Former Tesla AI director, Andrej Karpathy, has expressed his amazement at the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, which he recently tested in his new Tesla Model X. Karpathy took to social media to share his experience, stating that the vehicle’s FSD system, powered by the HW4 hardware, drove “really, really well, smooth, confident, noticeably better” than what he was used to with the HW3 hardware.
A Smooth and Confident Drive
Karpathy compared the FSD system to a “super high tech Maglev train pod,” praising its capabilities, including negotiating incoming cars in tight lanes and correctly recognizing stop signs. He also highlighted the vehicle’s Grok capabilities, which allowed it to safely overtake buses and handle a four-way stop sign. Overall, Karpathy described the drive as “flawless” and said he was impressed, with “no notes” to share.
Tesla FSD Under Scrutiny
Despite Karpathy’s positive experience, Tesla’s FSD system has been under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for its potential role in several accidents. The regulator has launched a probe into 2.88 million vehicles made by the automaker, citing reports of traffic violations and accidents involving Tesla vehicles on FSD or Autopilot.
Challenges in India
Meanwhile, Tesla’s Autopilot Driving Visualization software has struggled in India, confusing a “tuk-tuk” for a motorcycle on the streets of Mumbai. This highlights the need for the company to calibrate its software to better suit Indian roads and driving conditions.
Elon Musk’s Optimism
In contrast, Elon Musk has touted the FSD system’s capabilities, claiming that the technology could spread “faster than any technology ever.” He also stated that Tesla would be able to grant self-driving capabilities to most of its pre-existing cars with just a software update.
Conclusion
While Tesla’s FSD system has shown promise, the company still faces challenges in perfecting the technology. With ongoing investigations and varying levels of success in different regions, it remains to be seen how the company will address these issues and achieve its goal of widespread autonomous driving.