Tech & AI News Roundup — October 4, 2026, 7:04 PM UTC

Quick links to what's actually happening in AI, tech, and IT right now — curated from real reporting, not rewritten, so you can go read the full story wherever it's genuinely worth your time.

NJ’s former Lt Gov is using AI to say he’s innocent of sexual harassment

Well, if AI said it, it must be true. | Bloomberg via Getty Images New Jersey's lieutenant governor Dale Caldwell was forced to resign on September 25th after an investigation found he had sexually harassed a staffer and repeatedly violated ethics rules. The now-former Lt. governor has been making the media rounds trying to clear his name. But he took a particularly odd tactic during an interview — The Verge

TechCrunch Mobility: Reining in robotaxis

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your hub for the future of transportation and now, more than ever, the role AI is playing in it. — TechCrunch

Lions and cheetahs and chimps, oh my: a spotlight on Africa's diverse wildlife

Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners, Loki) narrates NatGeo's new documentary Africa: Earth's Wild Home — Ars Technica

The iPad Mini is slightly cheaper again during Prime Day

Apple’s iPad Mini is temporarily on sale for its old price. | Photo: David Pierce / The Verge Apple bumped up prices on several of its devices in June, and we haven’t seen a good discount on the iPad Mini since. Just ahead of Amazon’s October Prime Big Deals Days, however, both Wi-Fi only and cellular-connected models are $100 off. The Wi-Fi version with 128GB of storage is currently $499, the 256 — The Verge

Rural Data Centers Are in for a Big Federal Tax Break

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, data center projects in rural areas could be eligible for major tax benefits starting next year. Some hyperscalers do not seem eager to take the free cash. — Wired

Health Care Workers Are Tired of Cleaning Up Palantir’s Mess

A hospital giant and radiology network turned to Palantir to streamline scheduling, but nurses and other staff say the new software is causing errors, burnout, and frustration. — Wired

Apple Faces $5.7 Billion Verdict Over iPhone and Watch Haptics

Apple plans to appeal a $5.7 billion jury award over Taptic Engine patents used in iPhones and Apple Watches. Learn what the verdict means for buyers. The post Apple Faces $5.7 Billion Verdict Over iPhone and Watch Haptics appeared first on TechRepublic. — TechRepublic

Shopify debuts Canvas, a way to build online stores by chatting with AI

Shopify’s new Canvas site builder lets merchants create and customize their online stores by chatting with its AI agent Sidekick, while watching the changes happen in real time. — TechCrunch