Tech & AI News Roundup — September 16, 2026, 4:04 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.

Hear why Neuralink co-founder Max Hodak says the screen era is ending at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

At this year's Disrupt, Neuralink's co-founder Max Hodak will present a vision for screen-free interfaces that can even offer medical help. Register before September 25 to save up to $200 on your pass. — TechCrunch

May Mobility is going public in a $1.4B SPAC deal

The deal could net the asset-light robotaxi company more than $300 million in funding. — TechCrunch

Meet a mouse whose brain cortex is made up of human cells

Multiple cameras tracked a mouse as it wandered around a small arena. A computer charted its position and speed, leaving Pong-like traces on a monitor. The reason to watch this rodent so carefully? Nearly half its brain volume had been replaced with human cells. The effort to mix the brain tissues of distant species is… — MIT Technology Review

The push to connect Africa’s startups is getting $63 million and an AI platform

22 On Sloane wants to solve the challenge of fragmented capital, markets and support for African businesses. — TechCabal

Xiaomi 18 Fold: What to know about Xiaomi’s new foldable

Xiaomi unveiled the 18 Fold on September 7, 2026. Sales in China began on September 10, with the entry model starting at CNY 10,999. — TechCabal

The sexy AI-powered dating app scams are here

Security researcher Matthew "Zigula" Gore-Kormanik was analyzing a fraudulent dating app called Dora when he got a pop-up message saying he was receiving a call from Jennifer. According to her bio, she's a 41-year-old Sagittarius with red hair, blue eyes, and piercings. She likes music, horror movies, nightlife, and sports. Gore-Kormanik answered the call, but didn't see Jennifer in his video feed — The Verge

Xreal’s well-rounded 1S glasses are back down to their lowest price

USB-C-connected video glasses are a lot of fun if you want to see your games, movies (or just your computer screen) on a large, immersive virtual screen. One of the most well-rounded pairs out there, Xreal’s 1S, has returned to their lowest price yet, costing $399 at Amazon and via Xreal itself ($50 off). The small, yet welcome discount brings them a little closer in price to the company’s $299 xb — The Verge

Microsoft says AI rival Anthropic could have 'disastrous impact' on humanity

Mustafa Suleyman says he believes the AI giant is in effect teaching Claude it "may be conscious". — BBC Technology