Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, recently made headlines by claiming a fully autonomous Robotaxi navigated him through Austin with no human safety monitor present. This assertion has ignited considerable discussion regarding the safety and readiness of Tesla's self-driving technology for public use, especially as the company pushes towards broader deployment of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.
Musk shared his experience on social media, stating that the driverless Tesla performed flawlessly during his ride across Austin. His claim was echoed by Tesla's AI lead, Ashok Elluswamy, who posted a video from inside a Robotaxi, also operating without a safety driver. However, this video inadvertently highlighted a potential issue, showing the vehicle momentarily exceeding the posted speed limit, which could provoke skepticism about the system's reliability and adherence to traffic laws before its widespread introduction.
The safety concerns surrounding Tesla's autonomous technology are not new. Dan O’Dowd, founder of The Dawn Project, has previously voiced strong reservations about the system's ability to operate safely without human intervention. These ongoing discussions emphasize the critical need for rigorous testing and transparent data as autonomous driving capabilities evolve.
Despite the controversies, Tesla continues to advance its FSD technology, with plans for international expansion. The company is actively working with the Dutch Vehicle Authority (RDW) to deploy FSD in Europe by February 2026. This collaboration underscores Tesla's commitment to overcoming regulatory hurdles and integrating its autonomous vehicles into new markets, potentially transforming urban transportation.
Amidst these developments, there's a growing debate about the sophistication of Tesla's software compared to competitors like Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo. While some, including Nvidia Corp.'s head of Robotics, commend Tesla's FSD for its human-like driving precision, Elon Musk himself has indicated that the company's software has significantly evolved since the departure of former AI lead Andrej Karpathy, whose understanding of the system, according to Musk, is now outdated. This suggests a continuous and rapid development cycle within Tesla's autonomous driving division.
The deployment of Robotaxis in Austin, though potentially on a smaller scale than initially projected, marks a significant step for Tesla. The company’s performance in various metrics, including momentum and quality, remains strong, although value aspects are noted as less favorable. The trajectory of Tesla's stock price also shows positive trends across short, medium, and long terms, reflecting investor confidence despite the challenges and debates surrounding its autonomous technology.