Broker News Today — September 18, 2026

The rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence is driving significant activity in the tech sector, with major players Anthropic and OpenAI reportedly seeking smaller data center deals in a bid to rapidly deploy AI capacity. This movement underscores the intense competition and urgency among AI developers to scale their operations, which is also raising concerns about the potential risks associated with advanced AI technologies. Peter Thiel-backed Palantir's CEO, Peter Karp, has voiced a stark warning, suggesting that leading AI labs may need to be nationalized due to the high risks involved.

As the AI sector continues to heat up, other areas of the tech industry are also seeing notable developments. The semiconductor space, for instance, is experiencing a resurgence, with chip stocks like Micron and Intel leading strong comebacks. Meanwhile, in a more traditional consumer goods space, Pokémon's 30th anniversary is sparking a new wave of interest, with retailers like Target poised to capitalize on the nostalgia-driven craze. Against this backdrop, Washington is grappling with calls for urgent action on AI from Congress, though lawmakers are heading into recess, potentially delaying any immediate regulatory responses. Amid these varied trends, market participants will be closely watching a range of factors, including the performance of key stocks and potential policy shifts.

Today's signal:
• Anthropic and OpenAI hunt for smaller data center deals, sources tell CNBC, in race to deploy AI capacity (cnbc.com)
• Leading AI labs may need to be nationalized because risks are so high, Palantir's Karp tells CNBC (cnbc.com)
• Pokémon has turned 30, and Target is set to cash in on the anniversary craze (marketwatch.com)
• Amid calls for urgent AI action from Congress, House heads home to campaign (cnbc.com)
• Micron, Intel and other chip stocks are furthering their strong comebacks (marketwatch.com)
• Our top 10 things to watch in the stock market Thursday (cnbc.com)