Tesla Gears Up for FSD v12.3.1 Rollout Amid Skepticism Over Musk's 'Two-Week' Update Cycle

FSD 12.3.1 Rolling Out This Weekend

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Tesla is about to deploy its latest Full Self-Driving (FSD) update, version 12.3.1. Elon Musk made the announcement via X, and also posted that fresh updates will be coming out every two weeks. Yes, he actually said his famous ‘two weeks” prediction for a timeline.

Although version 12.3 is in a limited number of cars, the company is poised to “address several small annoyances," according to Musk. Version 12.3.1 should start rolling out this weekend.

Should be really shining bright by late April or early May. - Elon Musk

The Specter of 'Elon Time'

Musk's declaration of forthcoming significant enhancements every two weeks is enough to make any Tesla fan have a double take. 'Elon Time, ' a popular saying among Tesla fans and observers, has a pattern of optimistic scheduling for major updates. His go-to timeline is usually two weeks. There were no emojis or anything that may suggest Musk was trying to be funny. He has stated that he cracks himself up, but this timeline may not be a joke.

Tesla's intent to fast-track FSD's capabilities through quickfire updates showcases the company's aggressive stance on innovation. It also shows how much data the company expects to collect in two-week periods to be able to make adjustments.

Version 13

Musk has stated the current rollout of FSD is so advanced that is should be called version 13 instead of 12.3. That said, the numbers will quickly go up beside the 12 with this aggressive two-week update schedule. The introduction of neural network-based decision-making in FSD v12 was a groundbreaking move. The system's ability to process raw camera footage and vehicle dynamics directly into driving maneuvers showcased an impressive leap towards achieving a level of decision-making and responsiveness akin to human drivers.

This technological advancement was met with rave reviews from both industry experts and everyday users, underscoring the potential of Tesla's approach to redefine the future of driving. Michael Dell's endorsement of FSD v12 as "super impressive" and akin to human-like driving further solidified the update's significance, elevating expectations for what Tesla's technology could achieve next.

As we look towards the deployment of v12.3.1 and beyond, the enthusiasm surrounding the FSD v12 serves as a vivid reminder of Tesla's innovation trajectory. This ongoing journey, punctuated by Musk's ambitious update timeline, continues to captivate and engage the global automotive community, setting the stage for further advancements in Tesla's quest to perfect autonomous driving.

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Tesla Increases Price of Model S; Starts Offering Free Lifetime Supercharging

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For the first time in quite a while, Tesla has increased the price of one of its vehicle offerings. The Model S Long Range and the Model S Plaid have both received a hefty price increase. However, not all is bad - as Tesla also added a new benefit for buyers.

Price Increase

The price increase for the Model S is $5,000 - currently only in the United States. This price increase will likely impact other markets, including Canada, in the coming days.

The Model S Long Range now starts at $79,990, while the Model S Plaid now starts at $94,990. The Model S and Model X now have the same starting price. Interestingly, that’s also the same pricing point for the Cybertruck AWD and Cyberbeast Trimotor non-Foundation Series. 

The vehicle configuration does not appear to have changed, so the new pricing is simply an increase rather than the addition or removal of features. Tesla previously cut the price of the Model S and Model X by 15% in 2023, so this could simply be an adjustment to ensure that the vehicle pricing stays in line with inflation and other factors.

Free Lifetime Supercharging

For those on the fence about ordering a Model S, Tesla has brought back Free Lifetime Supercharging when you order a new Model S on or after December 13, 2024. As always, Free Lifetime Supercharging is restricted to the buyer’s Tesla account and to that specific vehicle. It cannot be transferred to another vehicle or another owner after ownership transfer. It’s worth noting, that it also doesn’t exclude the owner from receiving Supercharger idle fees or congestion fees. There is currently no end date for this promotion.

There are currently no changes to the Model X, neither a price increase nor the addition of Lifetime Superchargering. However, when Tesla makes changes to one of their premium vehicles, it usually affects the other one as well. So be on the lookout for potential changes to the Model X offering in the coming days.

We’ve seen Tesla value Lifetime Supercharging at $5,000, so this falls in line with the price increase we’re seeing. It’s possible that Tesla will begin to bring back Lifetime Supercharging as a perk for buying into their more premium Model S and Model X cars, or this could be another temporary promotion to get buyers who are on the fence to go ahead and make their purchase while this promotion lasts.

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Tesla’s Optimus Robot Learns to Walk Without Vision [VIDEO]

Optimus Falls - but catches itself!

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Tesla recently showed off a demo of Optimus, its humanoid robot, walking around in moderately challenging terrain—not on a flat surface but on dirt and slopes. These things can be difficult for a humanoid robot, especially during the training cycle.

Daily walks help clear your mind pic.twitter.com/dUsW58trS6

— Tesla Optimus (@Tesla_Optimus) December 9, 2024

A Look Behind the Curtain

Most interestingly, Milan Kovac, VP of Engineering for Optimus, clarified what it takes to get Optimus to this stage. Let’s break down what he said.

Optimus is Blind

Optimus is getting seriously good at walking now - it can keep its balance over uneven ground - even while walking blind. Tesla is currently using just the sensors, all powered by a neural net running on the embedded computer. 

Essentially, Tesla is building Optimus from the ground up, relying on as much additional data as possible while it trains vision. This is similar to how they train FSD on vehicles, using LiDAR rigs to validate the vision system’s accuracy. While Optimus doesn’t have LiDAR, it relies on all those other sensors on board, many of which will likely become simplified as vision takes over as the primary sensor.

Today, Optimus is walking blind, but it’s able to react almost instantly to changes in the terrain underneath it, even if it falls or slips. 

What’s Next?

Next up, Tesla AI will be adding vision to Optimus - helping complete the neural net. Remember, Optimus runs on the same overall AI stack as FSD - in fact, Optimus uses an FSD computer and an offshoot of the FSD stack for vision-based tasks.

Milan mentions they’re planning on adding vision to help the robot plan ahead and improve its walking gait. While the zombie shuffle is iconic and a little bit amusing, getting humanoid robots to walk like humans is actually difficult.

There’s plenty more, too - including better responsiveness to velocity and direction commands and learning to fall and stand back up. Falling while protecting yourself to minimize damage is something natural to humans - but not exactly natural to something like a robot. Training it to do so is essential in keeping the robot, the environment around it, and the people it is interacting with safe.

We’re excited to see what’s coming with Optimus next because it is already getting started in some fashion in Tesla’s factories.

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