Spotify is co-creating opt-in “artist-first” AI products along with some of the biggest studios, and DoorDash is using Waymo’s robotaxis to autonomously deliver food in Phoenix.
Starring Jason Howell, Tom Merritt, and Sean Hollister.
JASON: This is the Daily Tech News for Thursday, October 16th, 2025. We tell you what you need to know, follow up on the context of those stories and help each other understand.
TOM: Today Sean Hollister tells us why the ROG Xbox Ally might not be good for anybody and Microsoft wants to let you talk to every computer.
I’m Jason Howell,
I’m Tom Merritt.
JASON: Let’s start with what you need to know with the big story.
BIG STORY
Microsoft wants you to talk to your PC and let AI control it
Microsoft wants you to talk to your PC and let AI control it
JASON: Microsoft announced its plan to place AI at the heart of the Windows 11 operating system. Microsoft’s vision begins with new features rolling out now that allow users to interact with the OS using voice input via the new “Hey, Copilot” wake word. Copilot Voice, along with Copilot Vision which is also rolling out now, will work alongside each other, giving Windows the ability to understand voice commands and act while also having the ability to scan the screen and help with apps, docs, and whatever else appears there. This also elevates voice as another key input method in the OS, along with mouse and keyboard. Microsoft stresses that this is opt-in and that user permission is critical.
Beyond these new features, Microsoft is planning to release Copilot Actions, a sandboxed environment that will use agentic AI to carry out tasks that have been requested by the user. That’s currently testing inside the preview program and limited in scope to a narrow set of use cases.
Copilot is also making its way to the taskbar, for one-click access to these tools.
Tip of the hat to RWNash for submitting this one on our subreddit.
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JASON: There’s more we need to know today, let’s get to the briefs.
BRIEFS
Spotify partners with record labels to create ‘artist-first’ AI music products
Spotify partners with record labels to create ‘artist-first’ AI music products
Spotify spotted working on a ‘SongDNA’ feature that showcases the people behind your favorite music
Spotify spotted working on a ‘SongDNA’ feature that showcases the people behind your favorite music
TOM: Spotify has partnered with Sony, Universal, Warner, and Merlin to create “artist-first” AI music products that aim to prioritize musician rights and fair compensation. Artists will have the ability to choose whether they allow the AI tools or not, opting in to generative AI features and protecting copyright in the process. Techcrunch speculates it might let them use a ContentID-like system to collect royalties if their music appears in a generated song from someone else. Spotify said, “If the music industry doesn’t lead in this moment, AI-powered innovation will happen elsewhere, without rights, consent, or compensation.” Spotify is also developing a dedicated research lab and product team to drive this and other efforts within the company.
Also, Jane Manchun Wong found code in the Spotify app referring to a SongDNA feature. The feature would let users explore music credits and see where producers, writers and others were featured in other tracks. TIDAL has a similar feature called Interactive Credits.
Pinterest adds controls to let you limit the amount of ‘AI slop’ in your feed
Pinterest adds controls to let you limit the amount of ‘AI slop’ in your feed
JASON: Pinterest is tackling generated content overload with new user controls that allow limiting slop in feeds. Generated imagery can be restricted in certain categories through the “Refine your recommendation” settings, addressing calls from users to give them tools to limit the appearance of such content. The company will bring the controls to more categories in the future, based on user feedback. Pinterest also plans to make existing generated content more obvious through more prominent labeling after first rolling out “AI modified” labels earlier this year.
Uber is turning its app into an AI training ground
Uber is turning its app into an AI training ground
TOM: Uber is offering its drivers the option to make money labeling data while they’re waiting to accept a ride. A category called “digital tasks” in the driver app has been tested in India and will show up later this year in the US. It will include tasks like uploading photos of restaurant menus, or photos of cars, and recording themselves speaking. It pays based on the amount of time it takes. The data will be used by Uber AI Solutions, which offers development services to enterprises. That division also employs people for more complex tasks like annotation, translation, and editing multilingual and multimodal content.
DoorDash will use Waymo’s robotaxis for delivery in Phoenix
DoorDash will use Waymo’s robotaxis for delivery in Phoenix
JASON: DoorDash is launching autonomous food delivery in Phoenix using Waymo’s driverless fleet of Jaguar SUVs. Users can order their items to be delivered by the Waymo and given access to the locked trunk through the app curbside. Doordash will focus at launch on delivering DoorDash’s DashMart convenience, grocery, and retail store in Phoenix with broader support for more businesses over time.
Google’s Veo 3.1 is better at generating videos from images
Google’s Veo 3.1 is better at generating videos from images
TOM: Google’s Veo 3.1 model update is here, offering improved “prompt adherence”, simultaneous audio and video generation, and a new “Frame to Video” feature inside the Flow editor for defining the start and end frames for better user control.
Google Announces New Scam Protection Tools
Google Announces New Scam Protection Tools
JASON: Google launched Android scam protection tools, including malicious link detection in Messages, improved account recovery via trusted contacts, and a web game for scam education.
Meta poaches Apple’s newly appointed head of AI search project
Meta poaches Apple’s newly appointed head of AI search project
TOM: Meta hired Ke Yang, leader of the Apple’s Answers, Knowledge and Information team which has been working to make Siri more like ChatGPT. This is the latest high profile defection from that team to Meta’s Superintelligence Labs.
The Vision Pro will get an iPad app in upcoming iPadOS update
The Vision Pro will get an iPad app in upcoming iPadOS update
JASON: The Apple Vision Pro will soon get a dedicated iPad app, coming with the iPadOS 26.1 update, and bringing all of the features currently found in the iPhone app to the tablet.
CNN to Launch Streaming Subscription Tier for $6.99 Per Month
CNN to Launch Streaming Subscription Tier for $6.99 Per Month
TOM: CNN will launch its “CNN All Access” subscription for $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year starting October 28th in the US, with access to select live programming and print articles.
TOM: Those are the essentials for today. Let’s dive a little deeper.
INTERVIEW
JASON: The ROG Xbox Ally launched today, October 16th. Should you even consider buying it? Tom caught up with Sean Hollister from the Verge to find out.
TOM: If you have feedback about anything that gets brought up on the show… Get in touch with us on the socials. @DTNSshow on X, Instagram, Threads!, Blue Sky, and Mastodon. For TikTok and YouTube, you can find us at Daily Tech News Show.
HELPING EACH OTHER UNDERSTAND
JASON: We end every episode of Daily Tech News Show with some shared wisdom. Today Shantrell has more thoughts on live translation!
TOM: Shantrell writes
While I’ve thankfully never had a need myself, a coworker brought up their recent need to seek somewhat urgent medical attention during a trip to Spain and the complications of the language barrier, despite the ubiquity of translation apps.
While I hope I’ll never have this need, I’ll be glad for the babel fish-esque experience should the need arise
-Shantrell
TOM: What are you thinking about? Got some insight into a story? Share it with us at feedback@dailytechnewsshow.com
JASON: Thanks to Sean and Shantrell for contributing to today’s show. And thank YOU for being along for Daily Tech News Show. You can keep us in business by becoming a patron atPatreon.com/dtns
