Tesla made significant improvements to its voice command system in China
Not a Tesla App
Tesla's voice recognition and voice commands are an area that could use some improvements. But it looks like Tesla's aware of it as a recent software update has provided notable improvements in China.
With update 2023.26, Tesla made several improvements that were exclusive to China. They included improved voice recognition, smarter voice commands, and improvements to online routing, along with a refresh to the Chinese app, Himalaya app.
Enhanced Online Routing
Part of the update improvements to online routing that adapts to traffic and road condition fluctuations in real-time. By activating the 'Online Routing' option, users gain access to more efficient routing and foresight into the road ahead. This enhancement is exclusive to China, although it's not clear how it differs from the online routing with traffic considerations that is already available in the U.S. and other countries. In the release notes Tesla describes the features as:
Online Routing now reflects real-time changes in traffic and road conditions. So Navigation provides better routes and responds faster to changes on your route.
To get the most current route conditions, Navigation >
Online Routing must be turned on.
Context-Based Voice Commands
Tesla is changing the game with a revamped voice command feature that seamlessly understands the context of a user's request without the prerequisite of specific command words. This means that uttering a destination name will automatically initiate navigation to that destination, instead of having to say 'Navigate to... ".
The vehicle will also be able to understand what you're saying based on previous commands. For example, if you set the climate temperature to 70°, you'll be able to adjust it afterward by simply saying, "lower."
Voice commands are enhanced to better understand your requests. For example, you can directly say"故宫博物院" to start navigation, or say "有点吵" to decrease the volume. You can use "空调22" to set the temperature, and then say “再低点儿" to continue adjusting.
To initiate a voice command, press the voice recognition button on the steering wheel and begin speaking after the tone.
Other Regions
While it's not clear whether the online routing updates in China are Tesla bringing China up to speed, or if they're improving Tesla's routing experience, the voice commands are a clear improvement.
With context-based voice commands, Tesla greatly improved their voice command system, although it still lags behind a true voice assistant such as Siri or Google Assistant. Tesla is known for introducing new features in limited regions before rolling them out more widely. This is hopefully one of those cases, and we'll soon see these improvements rolled out in other parts of the world as well.
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Tesla has begun to reach out to customers in the United States and is offering demo drives of the Cybertruck on an invite-only basis. @brandonhd on X shared the first invite image, and it looks like it's going out quite quickly to multiple locations that have Cybertrucks on display.
Up until now, display vehicles have been for just that – looking, but no touching. Some Tesla delivery centers and showrooms have also allowed viewers to take a seat inside and open it up, but most are still locked away behind the velvet rope.
It’s exciting to see that Tesla has begun to demo them – and it can only be so long until demo drives open up to everyone.
Advisor-led Demo
This Demo Drive is led by a Tesla Advisor – while you’re driving, the advisor will be in the passenger seat, walking you through the experience. They’ll explain steer-by-wire, off-road controls, and will introduce new-to-Tesla buyers to all the features that are currently available.
The list of locations so far for demo drives appears to be fairly limited, but we will hopefully see demo drives roll out throughout the United States, and eventually Canada too. Here is the current list of city/state locations that have seen demo drive invites.
Actually Smart Summon, the successor to Tesla’s Smart Summon feature, has been confirmed to be coming as soon as next month as per Elon Musk. Colloquially known as “ASS”, Actually Smart Summon is supposed to improve on the regular Smart Summon capabilities, which have historically used ultrasonic sensors (USS) to navigate parking lots.
We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon, and we’re quite excited about what other features will be unlocked once it finally shows up at our doorstep.
Vision-based Improvements
ASS is supposed to bring Smart Summon to vehicles that don’t have USS – using Tesla Vision. Most recently, Tesla has brought Autopark to vehicles without USS, and Vision-based Autopark has been a huge success. It is faster, more reliable, and smoother than the older USS-based solution. It can also park and maneuver in tighter locations.
Today, Smart Summon is sometimes useful at best, usually a party trick, or downright dangerous at worst. It’s excellent and best used in straight lines, where you have a clear line of sight of the vehicle, and can stop it if doesn’t see an obstacle.
I used Smart Summon today, just before writing this article – my 2022 Model Y (with USS) – did manage to show up just fine – in a straight-line location from where I was parked, after exiting the parking spot fairly cleanly. However, I’ve previously used Smart Summon and have had the vehicle turn towards obstacles, such as cart returns or curbs. Overall, it’s a sometimes-useful feature that has a lot of drawbacks right now.
Smart Summon is also restricted to a certain distance – and it's pretty small. The max distance is shorter than most parking lots, being only about 215 ft (65m). If you’re lucky enough to park close, it's very useful to bring your car right to you.
Actually Smart Summon
ASS will bring FSD V12-like capabilities to Smart Summon – the vehicle will primarily use Vision to drive toward you (or the location you’ve indicated). ASS has been supposed to be coming since about September 2022 and has seen many delays – we’re almost at the 2-year point today.
We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon being able to bring the vehicle – safely – right to you. ASS is also one of the key steps towards bringing some other cool features that Elon Musk has previously mentioned – Park Seek and Banish Autopark.
We’re also hopeful that Actually Smart Summon will increase the maximum range a vehicle can be summoned, because the current range is fairly small. Alongside Park Seek and Banish Autopark, we’re closing in on a Robotaxi-based future.
Park Seek and Banish Autopark
When the FSD v12.4 showed up, Elon also mentioned that going forward, vehicles would automatically park themselves when arriving in a parking lot – Park Seek – and that if you got out of the car at the entrance to a business, you could get it to automatically park itself in the parking lot – Banish Autopark. These are two features that are needed for Robotaxi to work – which itself is delayed to October 10th of this year. We’re looking quite forward to them – as in combination with Actually Smart Summon, Tesla has reached the cusp of vehicle autonomy.
A vehicle that arrives, driverless, at the location you’re at, then drives somewhere, parks itself there, and waits for you – is the definition of a Robotaxi.
While we’re likely to have to wait for Banish Autopark and Park Seek just a bit longer, Actually Smart Summon being around the corner is exciting! Gone will be the days of having to run out to your car when you forgot your umbrella – your car will just come right to you instead.
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