Issue #91
Border surveillance failures, world model secrecy, and textbook video
Monday, September 21, 2026
Today's issue examines investigations into deaths at the US border's virtual wall despite billions spent on surveillance technology. We also cover transparency questions surrounding world model companies and a startup adapting textbook content into short-form video.
1 of 5 · MIT Technology Review
The US spent billions on border surveillance. Why can’t it catch people before they die?
Despite billions of dollars invested in border surveillance technology, migrants continue to die in remote areas without being detected in time to be rescued. The case of José Morales Bernal, who crossed near three surveillance towers in southern New Mexico in April 2024, illustrates gaps in how the system alerts and dispatches responders.
Read the full story →2 of 5 · MIT Technology Review
She died at the San Diego border. A surveillance camera was in plain sight
Graciela Gómez Hernández, 30, died after crossing the border from Tijuana into Southern California on Sept. 14, 2025, with a surveillance camera positioned nearby. The story is part of a series examining migrant deaths at the border.
Read the full story →3 of 5 · MIT Technology Review
The Download: investigating deaths at the US border’s “virtual wall”
The US has invested billions of dollars in border surveillance technology, often called a virtual wall, yet the system frequently fails to detect people in danger before they die. An investigation examines these deaths and questions the effectiveness of the technology.
Read the full story →4 of 5 · TechCrunch AI
World model companies are keeping a lot of secrets
Companies developing AI world models have attracted significant funding and attention, but founders and their data suppliers have declined to share details about their products. The secrecy extends across the sector, leaving the specifics of what these companies are building unclear.
Read the full story →5 of 5 · TechCrunch AI
ScrollEd wants to turn textbooks into TikTok
ScrollEd, a Palo Alto startup, converts textbook content into a scrollable feed featuring video, audio, and quizzes. The company, founded by student co-founders and spouses Utsav Gupta and Rebecca Neff, is pitching at TechCrunch Disrupt.
Read the full story →That is today's roundup. See you tomorrow morning.
Morning Roost Issue #91