Technology News Today — September 16, 2026

As we dive into the latest developments in the tech world, it's clear that innovation and experimentation are yielding a mix of successes and setbacks. On one hand, companies are aggressively pursuing growth strategies, as evidenced by the flurry of promo codes and referral deals from major brands like Rover and Shark, aimed at capturing consumer attention and loyalty in a highly competitive market. These promotions not only reflect the ongoing quest for market share but also underscore the importance of savvy marketing in the digital age.

Meanwhile, the AI landscape is presenting a more nuanced picture. The emergence of a so-called "AI graveyard" – a catalog of AI projects and startups that haven't achieved their intended objectives – serves as a reminder of the challenges inherent in developing and sustaining AI initiatives. However, in a positive vein, industry leaders such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google are engaging in meaningful discussions about AI safety, highlighting a collective recognition of the need for responsible AI development. This conversation is crucial, especially as scientific claims and misinformation begin to blur, as seen in the recent controversy surrounding viral "bodega peptides" that turned out to not be peptides at all. These stories collectively illustrate the dynamic, sometimes unpredictable nature of technological advancement.

Today's signal:
• Rover Promo Codes and Referral Deals for 2026 (wired.com)
• Shark Promo Codes for September 2026 (wired.com)
• The AI graveyard: a running list of projects and startups that didn’t make it (techcrunch.com)
• OpenAI, Anthropic, Google have been in talks on AI safety for weeks (techcrunch.com)
• Those Viral Bodega Peptides Aren’t Actually Peptides (wired.com)