Tesla changes meaning of 'Full Self-Driving', gives up on promise of autonomy (electrek.co)

Article summary

Tesla has changed the meaning of 'Full Self-Driving' to no longer imply unsupervised autonomy, instead describing it as an advanced driving system. This change comes after years of promising unsupervised self-driving capabilities, which have yet to be fulfilled. The company has sold a software package called 'Full Self-Driving Capability' for up to $15,000, but now acknowledges that vehicles produced between 2016 and 2023 do not have the necessary hardware to deliver unsupervised self-driving. The change in definition has raised concerns about false advertising and the company's commitment to delivering autonomous driving technology.

Main themes

• Autonomous driving technology
• Tesla's Full Self-Driving redefinition
• Waymo's self-driving capabilities
• Remote human intervention
• False advertising concerns
• Industry definitions of autonomous driving levels

What commenters say

• Some argue that Waymo's self-driving technology is not truly 'full self-driving' because it is limited to specific locations and requires remote human intervention in certain situations.
• Others believe that the concept of 'full self-driving' is outdated and that what matters is the ability to provide a safe and reliable autonomous taxi service, even if it is limited to certain areas.
• There is disagreement about what constitutes 'full self-driving', with some arguing that it requires the ability to drive on any road in any conditions, while others believe that it is sufficient to provide a high level of autonomy in specific contexts.
• Some commenters think that Tesla's redefinition of 'Full Self-Driving' is a tacit admission that the company has given up on its promise of delivering unsupervised autonomy.
• The role of remote human operators in autonomous driving systems is seen as a crucial factor in determining whether a system can be considered 'full self-driving'.
• Others argue that the ability to drive on freeways and in various weather conditions is essential for a system to be considered 'full self-driving'.
• There is a sense that the industry's definitions of autonomous driving levels, such as Level 4 and Level 5, are no longer relevant or useful.
• Some commenters believe that the focus on 'full self-driving' is misguided and that what matters is the ability to provide a safe and reliable transportation service, regardless of whether it is fully autonomous or not.