Tech Trend Scanner — September 23, 2026

Findings

1. [1] 2026-09-23 Eight Sleep’s new Pod 6 comes in smaller and solo sizes, starting at $1,999

   Eight Sleep said the new pod is now 20% faster than the previous generation

2. [2] 2026-09-23 YouTube is building AI creator tools that do almost everything for them

   Part of the job of a content creator is to figure out how to get their work in front of the most people. Cracking – or fighting – the algorithm has historically been a frustration for creators, but YouTube is increasingly simply telling creators what they should do. At the annual creator-focused Made on YouTube event, the company announced updates…

3. [3] 2026-09-23 YouTube’s new ‘Short Series’ feature brings episodic viewing to Shorts

   As microdrama apps gain traction, YouTube is clearly betting that episodic short-form storytelling will stick around. And that the format belongs on Shorts. At its Made On YouTube event on Wednesday, the company announced “Shorts Series,” a new tool that lets creators organize their Shorts into TV-style seasons and episodes. The feature brings a more […]

4. [4] 2026-09-23 YouTube adds new creator tools like video A/B testing, dynamic thumbnails, and live dubbing

   Many of these tools hinge on using generative AI to try out a variety of different tactics on a video to find what works best.

5. [5] 2026-09-23 StrictlyVC at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Inside the changing rules of venture capital

   StrictlyVC joins TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 to discuss the changing VC landscape thanks to AI. Get your Investor Pass to join this exclusive session. Save $200 before September 25, 11:59 p.m. PT.

6. [6] 2026-09-23 YouTube will let you build your own algorithm with AI

   ouTube’s new custom feeds let users describe the videos they want to see in their own words, then use Gemini to build a personalized feed around the request.

7. [7] 2026-09-23 YouTube doubles down on video shopping with AI-powered ‘Ask YouTube’ feature

   YouTube's AI feature can now help you compare products as you shop.

8. [8] 2026-09-23 YouTube releases new AI features for creators within its Studio app

   YouTube is adding new features to generate ideas and monitor the performance of thumbnails.

9. [9] 2026-09-23 Discord will now automatically estimate your age

   Discord is rolling out a new global age assurance system, seven months after pausing its previous verification measures following backlash from users. Starting today in every country except Australia and the UK, Discord will automatically assign users to an estimated age group based on "multiple account signals," with account restrictions placed on users believed to be between 13 and 17.…

10. [10] 2026-09-23 Here’s the trailer for Nathan Fielder’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary, in theaters October 16

    In this cursed timeline, we have been gifted with something so unfathomable that we could never have imagined it.

11. [11] 2026-09-23 After multiple deaths and injuries, NHTSA is investigating comma.ai

    Aftermarket devices that can boost or augment a vehicle’s native advanced driver assistance systems are the target of a new federal investigation this week. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation says it knows of five crashes in which drivers using devices from comma.ai crashed into stopped or slow-moving cars. Two of the crashes resulted in three…

12. [12] 2026-09-23 3 days left to save up to $200 and make impactful connections at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

    3 days to save up to $200 on your TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 pass, plus 50% off a second. Make impactful connections with 10,000+ tech leaders. Last day to save is September 25, 11:59 p.m. PT. Register here.

13. [13] 2026-09-23 McDonald’s is testing ads on its drive-thru menus

    McDonald's is putting ads on its drive-thru menu as part of a "limited" pilot at company-owned restaurants, according to a report from Bloomberg. Drive-thru locations included in the test will show ads from other brands on digital menu boards after a customer places their order, which they'll see while they wait for their meal. In a statement to Bloomberg, a…

14. [14] 2026-09-23 Nobody does it like Remedy

    Video games have given us plenty of ways to traverse huge open worlds, but none have felt quite as oddly exhilarating as manipulating gravity in Control Resonant's twisted version of New York City. It's a game that lets you flip, twist, and fly through the air, while exploring settings that look ripped out of Inception. It's as if you mashed…

15. [15] 2026-09-23 America gave up its rare earth edge. China took full advantage.

    Look around you, and you’ll see rare earth elements at work. A phone vibrates because a magnet moves a weight. Its screen was polished with cerium powder. Its connection to the rest of the world crosses oceans on cables amplified with erbium. If you drove today, a rare earth magnet helped you steer, and a cerium compound scrubbed the exhaust.…

16. [16] 2026-09-23 LinkedIn adds new tools to fight fake profiles and bogus work histories

    LinkedIn is rolling out new verification tools that let members vouch for colleagues’ work experience and give companies more control over accounts that falsely claim to employ them.

17. [17] 2026-09-23 PitPro’s first tire-changing robot goes live in Canada

    The startup says its automated system can change four tires in under 15 minutes.

18. [18] 2026-09-23 Spotify is giving you the keys to its recommendation algorithm with US launch of ‘Taste Profile’

    Spotify is rolling out Taste Profile to Premium users in the U.S., letting listeners see how the streamer understands their tastes and use natural language to reshape their recommendations.

19. [19] 2026-09-23 Comma’s hands-off driving tech under investigation after 2 fatal crashes

    The investigation involves at least some crashes where it appears drivers were using "forked" versions of Comma's software.

20. [20] 2026-09-23 Xiaomi’s new 18 Pro phones improve on Samsung’s privacy display

    Both 18 Pro phones feature rear displays, just like last year’s 17 Pro models. | Image: Xiaomi Xiaomi's new 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max launched in China today, and feature a more flexible take on the privacy display tech introduced this year on Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra. They combine it with returning rear screens, two 200-megapixel cameras, and both…

21. [21] 2026-09-23 Ema raises $77M as AI starts eating into enterprise software and services

    Ema has raised $140 million to date and has more than 50 enterprise customers, including Google and Microsoft.

22. [22] 2026-09-23 Small undersea volcanoes may unleash outsized tsunamis

    Krakatau, a volcanic island in Indonesia, killed more than 30,000 people when it erupted in 1883. One might assume that volcanic debris posed the major threat, yet many of the victims died from a tsunami caused by the volcanic eruption instead. Volcanoes at sea can pose hazards quite different from those on land, as their impact can vary depending on…

23. [23] 2026-09-23 OpenAI nabs key Patreon execs ahead of upcoming announcement

    Patreon cofounder Sam Yam is joining OpenAI to lead Creator Product. | Image: The Verge OpenAI has hired three former Patreon execs to anchor its product strategy for creators. After starting the creator subscription platform 13 years ago, cofounder and technology chief Sam Yam announced on X that he's joining OpenAI to lead Creator Product. He's also bringing Patreon's former…

24. [24] 2026-09-23 A new report from Europe raises serious alarms about orbital collisions

    The 2013 sci-fi blockbuster film Gravity, starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, popularized the notion of the Kessler syndrome. In the movie, Russia shoots down a defunct satellite and creates a cloud of debris, leading to serious tension in orbit. The movie is fantastic, a true thriller, and while some liberties were taken with the depiction of outer space, the…

25. [25] 2026-09-23 Eight Sleep’s new cooling hub is small enough to hide under your bed

    Eight Sleep announced the next version of its "intelligent sleep system" designed to regulate the temperature of your bed in response to tracked health and sleep metrics like breathing and heart rate. The company calls its new Pod 6 system its "most significant hardware launch to date," and it's centered around a redesigned cooling hub that's now small enough to…

26. [26] 2026-09-23 ‘We’re already fighting yesterday’s battle’: Greece’s prime minister gets candid about AI

    Most leaders on a trade mission stick to the pitch, but when I interviewed Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis this week, he also admitted that no government is ready for what AI is about to do.

27. [27] 2026-09-23 Discord’s age-verification era is upon us, despite community backlash

    According to Discord, 90% of users will not have to verify their age.

28. [28] 2026-09-23 OpenAI wants to consult elite mathematicians about how to not fumble again

    After turning a string of spectacular mathematical results into a reputational crisis, OpenAI is consulting human mathematicians to help it figure out a less disastrous path forward. On Monday, the company announced a new independent panel of mathematicians tasked with advising it and other AI companies on their interactions with mathematical research and the wider mathematics community, including how new…

29. [29] 2026-09-22 TechCrunch Founder Summit’s agenda revealed: Unlock fundraising, hiring, and AI insights in Boston on November 4

    Founders shouldn't have to learn the hardest lessons the hardest way. TechCrunch Founder Summit is designed to make the challenges of starting a company easier and the highs that much greater.

30. [30] 2026-09-22 Paramount will need to release way more movies to make this merger work

    Now that Paramount has reached a settlement with the 12 states that were suing to block its $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), the studio is even closer to becoming one of the world's biggest production houses. In addition to spending at least $300 million more on film and TV projects produced in the US, Paramount says that…

31. [31] 2026-09-22 Snorkel AI triples valuation to $3.5B as demand for AI training data booms

    The seven-year-old startup has raised a $350 million Series E to fuel its data-as-a-service approach.

32. [32] 2026-09-22 Woman's brain worm infection confirmed after eggs grow tails in lab test

    Out of nowhere, a woman's right arm and leg started shaking uncontrollably. In the moments leading up to the experience, she seemed well; she had no headache, confusion, or weakness. But for about a minute, half of her body juddered. The woman, a rice farmer in the Philippines, headed to the emergency department. There, doctors gave her a physical exam…

33. [33] 2026-09-22 New Anthropic, OpenAI models make same promise: A little more for a lot less money

    OpenAI and Anthropic both recently released new models aimed at lowering costs. Anthropic announced Opus 5.5, the latest version of its main mass-market workhorse model, used for tasks like coding and other complex knowledge work. And OpenAI announced GPT-6 Sol and Luna, the latest versions of its middle-of-the-road or smaller models focused on efficiency and speed.Read full article Comments

34. [34] 2026-09-22 Rabbit’s new AI agent doesn’t need an R1 to run

    Rabbit, the company behind the underwhelming R1 device, is rolling out a standalone AI agent that you don't need its hardware to use, as reported earlier by Wired. The startup says its new OS3 "agentic operating system" runs in the cloud but operates locally across Windows, Mac, and Linux devices. According to Rabbit, you can add up to five devices…

35. [35] 2026-09-22 Cities across US oppose Trump FCC plan to preempt local broadband rules

    Cities and counties around the US are angry at the Trump administration over a proposal to override local rules that govern the deployment of wired broadband networks. The Federal Communications Commission has been taking public comments on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes to preempt state and local permitting rules. The FCC argues that too many local governments "excessively…

36. [36] 2026-09-22 Qualcomm launches two new smartphone chips with emphasis on AI

    Qualcomm said that its new top chip can run 30B mixture-of-expert model locally.

37. [37] 2026-09-22 Microsoft disrupts AI-assisted platform that compromised 12,000 accounts

    Microsoft said Tuesday that it led an industry-wide disruption of a subscription-based scam platform that used an AI chatbot to compromise 12,000 Microsoft accounts over a few-month span. Named EvilTokens, the platform was introduced over a Telegram channel in February and charged an initial $1,500 fee and a recurring $500 charge each month after that. EvilTokens provided a single service…

38. [38] 2026-09-22 Lawsuit demands OpenAI pay for new school after ChatGPT used in shooting

    The families of victims killed in one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canada’s history have already sued OpenAI over its failure to warn law enforcement after discovering in advance that the shooter was using ChatGPT to plan the violence. Now, British Columbia is suing, explaining for the first time how costly and extreme the disaster response has been. OpenAI…

39. [39] 2026-09-22 Apple could take on Whoop with a new fitness tracker, report says

    Apple may be developing a new fitness tracker as part of its new generation of hardware devices.

40. [40] 2026-09-22 Adobe Premiere finally brings powerful video editing to Android, and it's free

    Video editing has never been Android's strong suit. While Apple has long offered iMovie for iPhone and iPad, Google has never had a comparable offering. Adobe is now stepping up to fill this feature gap with a proper version of Premiere. The app is now available in the Play Store for almost all Android devices, and it's free (mostly). Android's…

41. [41] 2026-09-22 Review: Resident Evil might just be the best gaming adaptation yet

    I was on the fence about going to see the latest Resident Evil reboot to review, given how uninspired the prior reboot attempt in 2021 turned out to be. But director Zach Cregger gave us last year's phenomenal Weapons, and early word of mouth was extremely positive, so I took a chance. I'm glad I did, because the film is…

42. [42] 2026-09-22 IT mistake erases 11 years of viewing history for hospitals’ maternity records

    A “human error” in the IT department led to Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) losing data from maternity records over an 11-year span. The data loss occurred on August 18, the English hospitals announced in a blog post on Monday spotted by The Register. The blog said the problem is “the result of human error” during routine technical work…

43. [43] 2026-09-22 Effort begins to fill the void left by terminated US climate report

    Last year, the Trump administration did what it could to shut down work on the next US National Climate Assessment, eliminating funding for the US Global Change Research Program and booting hundreds of contributing authors. The administration even took past reports offline, forcing others to host copies so the information would still be accessible. And this all comes despite the…

44. [44] 2026-09-22 Shuffling the deck chairs: Xbox continues its "reset" with dramatic restructuring

    When Xbox announced sweeping layoffs in July as part of a brutal "reset" for the gaming brand, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said part of the pre-existing problem in the gaming unit was "teams, studios, and functions [that] often operate independently, [making it] harder to work toward a shared goal." Today, the company announced a radical restructuring of its internal studios…

Sources

1. [1] Eight Sleep’s new Pod 6 comes in smaller and solo sizes, starting at $1,999
2. [2] YouTube is building AI creator tools that do almost everything for them
3. [3] YouTube’s new ‘Short Series’ feature brings episodic viewing to Shorts
4. [4] YouTube adds new creator tools like video A/B testing, dynamic thumbnails, and live dubbing
5. [5] StrictlyVC at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Inside the changing rules of venture capital
6. [6] YouTube will let you build your own algorithm with AI
7. [7] YouTube doubles down on video shopping with AI-powered ‘Ask YouTube’ feature
8. [8] YouTube releases new AI features for creators within its Studio app
9. [9] Discord will now automatically estimate your age
10. [10] Here’s the trailer for Nathan Fielder’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary, in theaters October 16
11. [11] After multiple deaths and injuries, NHTSA is investigating comma.ai
12. [12] 3 days left to save up to $200 and make impactful connections at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
13. [13] McDonald’s is testing ads on its drive-thru menus
14. [14] Nobody does it like Remedy
15. [15] America gave up its rare earth edge. China took full advantage.
16. [16] LinkedIn adds new tools to fight fake profiles and bogus work histories
17. [17] PitPro’s first tire-changing robot goes live in Canada
18. [18] Spotify is giving you the keys to its recommendation algorithm with US launch of ‘Taste Profile’
19. [19] Comma’s hands-off driving tech under investigation after 2 fatal crashes
20. [20] Xiaomi’s new 18 Pro phones improve on Samsung’s privacy display
21. [21] Ema raises $77M as AI starts eating into enterprise software and services
22. [22] Small undersea volcanoes may unleash outsized tsunamis
23. [23] OpenAI nabs key Patreon execs ahead of upcoming announcement
24. [24] A new report from Europe raises serious alarms about orbital collisions
25. [25] Eight Sleep’s new cooling hub is small enough to hide under your bed
26. [26] ‘We’re already fighting yesterday’s battle’: Greece’s prime minister gets candid about AI
27. [27] Discord’s age-verification era is upon us, despite community backlash
28. [28] OpenAI wants to consult elite mathematicians about how to not fumble again
29. [29] TechCrunch Founder Summit’s agenda revealed: Unlock fundraising, hiring, and AI insights in Boston on November 4
30. [30] Paramount will need to release way more movies to make this merger work
31. [31] Snorkel AI triples valuation to $3.5B as demand for AI training data booms
32. [32] Woman's brain worm infection confirmed after eggs grow tails in lab test
33. [33] New Anthropic, OpenAI models make same promise: A little more for a lot less money
34. [34] Rabbit’s new AI agent doesn’t need an R1 to run
35. [35] Cities across US oppose Trump FCC plan to preempt local broadband rules
36. [36] Qualcomm launches two new smartphone chips with emphasis on AI
37. [37] Microsoft disrupts AI-assisted platform that compromised 12,000 accounts
38. [38] Lawsuit demands OpenAI pay for new school after ChatGPT used in shooting
39. [39] Apple could take on Whoop with a new fitness tracker, report says
40. [40] Adobe Premiere finally brings powerful video editing to Android, and it's free
41. [41] Review: Resident Evil might just be the best gaming adaptation yet
42. [42] IT mistake erases 11 years of viewing history for hospitals’ maternity records
43. [43] Effort begins to fill the void left by terminated US climate report
44. [44] Shuffling the deck chairs: Xbox continues its "reset" with dramatic restructuring