France Rules Out Across-the-Board Fuel Tax Cuts as Prices Spiral
France isn’t planning cuts to fuel taxes even as diesel and gasoline prices hit record highs, fanning discontent among large swathes of the population.
#Daily archive
Tech News for Sunday, September 20, 2026
51 stories from 19 outlets. Times show when each story first broke, in UTC.
Top stories
Vocci ring lets users take meeting notes discreetly via voice and gesture control
Vocci's $249 ring captures meeting notes using voice and gesture input, offering a new form factor for note-taking but raising privacy questions.
#A24’s reputation is on the line with the SCP Foundation movie
After the success of Backrooms, it looks like A24 is trying to cash in on yet another internet horror craze with a new installment in the V/H/S horror anthology series set in the SCP Foundation universe. But as soon as it was announced, the backlash started, and V/H/S: SCP already appears to be on shaky […]
#TechCrunch Mobility: How do we know when an AV is safe enough?
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your hub for the future of transportation and now, more than ever, the role AI is playing in it. To get this in your inbox, sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility!
#How to avoid scams and sketchy products on Amazon
Tips for staying safe while shopping on Amazon, including dealing with ads, unknown sellers, misleading sales, and specious information, especially during Prime Big Deal Days.
#The day's tech news, in one email
Same clustering you are reading now. Daily or weekly, unsubscribe in one click.
AI 3
How to manage ChatGPT's memory to control what it knows about you
Understanding how ChatGPT's memory upgrade works helps users get more out of it; users can see and delete saved memories to influence answers.
#Australian PM Anthony Albanese urges global cooperation to mitigate AI risks, calls for US-China collaboration
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said middle powers have an important role to play in mitigating the risks posed by artificial intelligence and called for cooperation between the US and China.
#Pentagon investigators say overreliance on Palantir AI contributed to strike that killed 123 Iranian children
An unreleased Pentagon probe investigated the kill chain that hit a school in Minab, finding that overreliance on Palantir AI tech contributed to the U.S. strike that killed 123 Iranian children.
Also covered by Slashdot, Hacker News
#Business 3
China steps up enforcement against malicious price competition, including cost investigations
China's State Administration for Market Regulation announced plans to ramp up scrutiny of malicious price competition, including cost investigations and price inspections of companies engaging in such practices. The announcement came at a State Council Information Office briefing on Sunday.
#China's electricity consumption tops 1 trillion kWh in August, setting new load record
China's electricity consumption exceeded 1 trillion kilowatt-hours in August, with power demand hitting a new high, according to the National Energy Administration. The record-high load reflects robust economic activity amid ongoing industrial expansion.
#Acer CEO downplays RAM crisis, says memory shortage is 'impossible' to last until 2030 and PC prices will fall
Acer's CEO pushes back against warnings of a prolonged RAM shortage, calling it 'impossible' for the crisis to last until 2030. He predicts PC prices will decline by late 2027 as memory supply stabilizes.
Also covered by TechRadar, Wccftech
#Startups 1
A small but growing number of founders are betting on bringing people together offline
Founders like Brynn Putnam and Tristan Walker, who previously built successful digital companies, are now investing in offline community-building ventures, signaling a shift toward physical connection.
#Science 1
Tiny hairs that help corals breathe may malfunction in warming oceans
Several new studies uncover a long overlooked aspect of coral physiology that could be key to their fate in a changing climate.
#Security 1
FCC bans sale of consumer Wi-Fi routers manufactured outside the US
The FCC has banned the sale of new consumer-grade Wi-Fi routers and mobile hotspots made outside the United States. The rule aims to address national security concerns about foreign-made networking equipment.
#Gadgets 1
Smart glasses sales in China more than double in first eight months of 2026
China's Ministry of Commerce reported that smart glasses sales on key platforms more than doubled in the first eight months of 2026. Electrocardiogram monitors saw a 75% sales increase, while action camera sales rose about 27%.
#Everything else 36
Apple’s Home AI Hub Details; Apple Fitness+ Layoffs and iPhone Duo Apple Pencil
Also: What happened with the iPhone Duo Pencil and layoffs at Fitness+.
#Microsoft AI Chief Says China Isn’t Excuse to Forego Regulation
Microsoft Corp. artificial intelligence chief Mustafa Suleyman said concerns about China’s progress on AI shouldn’t be used as an argument against putting guardrails around the rapidly advancing technology.
#New California law will penalize influencers who don’t disclose political ads
The new legislation adds teeth to disclosure requirements for online influencers who are paid to post about politics.
#No Dogs in Space is back to feed your need for obsessive music history
In August, I wrote about my love of the music history podcast No Dogs in Space, but mourned the fact that there hadn't been a new episode in over two years. Little did I know that hosts Carolina Hidalgo and Marcus Parks were gearing up to announce the show's return with season four, Punk 2.o. […]
#An undercover Google analyst infiltrated a notorious supply-chain hacking gang
Google’s threat intelligence group said it had a mole inside TeamPCP's inner circle.
#Thermacell LIV 2.0 Review: Taking My Yard Back
Thermacell LIV 2.0 is expensive and imperfect, but it outperforms nearly every mosquito-control method I’ve tried.
#ScrollEd wants to turn textbooks into TikTok
ScrollEd turns textbooks into a scrollable, Instagram-like feed with video, audio, and quizzes. The Palo Alto startup, founded by student co-founders (and spouses) Utsav Gupta and Rebecca Neff, pitches at TechCrunch Disrupt.
#Howard Marks Flags Uncertainty in AI Investing
Oaktree Capital Management co-founder & co-chair Howard Marks says optimism has dominated markets since late 2022, pushing investors to look past bad news and making caution increasingly important. Marks is on Bloomberg This Weekend and tells David Gura and Christina Ruffini that enthusiasm around AI is undeniable but uncertainty over its profitability, valuations and potential impact on jobs makes it impossible to determine whether that exuberance is irrational. At the 2026 Qatar Economic Forum, UNGA Special Edition; Powered by Bloomberg. (Source: Bloomberg)
#It’s Donald Trump Versus MAGA on Data Centers
The president has doubled down on data centers and AI. His base is running in the opposite direction.
#Meta's Muse Is Better at Surveilling Than Helping Me
The Muse app continues Meta’s trend of opting users into data collection for AI training. It also nudges you to share your bank account, email, and passport information.
#Don't call it an SUV: The Ferrari Purosangue review
Unlike previous Ferrari four-seaters, this one is better for humans than cargo.
#Academics aim to prevent sex in robotaxis, citing 'Bang Bus' concerns
Researchers are studying how to prevent sexual activity in autonomous robotaxis. The effort is driven by concerns that the private, mobile spaces could be misused, with one academic explicitly referencing the 'Bang Bus' phenomenon.
#Meloni Eyes More Stringent School Laws to Counter Far-Right Rise
Italy’s center-right coalition government moved to counter the surge of the ultranationalist National Future party, with Premier Giorgia Meloni proposing new education laws that would place more restrictions on foreigners.
#Trump now says he wants to form an ‘AI Force’
The president posted on Truth Social that he wanted to appoint an "AI czar" to lead a new "AI force." He made the announcement amid growing calls from across the political spectrum and even within the industry to pump the brakes on AI development. He posted that his administration "will not in any way hinder […]
#Citi CEO Sees ‘Tsunami’ of Patching to Secure AI Defense
Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser said that companies are racing to build up their defenses on artificial-intelligence models. Speaking on the AI revolution, Fraser said when Mythos came out, “that was not a good day.” She spoke at the 2026 Qatar Economic Forum, UNGA Special Edition; Powered by Bloomberg. (Source: Bloomberg)
#Kojima Productions disputes reports the studio is in trouble
After it was announced that Sony was dropping Hideo Kojima's Physint, and that instead the Metal Gear Solid creator's latest title would be coming to Xbox, there were a flurry of rumors about the falling out. Bloomberg reported that the decision was driven by a number of factors, including missed deadlines, budget and profitability concerns, […]
#Ingenia Rejects New $1.5 Billion Warburg Pincus Takeover Bid
Ingenia Communities Group has rejected a sweetened takeover offer by private equity giant Warburg Pincus and its affiliates, saying the bid undervalues the Australian developer.
#All roads lead to cable
This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on streaming platforms, FAST channels, and the future of entertainment, follow Charles Pulliam-Moore. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started Before Netflix fully committed to […]
#Humans, not rogue AI, are still the biggest cybersecurity risk to energy systems
Before recent high-profile hacks raised the specter of AI possibly "killing all humans," our energy systems were already disturbingly vulnerable to cyberattack - and the risk is growing. "We were always prey. We were just kind of surviving at the appetite of our predators," Joshua Corman, executive in residence for public safety and resilience at […]
#A great new video game movie
Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 144, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you're new here, welcome, new tech season is here, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I flew out to Los Angeles to try on and write about […]
#Elon Musk’s latest Boring Company pitch involves a Hyperloop between Austin and San Antonio
Many of The Boring Company's announced project have not materialized.
#Welcome to Dogs Anonymous, the Online Support Group for People With Difficult Dogs
“This is a place where you can come and say, I fucking hate my dog today,” a Dogs Anonymous cofounder tells WIRED. “And there are people who are going to be like, yeah, that was me last Tuesday.”
#Musk’s Boring Co. Working on Tunnel to Link Austin, San Antonio
Elon Musk said his Boring Co. venture is working on a tunnel project in Texas that would connect the cities of Austin and San Antonio.
#Apple Home Hub will be the intelligent center of your home
Apple's upcoming Home Hub device is positioned as the AI center of the household, part of a new 'intelligent personal hub' strategy. The device is expected to integrate with Apple's ecosystem and serve as a smart home controller.
Also covered by AppleInsider
#France Rules Out Across-the-Board Fuel Tax Cuts as Prices Spiral
France isn’t planning cuts to fuel taxes even as diesel and gasoline prices hit record highs, fanning discontent among large swathes of the population.
#A great new video game movie
Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 144, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you're new here, welcome, new tech season is here, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I flew out to Los Angeles to try on and write about […]
#Humans, not rogue AI, are still the biggest cybersecurity risk to energy systems
Before recent high-profile hacks raised the specter of AI possibly "killing all humans," our energy systems were already disturbingly vulnerable to cyberattack - and the risk is growing. "We were always prey. We were just kind of surviving at the appetite of our predators," Joshua Corman, executive in residence for public safety and resilience at […]
#All roads lead to cable
This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on streaming platforms, FAST channels, and the future of entertainment, follow Charles Pulliam-Moore. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started Before Netflix fully committed to […]
#Elon Musk’s latest Boring Company pitch involves a Hyperloop between Austin and San Antonio
Many of The Boring Company's announced project have not materialized.
#Musk’s Boring Co. Working on Tunnel to Link Austin, San Antonio
Elon Musk said his Boring Co. venture is working on a tunnel project in Texas that would connect the cities of Austin and San Antonio.
#iFixit tears down iPhone 18 Pro, explores variable aperture, finds concerning repair issue
<div class="feat-image"><img src="https://9to5mac.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/09/ifixit-18-pro-teardown.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1600" /></div><p class="wp-block-paragraph">iFixit has published its traditional teardown of the iPhone 18 Pro, which shows the variable aperture mechanism up close and explores a potential issue involving display repairs. Watch it below.</p> <a class="more-link" href="https://9to5mac.com/2026/09/20/ifixit-tears-down-iphone-18-pro-explores-variable-aperture-finds-concerning-repair-issue/#more-1070612">more…</a>
Also covered by The Register, 9to5Mac, Mashable Tech, TechSpot
#Disney+ updates subscriber agreement to allow ads on all subscription tiers
Disney+ changes its subscriber agreement to permit advertisements on all plans, moving away from ad-free tiers. The update clarifies that ads may appear regardless of subscription level.
Also covered by IGN, Hacker News
#Apple’s new chief executive built up to unveiling the ideal AI device, then said it was the iPhone.
<img height="488" src="https://media.thenextweb.com/2026/04/john-ternus-apple-ceo-profile-hardware-ai.avif" width="868" /><br /><p>John Ternus opened his first keynote as Apple chief executive by describing the ideal AI device, then said it already exists and is the iPhone. Mark Gurman reports that people inside Apple expected him to introduce the home hub instead, and that the hub, codenamed J490, is being tested in employees’ homes and could ship […]</p> <br /><br /><a href="https://thenextweb.com/news/ternus-ideal-ai-device-is-the-iphone-j490-hub?utm_source=social&utm_medium=feed&utm_campai
Also covered by The Next Web
#6 days left to get ahead at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
Current ticket pricing ends in 6 days on Sept. 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Join 10,000+ founders, investors and tech leaders at Disrupt and save up to $200 on your ticket until then.
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