With the big 10x parameter FSD update next month, we’re learning new things about what will be included. This time, Elon Musk has confirmed that the next major FSD update will substantially reduce the need for driver attention. In FSD update v13.2.9, Tesla introduced a short grace period before warning the driver, but otherwise, Tesla’s driver monitoring requirements have been fairly strict since vision-based monitoring was first introduced in FSD update v12.4.
The fact that Tesla is looking to reduce the monitoring requirements could be a sign of confidence in the next FSD update, which will include massive changes. Musk has now officially confirmed that this next FSD update will be FSD v14.
This will substantially reduce the need for driver attention, but some complex intersections, heavy weather or unusual events will still require attention.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 8, 2025
Note, the Austin robotaxi FSD build is ~6 months more advanced than what is available in cars in America and there are…
Still Supervised, For Now
While a substantial reduction in driver attention is one of the goals, Elon was quick to provide a crucial, albeit realistic, caveat. FSD is still in the hands of users, and it’s meant to be supervised. He stated that some complex intersections, heavy weather, or edge cases will still require the driver’s attention. Drivers will remain ready to take over at any time.
This helps to manage expectations and confirms that while Tesla is extremely confident in this build with higher capabilities and safety, it remains a supervised system that requires the driver to be alert and ready to take over when needed.
There appear to be two driving factors behind Tesla’s reasoning for reduced driver monitoring. One is the increased capabilities of the new FSD build. While the other is keeping passengers safe while they perform simple actions that require their attention.
Tesla’s AI team noted that people often turn off FSD to grab their phone and check a message, change a song, or change their destination - and will then re-enable FSD, all in the name of avoiding a strike. Musk stated that this is obviously more dangerous than just leaving FSD engaged, so they’re trying to strike a balance between proper driver monitoring and keeping passengers safe.
What’s Coming
The Austin Robotaxi FSD build is about six months more advanced than what is available today on customer vehicles. Tesla’s latest FSD release for customers was FSD v13.2.9, which was released back in May, but we have to go all the way back to November 2024 before we see any major improvements, which were launched with FSD v13.2.
This tells us that Tesla has been hard at work behind the scenes, working on FSD improvements that we haven’t seen outside of the Robotaxi (a list of FSD improvements we’ve seen on the Robotaxi). Elon previously mentioned that Robotaxi’s Austin-specific quirks shouldn’t make it into the generalized build going to customers, nor into future Robotaxi builds, but as generally learned edge cases.
With that said, the 10x parameter FSD update should help the car feel far more human - eerily human, according to Elon.
While it’s not full, unsupervised autonomy quite yet, Elon’s comments and excitement show that there will be major improvements in the next FSD update, which is now being called FSD v14.
Musk previously stated that he expects FSD Unsupervised to be available in select cities this year, which likely means they’ll be based on this next build.
