Tesla has finally taken the training wheels off, well, almost. After years of including the word “Beta” every time Full Self-Driving is mentioned, the company is now going with FSD (Supervised). Is it just a rebrand? Maybe, but there is no doubt that there is a significant upgrade from the previous versions of FSD Beta, and it certainly requires more than just a number upgrade, but a full freshening up of the name.
The Significance of "Supervised"
The latest update came with a message to the inbox on the Tesla app, which was highly anti-climatic for those waiting for a Cybertruck message. However, this software update might be as groundbreaking as the Cybertruck in the auto sector.
The transition to FSD (Supervised) acknowledges the current state of Tesla's autonomous technology—it's incredibly advanced and offers significant safety improvements, yet just like before, it still requires driver oversight. This change is a nod to the regulatory landscape and Tesla's cautious approach to autonomy, ensuring drivers remain engaged and responsible while utilizing the system.
Updated Safety Stats Tell the Story
Tesla's FSD technology has made commendable strides in enhancing vehicle safety, as evidenced by the latest statistics. With Autopilot engaged, Tesla vehicles report one crash per 5.39 million miles driven, starkly contrasting with the national average of one crash per 670,000 miles. This positions Teslas on Autopilot as approximately 8.04 times safer than the average US driver. Even without Autopilot, Teslas are about 1.49 times safer. These figures underscore the substantial safety benefits of Tesla's technology on the road, though it hasn't yet reached the ambitious "10 times safer" goal outlined in Tesla's Master Plan Part Deux.
V12.4 is another big jump in capabilities.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 17, 2024
Our constraint in training compute is much improved.
The industry has taken note of Tesla's advancements. Michael Dell's commendation of FSD v12.3 as resembling human-like driving capabilities highlights Tesla's progress in refining its autonomous driving features. Elon Musk's response, teasing the release of FSD v12.4, suggests that Tesla is on the brink of further breakthroughs. Musk's mention of overcoming AI training compute constraints indicates that Tesla's pace of development is set to accelerate, promising even more sophisticated autonomous driving capabilities in the near future.
Conclusion
Tesla's update from FSD Beta to FSD (Supervised) is more than a semantic shift—it reflects its safety and autonomous driving technology advancements. By emphasizing the supervised nature of its current FSD system, Tesla is navigating the complex balance between innovation, safety, and regulatory compliance. With FSD v12.4 on the horizon, Tesla continues to drive toward autonomous driving and a safer future on roadways.
