Latest news with #Vinnie
Time of India
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Spyne launches AI assistant to support used car dealerships
Spyne , an automotive AI platform , has introduced Vinnie, an autonomous AI assistant intended to support used car dealerships by streamlining customer relationship management workflows. The company announced the launch on July 22, 2025. Vinnie has been developed to manage high call volumes, fragmented lead handling, and limited follow-up capacity—factors often contributing to revenue loss in car retail. It automates communication across voice calls, chat, and email, handling inquiries, appointment scheduling, and post-sale engagement. Integrated into Spyne's visual merchandising suite, the assistant works with vehicle display pages on dealership websites. It also connects with existing CRMs and sales systems, offering continuous support for sales, service, financing, and inventory functions. Focus on lead conversion and operational efficiency Spyne claims the AI assistant is capable of identifying buyer intent, prioritising high-intent leads, and encouraging customers to take actions such as scheduling test drives or proceeding with purchases. Early users have reported a fourfold increase in response times, a 42 per cent rise in qualified leads, and a 37 per cent reduction in missed follow-ups within the first month of use. Sanjay Varnwal, CEO and Co-founder of Spyne, said, 'Dealerships today need more than automation; they need AI technology that is easy to use and can think, adapt, and drive real outcomes. That's the future we're building for.' The launch of Vinnie is part of Spyne's broader strategy to build AI-native software for automotive retail. The company aims to create a full-stack AI ecosystem that improves vehicle presentation and customer interaction, while enhancing digital efficiency for dealerships.
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
New classroom to open for Birmingham boy with half a heart
A school is opening a new classroom to enable a boy who was born with half a heart to have lessons with the rest of his from St Alban's Catholic Primary School in Kings Heath, Birmingham, has a complex congenital heart condition, where one side of his heart did not develop fully in the needed a downstairs classroom at the school to be able to stay with his friends, who would otherwise move upstairs into a juniors classroom - but it costs £80,000 to build a new portable a massive fundraising effort, £88,000 was raised and the portable classroom has been built and will be unveiled on Friday. St Alban's headteacher Rebecca McKinney, who started the fundraiser, told BBC Radio WM: "It's been such a long journey since last July when it was a little dream of ours because we were so worried Vinnie wouldn't be with his class, so we decided to think big."Without the classroom, Vinnie has had to work in small groups downstairs while the rest of his class worked reach the upstairs classrooms, Vinnie would have to climb two flights of stairs, which a cardiologist and heart charities have told his family would significantly impact his health. When asked if the possibility of Vinnie moving to another school had ever been considered, Mrs McKinney said to Vinnie: "It wasn't on the cards for you, we said absolutely not, we can't lose Vinnie."She added: "We know his mum also felt so passionately about Vinnie staying at our school because we know how to take care of him. "It's a gift that Vinnie comes here to school every day - not many children with his condition are full time at school - so it's so amazing Vinnie is." The new classroom is set to open on Friday, with Prof Carl Chinn attending to officially open the classroom, which will be in use in September when the new school year has a ramp, a toilet, and a sensory room for when Vinnie feels tired and needs to asked what a difference the new classroom would make to him, Vinnie said: "It will [mean] I can be with all my friends and learn all the things they're doing at the same time."I like all the teachers and friends and I like all the lessons we do." One of the fundraisers who helped the school reach the target was seven-year-old Bertie, a Year Two pupil at the school."I've been making some designs of football and basketball cards. I sold them at Villa Park and in the school," Bertie told BBC Radio efforts raised £5,000 for the appeal, leading the school to nominate him for the West Midlands Lieutenancy Award, with him receiving the Young Citizen's award on Monday. Mrs McKinney also thanked the many people and businesses who gave their services for free, including project manager John Puttenam and 3D Facilities headteacher said: "It's been a massive community effort. It's really rebuilds our faith in people and the community." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Edinburgh Live
11-07-2025
- Health
- Edinburgh Live
Brave Scottish mum's plea after son's heart stops working only weeks after birth
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A mum whose son was diagnosied with a life-threatening heart condition only week after his birth is making a plea. Katie Hall gave birth to Vinnie on June 11 at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy. Hours after his arrival, she noticed he was having difficulty breathing. The 26-year-old from the Fife town told the Daily Record: "After his birth, I noticed Vinnie was grunting for 17 hours straight. "At the time it didn't feel normal. I knew something was wrong. "I later found out that his body was trying to keep his lungs open to improve oxygen intake, because his heart wasn't pumping efficiently due to the valve narrowing." After raising her concerns, doctors at the neonatal unit carried out an echocardiogram - a type of ultrasound scan used to look at the heart - and told Katie her son had a narrow heart valve but assured her it would likely resolve on its own. The mum-of-three was told to monitor the situation and, after a week in hospital, was discharged with her baby boy. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox However, less than a month later Vinnie was rushed to hospital on July 4 after he went limp. Katie said: "Vinnie was very lethargic and went limp. His skin turned a funny colour. "He hadn't really cried and since being discharged from hospital he was rarely eating." The terrified new mum called an ambulance and Vinnie was transported from Kirkcaldy to Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children. Medics found his heart valve had completely closed, and his tiny body was shutting down. He was diagnosed with Aortic Stenosis, a serious heart condition that restricts blood flow, and underwent emergency heart surgery to insert a balloon in the damaged valve in a bid to keep it open. Doctors told Katie the balloon may only last a matter of years, and for some children it can hold up to 15 years. (Image: Supplied/Daily Record) For now, mum and baby have been staying at Crossbasket House - beside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the children's hospital - while Vinnie recovers. But they still face an uncertain future. "They can't say how long the balloon will last," Katie said. "I've just got to watch him closely. "If he ever goes limp again or starts acting lethargic, I need to call an ambulance straight away." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Katie says the experience has left her traumatised. She admitted: "I'm still trying to process it all. I've had about 10 hours of sleep in a week." She is now desperately trying to raise money to buy a special Owlet Dream Sock, a baby monitor that tracks oxygen levels and heart rate overnight, which would provide Katie with real time updates and alerts. The socks, which cost between £200 and £300, are out of reach for Katie, who hasn't yet begun receiving child benefits for Vinnie. While she is staying in hospital accommodation which is free, Katie says she is struggling financially with having to cover the cost of clothes and Kendamil formula the hospital doesn't provide. Despite the setbacks, Katie praised staff at Crossbasket House, adding: "They've been incredible. I don't know what I'd have done without their support." Click here to donate.
Daily Record
11-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Brave Scots mum's plea after newborn son's heart stopped working just weeks after birth
"Vinnie went really limp, very lethargic... He hadn't cried since being discharged from hospital and was rarely eating. I knew something was wrong." A struggling mum whose newborn son was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition hopes to raise cash to buy a specialist baby monitor. Katie Hall gave birth to little Vinnie on June 11 at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy. But just hours after his arrival, Katie noticed Vinnie was having difficulty breathing. The 26-year-old from the Fife town told the Record: "After his birth, I noticed Vinnie was grunting for 17 hours straight. "At the time it didn't feel normal. I knew something was wrong. "I later found out that his body was trying to keep his lungs open to improve oxygen intake, because his heart wasn't pumping efficiently due to the valve narrowing." After raising her concerns, doctors at the neonatal unit carried out an echocardiogram - a type of ultrasound scan used to look at the heart -and told Katie her son had a narrow heart valve but assured her it would likely resolve on its own. The mum-of-three was told to monitor the situation and, after a week in hospital, was discharged with her baby boy. However, less than a month later Vinnie was rushed to hospital on July 4 after he went limp. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Katie said: "Vinnie was very lethargic and went limp. His skin turned a funny colour. "He hadn't really cried and since being discharged from hospital he was rarely eating." The terrified new mum called an ambulance and Vinnie was transported from Kirkcaldy to Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children. Medics found his heart valve had completely closed, and his tiny body was shutting down. He was diagnosed with Aortic Stenosis, a serious heart condition that restricts blood flow, and underwent emergency heart surgery to insert a balloon in the damaged valve in a bid to keep it open. Doctors told Katie the balloon may only last a matter of years, and for some children it can hold up to 15 years. For now, mum and baby have been staying at Crossbasket House - beside the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the children's hospital - while Vinnie recovers. But they still face an uncertain future. "They can't say how long the balloon will last," Katie said. "I've just got to watch him closely. "If he ever goes limp again or starts acting lethargic, I need to call an ambulance straight away." Katie says the experience has left her traumatised. She admitted: "I'm still trying to process it all. I've had about 10 hours of sleep in a week." She is now desperately trying to raise money to buy a special Owlet Dream Sock, a baby monitor that tracks oxygen levels and heart rate overnight, which would provide Katie with real time updates and alerts. The socks, which cost between £200 and £300, are out of reach for Katie, who hasn't yet begun receiving child benefits for Vinnie. While she is staying in hospital accommodation which is free, Katie says she is struggling financially with having to cover the cost of clothes and Kendamil formula the hospital doesn't provide. Despite the setbacks, Katie praised staff at Crossbasket House, adding: "They've been incredible. I don't know what I'd have done without their support."
Daily Mirror
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Clarkson Farm fans 'hooked within minutes' as they watch similar hit show
Jeremy Clarkson's Clarkson's Farm has come to an end and fans are now searching for something to fill the void. After eight gripping episodes, Clarkson's Farm season four has wrapped up, showcasing Jeremy Clarkson's tumultuous journey as he endeavoured to launch his pub, The Farmer's Dog. The popular Prime Video series is set to conclude after its fifth season, with Jeremy announcing the end of the show, citing the cast and crew's fatigue from the intense filming schedule. As fans await season five, they're on the lookout for similar entertainment to fill the gap, with Vinnie Jones in the Country emerging as a top pick. Available on Discovery Plus, the series follows the adventures of actor and ex-footballer Vinnie Jones as he tackles 2,000 acres of West Sussex countryside, embarking on overly ambitious farming projects. The show debuted in November 2023 and has already delighted viewers with two seasons, reports Gloucestershire Live. Fans have confessed to binge-watching the series, with Nik Anderson commenting: "Hi Vinnie, I was a bit unsure of what I was going to experience watching your life in the country series. I was expecting 'Oh crash bang wallop alright geezer?'". Anderson continued, expressing his unexpected captivation: "To my surprise and my sheer ignorance I was hooked in minutes! There was so many things I took from your series and try implement them into my life! "I too have had tragic experiences and trauma in my life as most of us have, but some of us more than others. You deal with things admirably." Jan Casper also shared her enthusiasm on Google Reviews: "Thoroughly enjoyed watching all the episodes, binge watched over Christmas. "Vinnie is a man who appreciates nature and conservation of his beautiful farm buildings and his surroundings. You can see his vision is genuine and from the heart. "It has been lovely to see that everyone who works with him has that passion too. Can't wait for season three." The series touches on some tough topics, especially after the loss of Vinnie's wife Tanya in 2019 due to a prolonged illness. Vinnie has opened up about how both he and his late wife were diagnosed with skin cancer. Prime Video has given the series a glowing four out of five stars, while it boasts an impressive IMDb rating of 7.9. In its first season, audiences watched as Vinnie and his kin constructed, connected, and quipped their way through life, all while eyeing the future prospects of their estate. Viewers witnessed them introducing new conservation approaches, reviving species, and creating habitats to entice novel wildlife.
