With 80% of AI projects failing due to poor data quality and data fragmentation, what steps can CDOs take to ensure AI investments pay off? The answer lies in trusted context.
Without trusted context, AI recognizes fragments of information but can’t connect them into a meaningful story. This often leads to hallucinations, conflicting responses or unreliable outcomes. As organizations pass more responsibility to agentic AI, the need for complete, contextual and consistent data grows.
In our eBook, you’ll uncover:
Five data pillars that are crucial to building trust
Top reasons why enterprises struggle to gain context
Key benefits of using trusted context with agentic AI
Nintendo of North America says it’s aware of what’s been described as a small third-party data breach affecting some of its employees.
“Nintendo’s systems have not been compromised,” the company told Mashable in a statement, acknowledging that a third-party service was affected by an “issue.”
Earlier this week, a hacking group calling itself ShadowByte$ posted a threat on a “well-known cybercrime forum,” according to CyberNews. The group alleged it stole 859MB of internal corporate data from a third-party service called TinyPulse, which collects employee feedback for companies.
Mashable Light Speed
The stolen data reportedly includes the results of employee satisfaction surveys, private messages, and the names of Nintendo employees. According to a LinkedIn profile, TinyPulse is part of WebMD Health Services.
The hacking group reportedly issued a $2 million ransomware demand to prevent the release of the data. Per Kotaku, after failing to get results with Nintendo, the extortion group reportedly tried its luck with TinyPulse as well. However, Nintendo downplayed the sensitivity of the data, telling Mashable the alleged TinyPulse breach is “limited to internal survey content comprising a small subset of our employees.”
We are aware of an issue involving TinyPulse, a third-party service used for internal employee surveys at Nintendo of America. Nintendo’s systems have not been compromised, and no personal customer or financial data has been accessed. The data involved is limited to internal survey content comprising a small subset of our employees, and most of the information dates back several years.
We appreciate our employees’ willingness to share their perspectives, take all feedback seriously, and take action when needed. We are working with the service provider to address the issue.
In recent years, ransomware-as-a-service tools have made it easier for bad actors — even those without sophisticated coding or hacking skills — to obtain sensitive data from companies and individuals.
Mashable reached out to WebMD Health Services about the alleged TinyPulse data breach, and we’ll update this story if we receive more information.
It’s probably fair to say that Unreal Engine is probably the most comprehensive tool around for creating games, animations, and video effects. And, with the launch of UE 5.8, it’s becoming even more extensive and even a little bit more AI-friendly. Whether you’re just an Unreal Engine hobbyist like me, or a full-time game developer, you can download version 5.8 right now via the Epic Games Launcher.
Even if you don’t plan on using any of the new features (of which there are a lot), it’s always worth trying out the latest release just for bug and performance fixes. But what’s actually new? The headline acts in UE5.8 are the introduction of Mesh Terrain and Procedural Vegetation Editor (PVE). Both are experimental features at the moment, but the former should be of great interest to anyone creating big, open-world terrains, as the tool basically generates full 3D meshes for you.
PVE is somewhat similar, except that instead of creating landscapes, it produces vegetation (trees, bushes, reeds, grass, etc) from scratch, with the procedural system working in line with meshes already present in the world. For example, let’s say you had a crumbled old archway in a forest, PVE will ‘grow’ trees around it, accounting for the natural source of light and competing vegetation.
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Complementing these are MegaLights, which first appeared in experimental form in UE5.5 (but is now “production-ready”), an experimental fog screen space scattering feature, and perhaps most interesting of all, Lumen Lite. This is a mode for Lumen global illumination that Epic claims to be twice as fast as Lumen High Quality, while still preserving “much of the visual impact”.
The release notes for UE5.8 specifically mention that “games that rely on global illumination for artistic purposes can run on Nintendo Switch 2 at 60 fps,” so it’s blatantly obvious what platform it was developed for. However, since it’s also supported on PC, UE-powered games of the future could well offer this as a graphics option for low-end hardware users.
(Image credit: Epic)
Tucked away, almost at the end of the new version details announcement—which blessedly includes improvements to shader compiling—is one more experimental feature, an MCP plugin. With this, you can implement any LLM of your choice to “connect to and understand both the engine and your project.” In other words, if you want to use AI to create assets or code, carry out tests or refactoring tasks, then you should be able to hand that over to the LLM easily enough.
Epic left the note about this feature after everything else, and I suspect that’s because AI is hardly flavour of the month in the world of PCs and gaming right now. After all, Epic already has a section of PC gaming fandom that takes a dim view of Unreal Engine games, whether you believe that’s the fault of Epic or a given game’s developers themselves, and AI-use is another PC gaming bug bear.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
Anyway, because of the consternation about AI in gaming—from being the primary cause of the horrendous price increases for DRAM and SSDs, as well as the endless controversies over its use in games—the inclusion of this plugin is likely to draw ire from some quarters.
I’m not suggesting that game devs must use AI, nor am I saying that the inclusion of the LLM plugin (specifically an MCP server) with UE5.8 is a good or bad thing; it’s simply a sign of our times. One can argue that Unreal Engine’s feature set is sometimes a little too far-forward in reach (console and mainstream PC hardware still isn’t quite good enough to cope with an all-in Lumen and Nanite game at high fps), but this minor plugin is very much a ‘here-and-now’ thing.
Your phones ring all day with the same questions. Hours, address, “are you open,” “can I book for Saturday.” Your staff stop serving the customer in front of them to pick up, or the call rolls to voicemail and the caller dials the store down the road.
A customer support voice agent answers every call on the first ring, at every location, day and night. It handles the routine questions and hands the rest to a person. This guide shows you how to set one up in Retell AI for a single location, in steps you can follow without a technical background.
Honest part first. It will not replace your team. It clears the repetitive calls so your staff can serve customers and close bookings. Plan for a couple of hours of setup and about a week of listening before it runs smoothly.
What a customer support voice agent handles store hours, address, and directions
A voice agent does best on predictable calls:
store hours, address, and directions
whether a location is open that day
simple bookings and reservations
sending the caller to the right person or store
It is weak on judgment calls. Upset customers, refunds outside policy, and anything unusual belong with a person. Set that handoff from the start, and the agent earns its keep on the calls you were losing.
What you need before you start
A Retell AI account. Sign up at retellai.com. New accounts include a small amount of free usage, so you can test before you pay.
A list of the questions your locations get on the phone.
Your hours, address, and a plan for what the agent says when it cannot help.
Step 1: Create your account and open the dashboard
Sign up on the Retell website and log in. You land on the main screen where everything is managed. A menu runs down the left side. That menu is your map for this whole series
Step 2: Start a new phone assistant
Open the section for assistants, which Retell calls agents, and click to create a new one. Retell asks what type you want. For answering common questions, pick the basic option built for support. You can switch to a more advanced type later once you see how it behaves.
Step 3: Tell it how to behave
A box lets you write the agent’s instructions in plain English. You do not need clever wording. Cover four things:
Who it is. “You answer the phone for [Your Business] in [Town].”
What it should and should not do. “Answer questions about this location only. If you do not know, take a message or pass the caller to a person.”
What a good call looks like. “Help the caller get an answer and book or reach the right person.”
How it sounds. “Friendly, short, and clear. Repeat back details to confirm them.”
Add your hours, address, and after-hours line right here.
Tip: Always tell it what to do when it is stuck. A line like “If you cannot answer, offer a callback” stops it from guessing.
Step 4: Pick a voice
Retell gives you a list of voices, and you can play each one. Choose the voice that fits how you want your stores answered. Warmer for a salon or restaurant, steadier for a clinic or service brand.
Step 5: Leave the speaking settings alone for now
A panel controls fine details, such as how fast it replies and how it handles interruptions. The defaults work for a first build. Adjust them after you hear a real call, not before.
Step 6: Give it your information
Rather than typing every detail into the instructions, give the agent a folder of information to read from. Retell calls this a knowledge base. Think of the training binder you hand a new front-desk hire. Add your FAQ, your prices, or a link to your website.
The next post in this series covers this in depth, including how to share one set of information across every location.
Step 7: Test it before you connect a phone number
A button lets you talk to the agent from your computer before any real call comes in. Use it. Ask the real questions your stores get. Check three things. Does it answer correctly? Does it stay on topic? Does it handle “I do not know” without inventing an answer?
Tip: Have two or three staff test it in their own words. People rarely ask the way you expect.
Step 8: Connect a phone number
Go to the phone numbers section. Buy a number through Retell or use one you already own. Set your new agent to answer that number.
Step 9: Call it yourself and confirm
Call the number. Run a few real situations: ask your hours, try to book, and ask one thing it should not know. Confirm it answers, sounds right, and handles the hard question the way you set up.
What this saves you
You now answer every call at one location, day or night, with no one tied to the phone. The calls you used to miss, the ones that quietly became a competitor’s customer, now get picked up. For a multi-unit operator, that gap repeats across every store, so the saving multiplies as you roll out.
Set up one location well, then use the rest of this series to route callers to the right store, keep every location’s answers correct, and make them all sound the same.
Next step: If you would rather skip the setup, Weam builds and runs customer support voice agents for franchise and multi-unit brands, plugged into the tools you already use. Book a cost-saving audit to see what it would save across your locations.
The apocalypse is calling! The wait is nearly over, Metas. Before the official launch, we are thrilled to announce the final Console Open Beta for our weird and wonderful supernatural survival game, Once Human.
Prepare to experience the apocalypse like never before. With the leap to the big screen, you can expect deeper immersion, stunning visuals on your XBOX Series X|S, and pure, unfiltered survival. More players, more chaos, and more fun await! Here is everything you need to know before you step into the supernatural monster world.
Experience the Apocalypse on the Big Screen
Survive in a supernatural apocalypse where reality has fallen apart. As a Meta-Human, you will explore a vast, Stardust-infected open world where monsters are both a threat and the key to your survival. Every expedition carries risk, but yields vital resources. Gather materials and build your ultimate territory, but be prepared to defend your home against relentless sieges.
In this world, your enemies are your greatest asset. You can capture Deviants—bizarre entities that can automate your base, gather resources, and fight by your side. Push your evolution further by hunting powerful anomalies for Mutagens. Fuse with them, mutate your body, and harness their grotesque abilities to crush anything that stands in your way. In Once Human, survival is more than just staying alive. It is about turning the unknown—and the monsters themselves—into your own power.
During this Open Beta, you’ll have access to multiple scenarios and seasons to fit your playstyle. Whether you want to learn the ropes or dive straight into hardcore challenges, the choice is yours. Available scenarios include:
Novice Scenario
Manibus
Endless Dream
The Way of Winter
RaidZone
(Note: Players in all scenarios except RaidZone can also experience Visional Wheel S3: Aberrant Progeny!)
Reach Level 20 & Earn Exclusive Rewards
As a massive thank-you to everyone participating in this final test, we are giving away exclusive rewards that you can bring with you into the official launch!
Reach Level 20 with any character during the beta to earn a Cosmetic Selection Crate and a Weapon Skin Selection Crate. (Note: If you only play in the RaidZone, you will need to accumulate more than 3 hours of playtime to be eligible).
Cosmetic Options (Choose 1 of 3):
Abyssal Dragon Set
Noise Manifesto Set
Wasteland Sheriff Set
Weapon Skin Options (Choose 1 of 3):
Dragon Dance – KAM
Reconstructed Matrix – AWS.33
Gem Symphony – MG4
Will my progress carry over? This Open Beta is a wipe test, meaning most of your character progress will be reset before the official launch. However, you won’t leave empty-handed! The following will permanently carry over to the full release:
✅ All earned Starchrom
✅ All cosmetics and outfits obtained
✅ Up to 6 collected Deviants
How to Join the Beta on XBOX Series X|S
This test is open globally, but spots are strictly limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the user cap is reached, the download channel may close, so be sure to secure your spot early!
To join on XBOX:
Turn on your XBOX Series X|S and open the XBOX Insider Hub app (download it from the Store if you don’t have it).
Navigate to the “Previews” section.
Search for “Once Human” and click “Join”.
You will be directed to the store page to install the game.
(If you participated in the previous Closed Beta and still have the game installed, you will receive an automatic update. If you deleted it, you can simply re-download it from your game library without needing to re-register).
Test Schedule & Important Info
Mark your calendars so you don’t miss a second of the action:
Pre-download Opens: June 17 at 5:00 PM PT
Servers Go Live: June 17 at 7:00 PM PT
Beta Concludes: July 8, 11:59 PM PT
A note on Cross-play: While cross-play with PC and Mobile players is not supported during this test, the console servers are unified! XBOX and PlayStation players will be able to team up and survive the apocalypse together.
We Want Your Feedback!
This final beta is crucial for us to polish the console experience before launch, and your feedback is incredibly valuable. If you run into bugs or have suggestions, please use the in-game Feedback & Customer Support menu. You can also join the dedicated tester-feedback-submit channel on the official Once Human Discord.
Gather your friends, grab your weapons, and get ready to survive the weirdness. We’ll see you in the monster world on June 17!
For 180 years, Stearns & Foster has been making mattresses before expanding into bedding, pillows, and frames. Throughout their history, the brand has continuously brought its trademark old-school style of craftsmanship. Now owned by Tempur Sealy, the iconic Stearns & Foster look features hand-stitched details and an elevated design seen in luxury hotels like the Ritz-Carlton. Today, Stearns & Foster is known for using premium materials, hand-tufted covers, patented IntelliCoil technology with an innerspring-in-innerspring design, moisture-wicking Tencel, and memory foam for pressure relief. If you’re looking for reliable, hotel-like sleep night after night for decades to come, investing in a Stearns & Foster mattress is a good idea. This luxury brand is on the pricier side, so we have a Stearns & Foster promo code and Stearns & Foster coupons to make this investment more affordable.
Stearns & Foster Promo Code: $200 Off Base
The Ease Power Base is Sterns & Foster’s bestselling smartbedframe. Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars with over 2,000 five-star reviews, people love the adjustable frame to personalize their sleep experience, with a wireless remote to change their base position. The frame even has a Zero Gravity setting to help the body feel weightless with pressure relief for aches and back pain. When you purchase a Ease Power Base, you’ll get complimentary white-glove in-home delivery and a 25-year warranty for extra peace of mind with a purchase made to last decades. Plus, right now, you’ll get a $200 instant credit when you buy a qualifying mattress with Stearns & Foster promo code 200GIFT.
Get Free Pillows With Stearns & Foster
For a limited time, when you buy a qualifying Sterns & Foster mattress, you’ll get up to $300 in free accessories, including pillows and sheets. Perhaps best of all, there’s no catch: This Stearns & Foster deal automatically applies to your cart when you purchase a qualifying mattress. If you’d rather customize your free accessories, you’ll need to remove the pre-created bedding bundle from the cart and manually add the accessories of your choosing to the cart. Use Stearns & Foster coupon code 300FREE for this offer.
Stearns & Foster Free In-Home Delivery
One of the benefits of buying from a high-end brand like Stearns & Foster is their white glove delivery service and 25-year warranty for even more peace of mind. As a mattress reviewer on the WIRED Gear team, I hauled over a dozen mattresses in and out of my home. I can confidently say it was not fun. With this Stearns & Foster deal for free in-home delivery, their shipping team will set up your new mattress in the room and remove and discard all packaging materials, so you don’t have to do any of the grunt work. They’ll even dispose of your existing mattress and box spring if you request it for free.
The AI lab finished May by surpassing OpenAI in market share of business spending for the first time, Ramp just revealed. It raised $65 billion at a $965 billion valuation (also besting OpenAI) at the end of May, then waltzed into June by filing confidential paperwork for an IPO, reportedly on the strength of its first-ever profitable quarter.
Then on Friday, the Trump administration renewed its war on the model maker by sending a letter demanding it ban non-Americans, including Anthropic’s employees, from accessing its state-of-the-art models: the limited-release Mythos 5 and the more guarded version of Mythos released to the public three days earlier, called Fable 5.
This essentially forced Anthropic to pull its latest all-powerful model from the market altogether.
Although the White House invoked an obscure export control directive when ordering the ban, the exact cause remains unclear. The chatter was that hackers easily bypassed Fable 5’s guardrails, which were intended to prevent access to Mythos’ capabilities. That model is so good at finding security flaws in software code that Anthropic itself marketed it as dangerous and restricted its public release.
This new drama comes after Anthropic famously refused to allow the government to use its models for mass surveillance of Americans and fully autonomous weapons. As a result, in March, the Trump administration declared the company a supply-chain risk.
That didn’t deter Anthropic’s sales to businesses. Quite the opposite, Ramp’s data shows. Ironically, this latest feud with the Trump administration, which also appears to validate the hubbub over Mythos’ mythological power, may help rather than hurt Anthropic, according to Ramp’s lead economist, Ara Kharazian. Kharazian is the person who compiled the business-spending AI data.
“If anything, it’ll probably boost them,” Kharazian told TechCrunch. “Anthropic’s best month on record, as far as business adoption, was the month that the Department of Defense labeled them a supply-chain risk. There’s a lot of aura that comes with your model specifically being named too dangerous to use.”
Ramp’s data isn’t granular enough for us to see how much of a financial hit the company will take by pulling Mythos and Fable 5 off the market.
Still the data, from more than 70,000 businesses that use its platform, shows that customers heavily use Anthropic’s Opus models and that business use has been growing.
For instance, Ramp reported that Anthropic’s share of AI subscriptions paid for by businesses rose 2.5 percentage points in May to 41%. This compares to OpenAI, which commanded 39.5% of AI subscriptions by its customers, essentially flat from the prior month. (OpenAI still greatly leads Anthropic in overall consumer usage, according to new data from Sensor Tower.)
Beyond subscriptions, the vast majority of what companies spend money on is API calls to the model, which cover token use for activities like coding. Anthropic’s Claude Code has a strong reputation as a powerful AI coding tool.
Ramp can’t always see from the spending data which models most businesses are using. When it can see the model details — in about one-third of transactions — businesses are mostly spending on various flavors of Claude Opus, particularly the later versions. Opus is the model that preceded Mythos and is still openly available.
Mythos had not been on the market for that long, having been released to limited users as of April. And Fable 5 was shut down after a few days.
While we can’t predict how this latest drama with the White House will impact Anthropic’s ability to go public as it hoped to (public-market investors tend to be wary of companies embroiled in controversies with the government), the numbers indicate that Anthropic’s available models are more popular with businesses than ever before.
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.
Businesses across industries are increasingly turning to autonomous technologies to improve efficiency, reduce operational costs, and gain access to real-time data. Working with Wezom, companies can implement tailored solutions through a specialized drone software company approach that aligns with their operational goals and industry requirements. As drone adoption accelerates, software has become the driving force behind automation, analytics, and scalable growth.
The Growing Demand for Autonomous Drone Operations
Organizations face constant pressure to optimize workflows while maintaining accuracy and safety. Traditional inspection, surveying, and monitoring methods often require significant time, labor, and resources.
Autonomous drone operations help address these future challenges by enabling:
Automated flight planning
Remote asset inspections
Real-time environmental monitoring
Predictive maintenance programs
Large-scale mapping and surveying
Automated reporting workflows
Unlike manually operated systems, autonomous drones can perform repetitive tasks consistently while collecting high-quality data. This capability highlights the future of autonomous operations, allowing businesses to focus human expertise on strategic decision-making rather than routine operational activities.
Why Software Has Become the Core of Drone Innovation
While drone hardware continues to evolve, software is increasingly the factor that determines operational success.
Flight Automation and Mission Planning
Advanced drone platforms support:
Automated route creation
Obstacle avoidance systems
Dynamic mission adjustments
Multi-drone coordination
Regulatory compliance controls
These capabilities reduce manual intervention and improve mission reliability.
Data Processing and Analytics
Drone operations generate significant amounts of information that must be converted into actionable business insights.
Modern software platforms can:
Process imagery automatically
Detect anomalies
Generate reports
Analyze trends
Support real-time operational decisions
The ability to transform raw aerial data into meaningful intelligence is a major reason organizations invest in custom drone solutions.
Fleet Management at Scale
As drone programs expand, centralized management becomes essential.
Business Challenges That Generic Drone Solutions Cannot Solve
Many businesses begin with off-the-shelf drone applications but eventually encounter limitations that affect growth and efficiency.
Integration Barriers
Drone data often needs to flow into existing business systems such as:
ERP platforms
GIS solutions
CRM systems
Asset management software
Business intelligence tools
Custom software enables seamless integration across the technology ecosystem.
Industry-Specific Workflows
Every sector has unique operational requirements.
Examples include:
Agricultural monitoring and crop analysis
Utility infrastructure inspections
Logistics route optimization
Construction progress tracking
Generic applications rarely provide the flexibility required to address these specialized needs.
Long-Term Scalability
As operations grow, businesses require software architectures that can evolve alongside changing requirements, additional users, and larger drone fleets.
Tailored software focuses on the exact functionality required by the business, reducing complexity and improving productivity.
Enhanced Security
Custom solutions can include:
Advanced access controls
Encrypted communications
Regulatory compliance mechanisms
Secure cloud infrastructure
These features help protect sensitive operational data.
Greater Flexibility
Custom architectures support:
New feature development
Fleet expansion
Geographic growth
Emerging technology adoption
This adaptability helps businesses maximize the value of their technology investments.
Emerging Technologies Shaping the Future
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
AI-driven drone software enables:
Automated object recognition
Predictive maintenance
Intelligent route planning
Advanced anomaly detection
As algorithms mature, autonomous operations become increasingly efficient.
Edge Computing
Processing data closer to the source provides:
Lower latency
Faster decision-making
Reduced bandwidth usage
Improved reliability
Digital Twins
Combining drone data with digital twin environments helps organizations:
Improve asset visibility
Simulate operational scenarios
Enhance maintenance planning
Optimize long-term performance
Swarm Technology
Coordinated fleets of autonomous drones may soon support:
Large-scale inspections
Emergency response operations
Agricultural monitoring
Logistics networks
Advanced software will be essential for managing these complex systems.
Conclusion: Preparing for the Next Era of Autonomous Operations
Autonomous drone technology is rapidly becoming a strategic business asset and a key driver of the future of autonomous operations. Organizations that invest in scalable software platforms can improve efficiency, reduce costs, enhance safety, and unlock new opportunities for innovation.
As adoption continues to grow, the role of a drone software company will become increasingly important in helping businesses develop tailored solutions that support automation, integration, and long-term scalability. Companies that embrace custom drone software today will be better positioned to compete in tomorrow’s increasingly autonomous business environment.
There’s so much to love about Widow’s Bay, including but not limited to its excellently unique characters. Everyone living on the cursed island is a little bit weird, and the people who work with Mayor Tom Loftis at the Widow’s Bay town hall are outstanding examples. We all love Patricia, and season one anticipated this, giving her two standout episodesof her own. But what about cult-favorite side characters Dale and Rosemary? We need more!
Widow’s Bay creator, showrunner, and executive producer Katie Dippold is right there with us. If she didn’t know ahead of time that odd-couple besties Dale (played by Jeff Hiller) and Rosemary (played by Dale Dickey) would click with audiences, she surely knows now.
Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter ahead of the Widow’s Bay season one finale, Dippold outlined some of her hopes for the show’s recently announced second season.
“A big part of the fun in the writers room was that we thought a lot about the history of the island and what’s been going on since the founder up until today,” she said. “There was a lot of stuff that we couldn’t do or just decided to not do yet. Between that and characters that we have, there’s a lot. I would love to do a Rosemary episode for Dale Dickey, a Dale episode with Jeff Hiller.”
And she’s not going to stop there. “There’s so many characters to get to know more. I always wanted it to feel like there’s a lot to explore in the island. Little nooks and crannies full of terror that you haven’t seen yet,” Dippold said. “And I really want to get more into [Bechir], Kevin Carroll’s character. There would be a lot more to do.”
We’ve loved Carroll ever since The Leftovers, so we say a big yes to that idea too. The Widow’s Bay season one finale officially arrives tomorrow (technically tonight, thanks to the whims of streaming scheduling) on Apple TV.
Your laptop is one of the most important tools you use every day, whether you’re working remotely, managing a business, attending classes, or staying connected with family. At PC Geeks, we help Frisco residents and businesses keep their devices running smoothly with professional diagnostics, repairs, and expert technical support. One of the most common issues we see is battery failure, often after customers have struggled with poor performance for weeks or even months before seeking help.
Laptop batteries naturally wear out over time. Most modern lithium-ion batteries are designed to last between 300 and 1,000 charge cycles, depending on the manufacturer and usage habits. As batteries age, they lose their ability to hold a charge efficiently, leading to frustrating interruptions and reduced productivity.
If you live in Frisco, TX, where many professionals work from home, students rely on laptops daily, and businesses depend on mobile technology, recognizing the early warning signs of battery failure can save you time, money, and stress. Here are five signs that it may be time to replace your laptop battery.
Rapid Battery Drain Despite a Full Charge
One of the clearest signs of battery deterioration is a significant drop in battery life. If your laptop used to last six to eight hours but now struggles to stay powered for two or three, the battery may be reaching the end of its lifespan.
Battery degradation occurs naturally as cells lose their ability to store energy. You may notice that even after charging to 100%, the battery percentage drops quickly during normal use.
Some common symptoms include a battery percentage that drops unexpectedly, frequent low-battery warnings, the need to recharge multiple times throughout the day, and noticeably reduced performance when operating on battery power. If these issues persist after adjusting your power settings and closing unnecessary applications, a battery replacement may be the most effective solution.
If these issues persist after adjusting power settings and closing unnecessary applications, a battery replacement may be the most effective solution.
Unexpected Shutdowns and Power Loss
Does your laptop suddenly shut off even when the battery indicator shows plenty of charge remaining? This is another common warning sign.
As batteries age, they can struggle to deliver consistent power. The operating system may estimate remaining battery life incorrectly because the battery’s actual capacity no longer matches its original specifications.
Unexpected shutdowns can be particularly disruptive for:
Remote workers attending virtual meetings
Students completing assignments
Business owners managing customer data
Travelers working away from power outlets
In a growing city like Frisco, where professionals often work from coffee shops, coworking spaces, and community hubs near areas like The Star and Frisco Square, reliable battery performance is essential.
The Battery Is Swollen or Physically Distorted
A swollen battery is a serious issue that requires immediate attention.
Lithium-ion batteries can occasionally develop internal gas buildup as they age or experience excessive heat exposure. This can cause the battery to expand, creating visible physical changes to your laptop.
Watch for signs such as:
A bulging keyboard
A lifted trackpad
Gaps appearing between laptop components
Difficulty closing the laptop properly
Texas summers can bring prolonged periods of high temperatures, and laptops left in vehicles or poorly ventilated areas may experience accelerated battery degradation. If you notice swelling, stop using the device and seek professional assistance immediately. Continuing to use a swollen battery can increase the risk of further damage to internal components.
Your Laptop Only Works When Plugged In
If your laptop shuts down the moment you disconnect the charger, the battery may no longer be functioning at all.
Many users initially assume the charging cable or power adapter is faulty. While those components can fail, a completely depleted battery is often the culprit.
This issue typically develops gradually. You may first notice shorter battery life, followed by frequent charging requirements, before eventually reaching the point where the battery cannot hold any charge.
Professional diagnostics can determine whether the issue lies with:
The battery
The charging port
The power adapter
Internal power management systems
At PC Geeks, we help identify the root cause so you can avoid replacing parts unnecessarily.
Battery Health Warnings and System Alerts
Modern operating systems often provide built-in battery health monitoring tools. If your laptop displays messages such as:
“Consider replacing your battery”
“Battery service recommended”
“Battery health significantly degraded”
“Battery capacity reduced”
Do not ignore these notifications.
These alerts are generated based on performance data collected over time and often indicate that the battery has fallen well below its original capacity.
You can check battery health through system settings on many Windows and Mac devices. However, interpreting these reports can sometimes be confusing. Professional testing can provide a more accurate assessment and help determine whether replacement is the best option.
Why Timely Battery Replacement Matters
Many people continue using failing batteries longer than they should. Unfortunately, delaying replacement can lead to additional issues.
A failing battery can:
Reduce overall laptop performance
Cause data loss from unexpected shutdowns
Place strain on internal components
Create safety concerns if swelling occurs
Interrupt productivity and daily tasks
Replacing a battery before complete failure helps extend the useful life of your laptop and can often postpone the need for a costly device replacement.
For Frisco residents and businesses, maintaining reliable technology is increasingly important as remote work, online learning, and digital services continue to play a larger role in everyday life.
How PC Geeks Helps Frisco Laptop Users
At PC Geeks, we understand how disruptive computer problems can be. Our experienced technicians provide comprehensive laptop diagnostics, battery testing, and replacement services designed to restore performance and reliability.
When you bring your laptop to PC Geeks, our technicians perform a complete battery health assessment and verify whether the battery is truly the source of the problem. We also inspect related components, such as the charging port and power management systems, to rule out other issues. Once we identify the cause, we provide honest, cost-effective recommendations and can install a high-quality replacement battery when needed.
Our goal is always to provide honest recommendations and solutions that help customers get the most value from their technology investments.
Ready to Restore Your Laptop’s Performance?
If you’ve noticed rapid battery drain, unexpected shutdowns, swelling, or other warning signs, don’t wait until your laptop fails completely. The team at PC Geeks is here to help Frisco residents and businesses diagnose battery problems and restore dependable performance.
Contact PC Geeks today through our contact page to schedule a professional laptop battery evaluation and find out whether a replacement is the right solution for your device.
