Tech & AI News Roundup — September 24, 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.

Meet the next wave of VCs judging Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Meet the next wave of VCs judging the Startup Battlefield 200 contenders on the main stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Register by September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT, to save up to $200 and to get a front-row seat to one of the most intense startup pitch competitions. — TechCrunch

Google’s Gemini Can Now Make Calls for You on Pixel Phones

Call for Me—a feature that’s exclusive to the Pixel 11 series—gives robocalls a new meaning. — Wired

Google tests letting Gemini call businesses for you

Google says the AI-calling feature will first be available to Pixel 11 owners in the U.S. who pay for a Gemini subscription. — TechCrunch

Reddit mod ordered to pay Nintendo $4.5 million in Switch piracy lawsuit

Nintendo won its $4.5 million lawsuit against James Williams, a Reddit moderator accused of distributing pirated Switch games, as reported earlier by Aftermath. In a default judgment issued on Wednesday, a Washington federal judge also ordered Williams to shut down the online stores allegedly housing libraries of pirated Switch games. Nintendo sued Williams, also known as "archbox" online, in 2024 — The Verge

Dar Ventures taps Plug and Play to expand startup programme across Africa

The partnership will give the programme, DarE, access to Plug and Play’s global network of startups, investors and corporate partners. — TechCabal

NASA chief concerned China may deny access to parts of South Pole

"If you come up short with who comes down the ladder first, the impact is felt around the world." — Ars Technica

You might not miss what Nikon removed from its cheaper full-frame Z5 IIC

Nikon waited five years to update its full-frame Z5 camera to the Z5 II, but today it announced a new variant of last year's upgrade that removes features instead of introducing improvements in order to make it more affordable for novice photographers. While the Nikon Z5 II starts at $1,849.95, the new Nikon Z5 IIC is $450 cheaper at $1,399.95 with a refreshed design and all of the original's best — The Verge

Africa’s $30 smartphone goal is becoming harder to achieve

Africa has built the networks. The bigger challenge now is getting affordable smartphones into people’s hands. As component prices rise, the push for a $30 smartphone is getting harder—and so is closing the continent’s mobile internet gap. — TechCabal