Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, recently livestreamed a demonstration of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta software, and the video took an unexpected turn. In the roughly 45-minute video, Musk violated Tesla’s rules for its advanced driver-assist technology and even doxxed Mark Zuckerberg. This demonstration was meant to showcase the capabilities of v12 of Tesla’s advanced driver-assist technology, which has yet to be released to customers. However, the video ended up being a bizarre experience, as is characteristic of anything involving Musk.
During the livestream, at around the 19-minute mark, the vehicle attempted to accelerate through a red light in Palo Alto. Musk had to take control of the steering wheel as the vehicle seemed to misread the traffic signal and proceeded to cross the intersection at the wrong time. Musk acknowledged the issue and stated, “That’s why we’ve not released this to the public yet.” It’s important to note that FSD is still considered beta software, although Musk has announced that v12 will be the version where Tesla removes the beta label.
Apart from the red light incident, the video also captured several other noteworthy moments. Musk, filming from the driver’s seat with his smartphone, showed the vehicle navigating roundabouts and construction zones smoothly. He highlighted that v12 of FSD will be entirely AI and camera-based, in contrast to other companies that utilize a variety of sensors, including lidar and radar. Tesla’s approach solely relies on cameras. However, critics argue that this incident at the red light proves that Tesla’s approach to autonomous driving may be insufficient and reckless.
In addition to the disregard for road safety, Musk also violated Tesla’s own rules about using FSD. The company’s guidelines explicitly state that drivers should keep their hands on the steering yoke (or steering wheel) at all times while using the feature. Musk, however, not only filmed the drive himself from the driver’s seat but also interacted with commenters on Twitter during the drive. Tesla’s handbook warns that failure to follow these instructions could result in damage, serious injury, or even death. Musk’s response to this criticism is that FSD is being tested as beta software to emphasize the need for drivers to pay attention to the road.
Furthermore, the video’s quality was poor and often grainy. It frequently switched between vertical and horizontal filming, and Musk himself expressed a desire for someone to edit the footage to make it more interesting. At around the 27-minute mark, Musk claimed that he would drive to Mark Zuckerberg’s house, with whom he has had a public feud. Musk proceeded to Google Zuckerberg’s address and proudly displayed it on-screen. It’s worth noting that Musk had previously banned an account that tracked his private jet, claiming it posed a “direct personal safety risk” to him.
The broader context of this video is the impending conclusion of the federal government’s two-year investigation into Tesla’s highway driver-assist feature, Autopilot. Just before Musk livestreamed his drive, Reuters reported that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was nearing a resolution to its investigation into over a dozen crashes involving Tesla vehicles using Autopilot and crashing into stationary emergency vehicles. The government could potentially mandate a recall of Autopilot, and by extension, FSD. This outcome could significantly impact Tesla’s valuation, which heavily relies on the promise of offering full autonomy to its customers in the near future.
In conclusion, Musk’s livestream of Tesla’s FSD beta software demonstration ended up being an eventful and controversial affair. The incident at the red light raised concerns about the efficacy and safety of Tesla’s approach to autonomous driving. Musk’s disregard for Tesla’s own rules for using FSD and the poor quality of the video added further criticism. Additionally, Musk’s doxxing of Mark Zuckerberg and the context of the impending investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into Tesla’s Autopilot feature heightened the controversy surrounding the livestream.