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The AI Round-up: That was quick.

Written by Ben Brugler | Sep 16, 2026, 8:45:05 PM

AI news covering...the week of September 7

The AI Round-up: Year 4, Issue 28

Well, I told you we were at crossroad.

Apparently, we can choose to pause AI…or risk extinction.

I mean, WTF people. What are we supposed to do with this information? And despite it being what I would consider mainstream news, a lot of people still have no clue this is a story…a threat…a possibility.

So, what do I think? I think…this threat always existed, just like so many other things are a threat to us. Add ‘AI’ to the list.

Thing is, those other things? They have some regulations around them. A widely-accepted understanding that yes, they’re bad for us.

AI? It has…school bans and petitions.

So this? Yea, this is different. The one thing I do know? We need to continue to stay informed – for our sakes, professionally and personally.

That being said…Let’s get to it.

Seems like a good year to attend MAICON, no?

How can I save on MAICON registration?

Click the link, enter promo code BENTHINKING200 for a $200 savings.

Will AI kill us all? (Christopher Penn)

He really knows how to write a lead, eh? I love everything Christopher Penn writes – and you can hear him at MAICON this year again!

Ethan Mollick reminds us.

OpenAI introduces GPT-6 Astra.

“Who are you?”

“I’m the human in the loop.”

“Oh cool. I’m going to need you step over here, out of the way.”

Here’s what OpenAI has to say about it.

Smarter X’s AI for marketers course is now free.

Only for the month of September tho.

AI agents have questions for us. (NYT)

Pretty sure we don’t have the answer. But check your email anyway.

President Trump likes Anthropic again. (Axios)

Claude approves.

One of my favorite SNL skits of all-time is The Herlihy House Sitting Service commercial. The gist is Adam Sandler asks to do things for you while Chris Farley repeats them, yelling at you for not letting him do these things.

This headline from Anthropic reminded me of that skit:

Let Claude use your computer in Cowork.

Some Nopes.

  1. Anthropic says it blocked AI from building possible biological weapons. (NYT)
  2. Should you plan on a future in PR? (Christopher Penn)

Thanks for reading and supporting!

-Ben

As a reminder, this is a round-up of the biggest stories, often hitting multiple newsletters I receive/review. The sources are many … which I’m happy to read on your behalf. Let me know if there’s one you’d like me to track or have questions about a topic you’re not seeing here.

 

 

Thanks for reading and supporting!

-Ben

As a reminder, this is a round-up of the biggest stories, often hitting multiple newsletters I receive/review. The sources are many … which I’m happy to read on your behalf. Let me know if there’s one you’d like me to track or have questions about a topic you’re not seeing here.