Tech & AI News Roundup — September 20, 2026, 4:00 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.

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 or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry. Rather, we will cherish it, help it, and — The Verge

A small but growing number of founders are betting on bringing people together offline

Brynn Putnam and Tristan Walker have already done something that most founders only dream about: created companies so compelling that bigger outfits bought them. Putnam, a trained ballerina with a small chain of boutique studios, built the connected-fitness company Mirror and sold it to Lululemon for $500 million in cash less than three years later. […] — TechCrunch

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. — TechCrunch

The Next Wave: The expensive life of Twiga Foods

Twiga Foods demonstrated that venture capital subsidies can accelerate customer acquisition, but they cannot change unit economics. — TechCabal

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 the Institute for Security and Technology (IST), to — The Verge

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. — Wired

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. — Wired

Bose Sport Open vs Ultra Open 2: Is the $100 Upgrade Worth It?

Bose's new open-ear earbuds cost $199 and $299. The extra $100 buys longer single-charge battery life and more audio features, but not better durability. The post Bose Sport Open vs Ultra Open 2: Is the $100 Upgrade Worth It? appeared first on TechRepublic. — TechRepublic