or email as soon as you send the fax to make sure it went through. Be aware of the potential security issues with online faxing, and take steps to mitigate them. While most cloud faxing services are highly secure, it’s worth taking the time to make sure the service you choose is reputable and has security safeguards in place. For maximum security, look for services that have been around for a while, as well as those that are designed to comply with industry regulations like HIPAA. While you aren’t likely to be sending any healthcare information along with your check, merely complying with those kinds of regulatory measures is a good indication that it’s secure enough to cover financial matters as well. What is the best way to fax a check? You can either send a fax the old-fashioned way by using an analog fax machine, or you can use an online fax service. Most people prefer to use an online fax service these days because of the convenience and lack of hardware. I know I do. For example, online options allow you to send a fax from your iPhone or Android. That’s usually a lot more convenient than tracking down a fax machine or ordering a fax modem to enable your computer to send faxes. Online fax services are generally very secure — especially if you’re using one that’s been designed for sending financial, legal, or healthcare documents. They’re generally very cheap, too, with a range of prices based on the volume of documents you need to send. Additionally, online fax services allow you to send and receive faxes from anywhere, and without having to pay for a fax machine, paper, or ink toner. The whole process is more similar to sending a scan via email than the traditional process of sending a fax — you just type in a phone number instead of an email address. If you’re working with a business that requires you to send faxes via an analog machine in the first place, then there’s not much you can do about that. Ultimately, you may have to fax using the preferred method of the person or business you’re sending the check to. How to fax a check using an online service Sending using a good online fax service is straightforward. There are a number of easily accessible, low-cost fax services available online, from basic services that send simple faxes to more complex services with advanced security, fax history, email notifications, and more. You do not need a landline to send faxes with an online service. You just need an internet connection, the fax provider will host all the traditional infrastructure required to send and receive faxes. If you are using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone service, your provider may offer online fax features you can use right away without having to sign up for anything new. Bear in mind, fax is a separate service from VoIP — not every provider offers it, and fax may be an add-on service. DOWNLOAD this VoIP Solutions Feature Comparison from TechRepublic Premium While the exact steps for sending a fax using an online service will vary depending on the service you choose, the steps will generally be the same.

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More ChatGPT’s Canvas feature allows users to edit the chatbot’s responses on the app rather than copying and pasting them to a separate document.  However, when Canvas launched in early October for its paid tiers, it didn’t let people see what changes GPT-4o made to its responses. OpenAI’s latest update to the feature corrects that.  The show changes button will show the most recent changes to either the generated text or code on Canvas. It will highlight added information in green and deleted sections in red.  Tracking changes has always been a good feature of any editing platform; Google Docs and Word documents offer a toggle for users to check what’s been changed. But OpenAI had been planning to roll out updates to Canvas slowly as ChatGPT subscribers get used to it.  Canvas already offers familiar features like comments, where users can add suggestions or give more instructions for the AI model to follow when editing responses.  Canvas is still only available on the web version of ChatGPT for ChatGPT Plus, Teams, Enterprise and Edu users. Mac app users and anyone downloading the recently released Windows version of ChatGPT will have to wait until Canvas is rolled out to these standalone apps.  Currently, people can access Canvas on the regular ChatGPT window rather than in any custom GPTs.  A much requested feature OpenAI’s developer X account acknowledged that developer customers have requested a track or show change feature since Canvas launched.  But while many developers said this was a step in the right direction, Canvas still doesn’t immediately connect to code repositories like GitHub or let users visually see how the edited code works.  This is one area where ChatGPT competitor Claude from Anthropic and its Artifacts feature excels. Artifacts function much like Canvas; users can begin a prompt on the Claude chat interface.  When users launch Artifacts, a dedicated window opens where they can manipulate the model’s responses. Artifacts let users replicate websites using the code Claude just generated and edited, so developers can see not only which lines of code have changed but also whether it worked. Artifacts are now available to all Claude users, including those on mobile devices.  Canvas and Artifacts represent what could be the next phase in the evolution of AI chat platforms and assistants. The Interface War could see other platforms begin to explore how to keep users in the platform instead of opening other dedicated windows for different tasks.  source

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Regulatory compliance has consistently been a key driver of environmental sustainability commitments. In 2025, amid global economic and geopolitical uncertainties, corporate strategies across all industries will prioritize profitability and caution. While adherence to regulations will continue as a priority for sustainability leaders, sustainability teams will need to change their focus. Environmental sustainability efforts have always had a sneaky benefit of efficiency that in turn leads to cost savings. It’s time for this sneaky benefit to come out of the shadows and become a primary driver. This means that sustainability teams will need to not only track environmental footprint metrics but also show the money savings. Each year, Forrester makes predictions on specific events that will be at the intersection of various trends shaping the industry. Our 2025 environmental sustainability predictions span trends on the circular economy, employee safety demands by unions, operational efficiencies, regulations on water management, and renewable energy certificates. Here is a glimpse of three of our environmental sustainability predictions for 2025: Operational efficiencies and financial benefits will eclipse regulations as key drivers. Currently, 47% of environmental sustainability decision-makers cite regulatory compliance as the main reason for reporting metrics, according to Forrester’s Q2 2024 IT And Sustainability Survey. But companies advancing in their sustainability strategies, particularly those achieving operational excellence, are finding significant cost savings through improved efficiency and reduced resource consumption. The time of measurable, positive financial impact is here! Organizations should prepare by enhancing their ability to track the financial metrics of sustainability investments focused on operations. More than a third of Global Fortune 100 firms will commit to circular economy goals. The circular economy is becoming as significant as net-zero targets for organizations. In 2024, companies such as IKEA, Cisco, and Dell have integrated circular economy principles into their sustainability strategies. This shift is driven by new ISO standards, European regulations such as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), and customer demand across various industries. Companies that go beyond compliance and embrace opportunities in reducing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling will stand out. By 2025, implementing lifecycle assessments will help both employees and customers understand the environmental impact of their product choices. An industry union will demand climate adaptation protections for employees. Outdoor workers, those in hot indoor environments, and emergency responders face increased health risks due to climate change. Despite the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Heat Illness Emphasis Program, anti-ESG backlash in the US and Europe, the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority, and laws banning heat protections have led companies to abandon adaptation efforts. While last year we predicted that employee action would drive accommodations, the acceleration of climate change and lack of corporate action will lead industry unions to advocate for climate adaptation for workers. Companies should gauge the compounding impact of climate risk on employee experience and operational resilience. Forrester clients can read our full Predictions 2025: Environmental Sustainability report to get more detail about each of these predictions and read additional predictions. Set up a Forrester guidance session to discuss these predictions or plan out your 2025 environmental sustainability strategy. If you aren’t yet a client, you can download our complimentary Predictions guides, which cover more of our top predictions for 2025. Get access to these guides and additional complimentary resources, including webinars, on the Predictions 2025 hub. source

Finland’s vast green forests are famously restorative. So restorative that they can even treat diseases. That’s according to Uute Scientific, a biotech firm based in Helsinki. The company has created a unique remedy: a microbial extract that replicates Finnish nature. Today, the startup revealed new evidence of the organism’s powers. The extract targets a growing health problem. Immune systems, Uute says, are being weakened by urbanisation and oversanitation. As a result, city dwellers have higher rates of many allergic, inflammatory, and auto-immune diseases. Biodiversity could give their bodies a boost. Unfortunately, the benefits aren’t always readily available on tap. But you can, apparently, put them in a pot. Calling all Scaleup founders! Join the Soonicorn Summit on November 28 in Amsterdam. Meet with the leaders of Picnic, Miro, Carbon Equity and more during this exclusive event dedicated to Scaleup Founders! Uute’s extract combines plant material and composts to recreate Finland’s microbial biodiversity. The rich soil, pure water, and clean air blend into a new substance. Uute calls the product Re-Connecting Nature (RCN). To test the benefits, Uute studied the impact of RCT on atopic dermatitis — the most common form of eczema. The results suggest the treatment really works. Finnish nature vs eczema The study team recruited 142 participants with atopic dermatitis. Half of them were given an RCT lotion, while the other half received a placebo. Both the groups applied the lotion alongside any conventional medication they wanted. After seven months, Uute measured the effects on their skin. According to the startup, the RCT lotion strengthened the skin’s protective barrier. It also prevented irritation. The benefits increased during winter, when many eczema sufferers find their skin gets itchier. In the placebo group, meanwhile, the deterioration was significant. Tellingly, the RCT group also felt less need for conventional treatment. At the beginning of winter, 49% of them used atopic medication. In the placebo group, the figure jumped to 77%. Uute’s CEO, Kari Sinivuori, said the results prove RCT has real health benefits. “For the first time in the world, we were able to show that nature exposure helps people who already have immune-mediated disease,” Sinivuori told TNW. There’s potentially a big market for the treatment. Over 200 million people across the world live with atopic dermatitis. The current medication can have many side effects. RCT could provide a compelling alternative. But for Uute, atopic eczema is just the start. “Other immune-mediated diseases, such as different allergies, asthma, Parkinson’s disease, or Alzheimer’s, are also likely to benefit from this,” said Sinivuori. Uute Scientific is part of a new healthtech wave that’s transforming treatment options. You can find out all about them at next year’s TNW Conference, which has just announced six new themes for the event. Early birds can now buy 2-for-1 tickets for the event. source

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Third, and most importantly, the AI avatar became an extension of the business user — a human worker who became digitally augmented and increased the productivity of that individual. Effectively, a self-learning, digital twin was born. Even though still in its infancy, with age it will gain the maturity to independently execute many tasks that will be delivered in an increasingly autonomous fashion, while all the time preserving the integrity of, for instance, its owner’s mannerisms, speech and nuanced uniqueness.  About two years into the genAI journey and about 20 years in for AAA, 2024 is the year in which the convergence of the digital and human worker is truly beginning. If this is indeed the launch pad, how will multitudes of proliferating business avatars of real individuals — not fabricated talking heads — mature with time?  AI digital workers…at scale Aside from the business impacts of cost, efficiency and productivity that are becoming a familiar refrain in any analysis of genAI’s future, its lateral influences are less-common subjects of study. The expectation that some manner of convergence of digital and human staff in most corporate settings will grow exponentially is accepted, even though not all of this relates to digital ‘versions’ of real executives and employees. Enterprise CIOs, CEOs and, indeed, CHROs/chief people officers will be less prepared to deal with the many millions of executive avatars that could be performing on office screens, bringing valuable content, opinions and decisions to bear, driven by the small language models of their human owners.   source

Optimizing Data Center Efficiency: Harnessing Prescriptive and Predictive Power Management for Sustainable IT Infrastructure source

German “teledriving” startup Vay has secured €34mn from the European Investment Bank (EIB).   In January, Vay launched a commercial remote-controlled car service in Las Vegas. Now it wants to roll out the technology on its home turf. In 2023, the company successfully conducted test drives without a safety driver on public roads in Hamburg. Vay says it has been working closely with authorities to launch a commercial service in the German city.  “This investment will play a crucial role in strengthening the confidence and trust that EU regulators, partners and consumers have in Vay, paving the way for the commercial rollout of our services in European cities,” said Thomas von de Ohe, Vay’s CEO.   When users open the Vay app and request a ride, an electric vehicle comes to collect them. Just like an Uber — except there’s nobody in the car.  Instead, it’s piloted to the pick-up spot by a remote driver. The customer then takes the wheel for the journey to their destination. Once they depart, a teledriver takes control again. Teledrivers control the vehicles remotely from a purpose-built station equipped with a driver’s seat, steering wheel, pedals, and three monitors providing visibility in front of the car and to its side. Road traffic sounds, such as emergency vehicles and other warning signals, are transmitted via microphones to the teledriver’s headphones. This operator could technically be sitting on the other side of the world. However, most will be nearby at one of Vay’s teledriving centres.  For customers, teledriving is billed as a cheaper, more convenient alternative to traditional car-sharing. For operators, it could mean the difference between success or failure. “Remote driving can increase profitability in a sector known for fine margins,” explained Justin Spratt, chief business officer at Vay. The company claims its technology can double the amount of time vehicles are in use, boosting revenues.   Teledriving is billed as a midway point between conventional cars and autonomous vehicles, which are proving much more difficult to implement than operators had hoped for. “Given recent challenges in the autonomy industry, automotive-grade teledriving can offer an alternative path to safe ‘driverless’ transportation, as a human driver is always in control,” von de Ohe previously told TNW. In December 2023, Vay raised $95mn (€87mn) in a Series B round. The funding signals investor confidence in a technology that could offer a faster route to market than fully autonomous vehicles.  source

Anthropic has unveiled a major update to its Claude AI models, including the new “Computer Use” feature. Developers can direct the upgraded Claude 3.5 Sonnet to navigate desktop apps, move cursors, click buttons, and type text — essentially imitating a person working at their PC. “Instead of making specific tools to help Claude complete individual tasks, we’re teaching it general computer skills—allowing it to use a wide range of standard tools and software programs designed for people,” the company wrote in a blog post. The Computer Use API can be integrated to translate text prompts into computer commands, with Anthropic giving examples like, “use data from my computer and online to fill out this form” and “move the cursor to open a web browser.” This is the first AI model from the AI leader that is able to browse the web. The update works by analysing screenshots of what the user is seeing then calculating how many pixels it needs to move a cursor vertically or horizontally to click the correct place or perform another task using the software available. It can tackle up to hundreds of successive steps to complete a command, and will self-correct and retry a step should it encounter an obstacle. The Computer Use API, available now in public beta, ultimately aims to allow devs to automate repetitive processes, test software, and conduct open-ended tasks. The software development platform Replit is already exploring using it for navigating user interfaces to evaluate functionality as apps are built for its Replit Agent product. “Enabling AIs to interact directly with computer software in the same way people do will unlock a huge range of applications that simply aren’t possible for the current generation of AI assistants,” Anthropic wrote in a blog post. Claude’s Computer Use is still fairly error-prone Anthropic admits that the feature is not perfect; it still can’t effectively handle scrolling, dragging, or zooming. In an evaluation designed to test its ability to book flights, it was successful only 46% of the time. But this is an improvement over the previous iteration that scored 36%. Because Claude relies on screenshots rather than a continuous video stream, it can miss short-lived actions or notifications. The researchers admit that, during one coding demonstration, it stopped what it was doing and began to browse photos of Yellowstone National Park. It scored 14.9% on OSWorld, a platform for evaluating a model’s ability to perform as humans would, for screenshot-based tasks. This is a far cry from human-level skill, thought to be between 70% and 75%, but it is nearly double that of the next best AI system. Anthropic is also hoping to improve this capability with developer feedback. Computer Use has some accompanying safety features The Anthropic researchers say that a number of deliberate measures were made that focused on minimising the potential risk associated with Computer Use. For privacy and safety, it does not train on user-submitted data, including screenshots it processes, nor could it access the internet during training. One of the main vulnerabilities identified is prompt injection attacks, a type of ‘jailbreaking’ where malicious instructions could cause the AI to behave unexpectedly. Research from the U.K. AI Safety Institute found that jailbreak attacks could “enable coherent and malicious multi-step agent behavior” in models without such Computer Use capabilities, such as GPT-4o. A separate study found that Generative AI jailbreak attacks succeed 20% of the time. To mitigate the risk of prompt injection in Claude Sonnet 3.5, the Trust and Safety teams implemented systems to identify and prevent such attacks, particularly since Claude can interpret screenshots that may contain harmful content. Furthermore, the developers anticipated the potential for users to misuse Claude’s computer skills. As a result, they created “classifiers” and monitoring systems that detect when harmful activities, such as spam, misinformation, or fraudulent behaviours, might be occurring. It is also unable to post on social media or interact with government websites to avoid political threats. Joint pre-deployment testing was conducted by both the U.S. and U.K. Safety Institutes, and Claude 3.5 Sonnet remains at AI Safety Level 2, meaning it doesn’t pose significant risks that require more stringent safety measures than the existing. SEE: OpenAI and Anthropic Sign Deals With U.S. AI Safety Institute, Handing Over Frontier Models For Testing More must-read AI coverage Claude 3.5 Sonnet is better at coding than its predecessor In addition to the computer use beta, Claude 3.5 Sonnet offers significant gains in coding and tool use but at the same cost and speed of its predecessor. The new model improves its performance on SWE-bench Verified, a coding benchmark, from 33.4% to 49%, outpacing even reasoning models like OpenAI o1-preview. An increasing number of companies are using Generative AI to code. However, the technology is not perfect in this area. AI-generated code has been known to cause outages, and security leaders are considering banning the technology’s use in software development. SEE: When AI Misses the Mark: Why Tech Buyers Face Project Failures Users of Claude 3.5 Sonnet have seen the improvements in action, according to Anthropic. GitLab tested it for DevSecOps tasks and found it delivered up to 10% stronger reasoning with no added latency. The AI lab Cognition also reported improvements in its coding, planning, and problem-solving over the previous version. Claude 3.5 Sonnet is available today through Anthropic API, Amazon Bedrock, and Google Cloud’s Vertex AI. A version without Computer Use is being rolled out to Claude apps. Claude 3.5 Haiku is cheaper but just as effective Anthropic also launched Claude 3.5 Haiku, an upgraded version of the least expensive  Claude model. Haiku delivers faster responses as well as improved instruction accuracy and tool use, making it useful for user-facing applications and generating personalised experiences from data. Haiku matches the performance of the larger Claude 3 Opus model for the same cost and similar speed of the previous generation. It also outperforms the original Claude 3.5 Sonnet and GPT-4o on SWE-bench Verified, with a score of 40.6%. Claude 3.5 Haiku