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For Wednesday, October 8, 2025. I'm Rob Dunwoody. Tesla's new affordable Model Y&3, priced at $39,990 and $36,990 respectively, faced skepticism due to high cost, especially after Elon Musk hinted at a sub $30,000 price. This launch occurs amidst declines in sales, increased competition and a lost $7,500 US tax credit. The models offer 300 plus miles of range but lack premium features and are only about $5,000 cheaper than higher trims, making them pricier than September's cheapest credit. Tesla stock dropped 4.5% post announcement Microsoft is implementing a price increase for Xbox Game Pass ultimate, but this price cycle initially only applied to new purchases and not to existing subscribers in specific markets like Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Poland and India, provided they maintain an auto recurring plan. Subscribers in the U.S. and UK are not affected by this temporary hold and Microsoft has confirmed that the existing subscribers in these designated countries will continue to renew at their current rate for now with advanced no is to be provided before any future price adjustments take effect. Google's new Gemini 2.5 computer use model, built on Gemini 2.5 Pro's visual understanding, helps AI agents interact with user interfaces more effectively. Available through the Gemini API in Google AI Studio and Vertex AI, it outperforms other models in web and mobile control, handling tasks like filling out forms and navigating interactive elements, pushing forward general purpose AI development. In other Google news, the company is significantly expanding its footprint in India, a rapidly growing market, by rolling out its AI powered conversational search feature SearchLive, in both English and Hindi. This expansion also includes bringing AI mode to seven additional Indian languages. SearchLive, which debuted in the US in July and as part of Google's AI mode, leverages Project Astra technology to provide real time assistance by allowing users to point their phone cameras to objects and engage and interact interactive conversations informed by the visual context from the camera feed. Amazon is introducing prescription drug vending machines at its One Medical Clinics starting in Los Angeles this December, with plans for wider expansion. These kiosks will offer common medications like antibiotics and blood pressure drugs, but not controlled substances or those requiring refrigeration. Aiming to provide immediate access to prescriptions after appointments, patients can use a QR code on the Amazon mobile app to quickly collect their verified medications, streamlining the process and reducing delays in uncollected prescriptions. Firefox is introducing a profile management update on October 14, enabling users to create separate browsing environments for various activities like work or personal. These profiles will keep bookmarks, logons, history extensions and themes distinct, similar to Chrome profiles but with a focus on privacy and without needing multiple email accounts. Mozilla highlights that this feature will help users organize online roles, protect information and reduce mental clutter. Chinese Internet censors are cracking down on online pessimism, suspending or banning accounts of bloggers and influencers whose posts about declining national optimism are gaining traction. The two month campaign, initiated by the Cyberspace Administration of China in late September, targets content that encourages excessively pessimistic sentiment or defeatist ideas, such as advocating for less work, advising against marriage and children due to financial concerns, or highlighting China's lower quality of life compared to Western nations. Sysical Systems has launched its new P200 networking chip and a corresponding routing device designed to connect AI data centers over vast distances. With Microsoft and Alibaba already on board as customers, this new offering aims to compete with Broadcom and will enable multiple data centers, which house tens of thousands of powerful computing chips like those from Nvidia, to function as one massive computer for handling AI tasks. A Pew Research center survey highlights the widespread use of technology among US children aged 12 and younger, revealing that nine out of 10 parents report their children watch as TV, 68% say their child uses a tablet and 61% report smartphone use. Gaming devices are also used by half of the children, while about four in 10 use desktops or laptops. Artificial intelligence is also part of the mix, with about 1 in 10 parents of 5 to 12 year olds stating their child uses AI chatbots, roughly 4 in 10 reporting their child uses voice assistants and 11% indicating their child uses a smartwatch. And finally, Apple has reportedly begun adding protective silicone rings to its in store MagSafe charging stands to prevent marks on iPhone 17 series display models including the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air. This action follows Apple's confirmation last month that warned MagSafe chargers were causing material transfer, not scratches onto the phones which could be cleaned off. It remains to be seen if this change, initially reported in France, will be implemented across all Apple retail stores globally. For more analysis of the tech news of the day, subscribe to DailyTreeNewsHow.com, you can find show notes and links to all the headlines there as well. Thanks for listening. We'll talk to you next time.
