May 18, 2026 — Elon Musk made a surprise remote appearance at the 9th International Samson Smart Mobility Summit in Israel. Despite it being 2:30 AM in Austin, he joined the stage virtually and delivered thoughtful answers on Full Self-Driving, robotaxis, Optimus, Starship, Neuralink, and humanity’s path toward universal high income and abundance.
Here is my full verbatim transcript (carefully stitched from @CBDoge, Sawyer Merritt, and the video itself):
Host (Daniela Geromar-Galiot): We’re absolutely thrilled to have you joining us here today at the 9th International Samson Smart Mobility Summit in Israel, a country that shares your spirit of relentless innovation.
Elon Musk: Thank you for having me. I would be there in person, but we gotta get this SpaceX IPO going pretty soon. So I’m happy to answer any questions you may have or whatever would be interesting.
Host: Perfect. So Tesla has spent years developing the vision and technology for smart mobility. Now that you’re moving from testing, what is the biggest challenge in scaling this technology to millions of users around the world?
Elon Musk: In terms of having self-driving be ubiquitous… I think we’re making steady progress. The Tesla Full Self-Driving software, which is really just AI and cameras, we don’t use radars or LIDAR or anything like that. It’s really trying to drive the car in the same way that a human drives the car, which humans primarily drive the car with vision and with a biological neural net. We take the same approach with our vehicles, which is a digital neural net and cameras. I expect this approach to ultimately be at least an order of magnitude safer than humans driving.
I’m not sure if we have approval for this in Israel. I think we may have, or we will get it soon hopefully and you’ll be able to experience it for yourself.
It is quite magical, because the car feels like it is sentient. It actually feels like it’s alive. And you can actually, as we improve the software, you can feel the sentience growing in the car. It feels alive.
And I think we already have some vehicles operating with no people inside and no safety monitors in three cities in Texas, and probably will be widespread in the U.S. by end of this year, and hopefully in Israel too.
Host: Thank you. We look forward to that.
Elon Musk: The world is going to have a lot of robots in the future, and what Tesla makes is effectively four-wheeled robots right now.
And in the future we’ll also be having humanoid robots. You’re seeing a lot of startups with humanoid robots. My prediction is that there’ll be far more robots, like intelligent robots, in the world than there will be people, and I think this is most likely to be a good thing. We always want to be a little paranoid, or certainly not complacent about the safety of robots, but I think it will usher in an age of not universal basic income, but universal high income.
Host: Right, thank you… And I think we have one of your robots out here in the exhibition, so that’s also a lot of fun for everybody here. Go and take a look.
Elon Musk: Optimus subprime, haha!
Host: Exactly. When you think about, let’s say, the most exciting development or breakthrough that you’re working on right now, what do you think would be the one that people aren’t talking enough about enough?
Elon Musk: Well, I guess people are mostly aware of the rockets that SpaceX does. This Starship rocket, which we are now in version 3 of, will, I think, achieve full and rapid reusability. This is the fundamental breakthrough necessary to make life multi-planetary, to extend consciousness beyond Earth, and have self-sustaining cities, self-growing cities on the Moon, Mars, and elsewhere in the solar system.
This is really quite a profound breakthrough, and we might succeed in doing that this year. The critical factor being full and rapid reuse of all parts of the rocket. That’s a much bigger deal than people would realize. When that technology is developed, that’ll be a fork in the road in human history, where we can become a spacefaring civilization, a multi-planet species, and I think that’s an incredibly exciting thing.
Elon Musk: Perhaps to some degree there is also, not many people are aware of Neuralink, which is creating a cybernetic interface to AI from your brain.
It has enabled people who have completely lost their brain-body connection to speak again and to use their computer and their phone and we believe it will enable people to walk again… because you can take the signals from the brain, from the motor cortex and if somebody has, say, a severe spinal injury, you could transmit those signals to a second neural implant and reanimate the body so that people can use their limbs. We think at some point they can live a normal life by effectively bridging the signal from the brain to past the point in the spine where damage has occurred.
These are pretty wild things that are possible. And then later this year we expect to do our first implant for what we call “blindsight,” where even if somebody has lost both eyes or lost the optic nerve or perhaps has never seen, even if they were blind at birth, it will give them initially limited vision, but I think over time very precise vision, perhaps superhuman.
So restoring control of people who are tetraplegics and restoring sight are pretty big deals. Those sort of Jesus-level technologies, you know… miracles. Yes, exactly. Miracles of science
Host: . Miracles! Yeah. Great, thank you!
Host: I have another question about the automotive world. If I bring it back to smart mobility. When you look past the immediate rollouts of FSD, what does the ultimate endgame for smart mobility look like in 10 or 20 years from now? I mean, what is the grand vision that still keeps you up at night when we talk about mobility?
Elon Musk: Well, at this point the path to cars driving is an order of magnitude safer than humans is very clear, and I think it’s not really a question mark. So I’m not sure if this really keeps me up at night because the path is just so obviously there.
Five years from now, or certainly ten years from now, probably 90% of all distance driven will be driven by the AI in a self-driving car. It will be quite a niche thing in 10 years to actually be driving your own car, because the car will drive you.
I think there will also be humanoid robots that are pretty much everywhere. And I think it would be pretty cool because who wouldn’t want their own personal C-3PO, R2-D2 — but even better than that! And I think everyone is going to want one, maybe two.
Host: A terminator?
Elon Musk: Well, hopefully not. We should always be concerned about such a thing because yeah, Terminator is one of the possible outcomes. I think it’s an unlikely one, but it’s not impossible. And so we should always be careful to make sure that robots are safe.
This is why I actually think we’re headed to a future of amazing abundance. You can think of the output of the economy as productivity per capita times the population. And if the robots are extremely productive, and there are a lot of them, you’re effectively going to have an economy that will be maybe 10 or even 100 times bigger than what it is today. And that’s why I think it is going to be a future of universal high income, where pretty much anyone can have whatever they want.
There are larger questions of meaning. How do we derive meaning in a world where AI and robots can do anything better than what we can do? Because that is probably where we’re headed. But I think people will still find ways to have meaning.
And sometimes it’s like, what is the future that you want? Or what do you think the future is? What’s the best picture you can possibly imagine? And a lot of people are a little surprised by that question. Because, let’s say you are praying to God and you ask for a given future. Well, what future do you want God to give you?
Probably a future where there is an amazing abundance for all, where everybody has incredible medical care and in fact anything can be cured. No one is hungry. People are free to do what they would like. I think that’s probably the best future.
Host: And peace, peace and love!
Elon Musk: Well yeah. I always worry about it becomes some dystopian version of that, you know. But certainly love — I mean, I think we want a future with that seems like a no-brainer. Peace is an interesting one because sometimes the price for complete peace may be maybe too high, because complete peace may require too much suppression of the people. So perhaps there is peace to some degree but not completely. Ideally there’s not like a large-scale war of course. But you know, you have to think about these questions kind of deeply. Do you want a world where there’s no conflict? But how do you achieve a world where there is no conflict at all without some form of suppression?
So my guess is probably people would want a future with some conflict, not total peace, but nothing… not a serious war perhaps. But these are interesting philosophical questions. What future would you like?
Host: Do you have a message to the Israeli innovators here?
Elon Musk: Honestly, I’m a huge admirer of the innovation coming out of Israel. I think it is objectively true that Israel punches far above its weight for population. I think, probably number one My hat is off to Israel for how much incredible innovation per capita. Israel must be number one by far in the world!
Host: Thank you so much. Before you go, I would like to invite Israel’s Minister of Transport and Road Safety, Brigadier General Miri Regev, to join our conversation…
Minister Miri Regev: Thank you Elon, you are great! We love you! I see that you are tired! it’s wonderful to have you with us even remotely.
Elon Musk: Thank you. It’s about 2:30 in the morning here in Austin, Texas, and thank you for having me! It was a pleasure, thank you! so I’m going to get some sleep, I really appreciate the invitation and looking forward to seeing progress in Israel.
Host & Minister: Thank you Elon! (Audience applause)
Host (wrap-up): That was Elon Musk joining us remotely from Austin…
Key Takeaways
Full Self-Driving & Robotaxis
Vision-only FSD (no radar or LIDAR) already feels “sentient” and is running unsupervised in Texas cities. I have taken many unsupervised Model Y Robotaxi here in my city of Austin, Texas.
Widespread U.S. robotaxi deployment expected by end of 2026, with Israel to follow soon after.
In 10 years, ~90% of all miles driven will be by AI — personally driving your own car will become a niche activity.
Robots & Abundance
Far more intelligent robots than humans expected in the future.
Tesla’s current cars are “four-wheeled robots”; Optimus humanoid robots are coming next.
Shift from Universal Basic Income → Universal High Income as robots drive massive economic growth (10x–100x bigger economy).
Starship & Multi-Planetary Life
Starship Version 3 targeting full & rapid reusability this year.
Critical step toward self-sustaining cities on the Moon, Mars, and beyond. we are at a “fork in the road in human history.”
Neuralink & Medical Miracles
Already restoring speech and device control for patients.
Upcoming “blindsight” trials later this year could restore (and eventually enhance) vision.
Described as “Jesus-level technologies.”
Praise for Israel
Elon called Israel #1 in the world for innovation per capita and said the country “punches far above its weight.”
Elon’s Standout Quotes
“It is quite magical, because the car feels like it is sentient. It actually feels like it’s alive.”
“We might succeed in doing that this year… That’ll be a fork in the road in human history.”
“Innovation per capita, Israel’s must be number one by far in the world.”
“10 years from now, probably 90% of all distance driven will be driven by the AI in a self-driving car.”
My Take
I’m in awe that Elon stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, 2:30 AM his time, to do this interview. I woke up to phone notifications form CB Doge and Sawyer Merritt sharing clips of the interview. Perhaps the biggest treat of the whole thing was a podcast episode that Elon also shared around the same time from Steven Mark Ryan. Please watch it (it is super short) and you’ll get the real picture of all the phenominal things Elon does!
• Chamath Shares Simple Formula To Elon Musk's Business Success • SpaceX Domination Continues (big AI implications) pic.twitter.com/vSmgOZOF4S
A clip from this episode showing the unsupervised Tesla Robotaxi (with no safety driver) going down a narrow street and performing a multi-point U-turn in a tight spot was reposted by Elon Musk and has been seen over 75 million times. As of today, it might be one of Gail’s most viewed posts. It also has over 6.5K comments.
In this full episode, I take my first ride in an unsupervised Tesla Robotaxi through Austin and share my real-time thoughts and impressions while the car drives itself.
Watch the full episode here (or tap the X post for the video):
Ep 168 of Gail’s Tesla Podcast is here! First time in an unsupervised Tesla Robotaxi through Austin. Real-time thoughts and impressions. pic.twitter.com/UxVeYwLOHN
These in-car rides and conversations highlight the steady real-world progress Elon and the Tesla team continue to deliver every day.
Leave a comment
What stood out most to you in this episode? Have you had a chance to ride in a Tesla Robotaxi yet? Drop your thoughts or share your own Tesla story below.
In this episode, David Moss joins me inside the car while we drive using Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) in Austin. He shares the entertaining story of how Tesla reached out for their official customer story program, including the funny moment they asked him about being a lidar salesman.
Watch the full episode here (or tap the X post for the video):
Ep 167 of Gail’s Tesla Podcast is here! David Moss joins me in the car on FSD in Austin. He shares how Tesla reached out for their customer story program including the funny moment they asked him about being a lidar salesman. This one’s entertaining! pic.twitter.com/QVaFFcv2vs
In this episode, Captain Eli joins me inside the car while we drive using Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD). We have a fun conversation about how he first started supporting Elon Musk on X, how he stays current with all things Elon and Tesla, and his brand new clothing line.
This is Part 1 of our conversation, with more to come soon. The discussion delivers a real-time, in-car perspective while Full Self-Driving handles the road.
Watch the full episode here (or tap the X post for the video):
Ep 166 of Gail’s Tesla Podcast is here! Captain Eli joins me in the car on FSD in Austin. Hear how he got started supporting Elon Musk on X, staying current with all things Elon, and check out his new clothing line. @TheCaptainElipic.twitter.com/xBeRN63nWt
Gail Alfar and Captain Eli in-car on Tesla Full Self-Driving FSD – Episode 166 Gail’s Tesla Podcast – discussing supporting Elon Musk on X, staying current, and his new clothing line in Austin
These in-car rides and conversations highlight the steady real-world progress Elon and the Tesla team continue to deliver every day.
Leave a comment
What stood out most to you in this episode? Have you checked out Captain Eli’s new clothing line yet? Drop your thoughts or share your own Tesla story below.
Hello, everyone! It’s Gail here from Gail’s Tesla Podcast. I’m so excited to share with you all about my latest episode, where I take you along for an unforgettable ride in Tesla’s stunning red Robotaxi.
If you haven’t watched it yet, you can check out the full video on X here.
Episode 134 is packed with real-world demonstrations of Tesla’s autonomous driving tech, a bit of fun, and some reflections on how far we’ve come in just two short months since the Robotaxi’s initial release.
The Ride Begins: Summoning the Red Beauty
The episode kicks off with me summoning the red Robotaxi – what a sight!
This vibrant vehicle pulls up smoothly, ready to whisk me away on an adventure through the streets.
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is at the heart of it all, and right from the start, you can see how seamlessly it navigates everyday scenarios.
From pulling out of parking spots to handling traffic, it’s a testament to the engineering prowess at Tesla.
Facing the Challenge: The Security Gate Showdown
One of the highlights – and a first for me – was encountering a security gate that initially stumped the Robotaxi.
But here’s where the magic happens: I pressed the “Resume Ride” button for the very first time, and voila! The system conquered the challenge effortlessly.
Watching it adapt and proceed was exhilarating. It’s moments like these that show how Tesla’s AI is evolving to handle real-world obstacles with grace and intelligence.
If you’ve been following my podcast, you know I love diving into these technical triumphs, and this one didn’t disappoint.
Ep. 134: Gail’s TESLA Podcast. Red Robotaxi comes! First time pressing "Resume Ride" and it conquers a sec gate challenge. Join my toast with an espresso martini🍸, proving it’s safe post-drinks. Ani’s dance sends Robotaxi into the night! pic.twitter.com/dk2EHlZi1e
Now, for the fun part! Midway through the ride, I decided to celebrate with an espresso martini. Yes, you read that right – enjoying a cocktail while the Robotaxi does all the driving. This isn’t just about indulgence; it’s a powerful demonstration of how autonomous vehicles like this can promote safer roads.
No need to worry about who’s the designated driver when the car itself is in control. I raised my glass in a toast to the future of transportation, proving that post-drinks travel can be completely safe and stress-free in a Robotaxi.
Ani’s Dance: Sending Us Off into the Night
As the sun set and the ride continued into the evening, I couldn’t resist adding a touch of whimsy. I played an anime dance sequence featuring Ani – it was the perfect send-off! The vibrant visuals lit up the interior, blending cutting-edge tech with a bit of playful entertainment.
Nighttime driving showcased the Robotaxi’s impressive handling of low-light conditions, with smooth maneuvers around city lights and traffic.
Reflections on Progress
It’s only been two months since the Robotaxi was first unveiled, and the progress Tesla has made is nothing short of astonishing. From smoother navigation to quicker adaptations, every update brings us closer to a world where autonomous driving is the norm. As a dedicated supporter of Elon Musk and Tesla’s vision, I’m thrilled to witness and share these advancements with you all.
If you’re as passionate about Tesla, FSD, and the Robotaxi revolution as I am, make sure to subscribe to my podcast on X or wherever you get your episodes. I’d love to hear your thoughts – drop a comment below or reply on X. What challenges do you think the Robotaxi should tackle next?Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more episodes!
Hey everyone, welcome back to Gail’s Podcast! In Episode 129, I’m thrilled to share a super quick but incredibly cool 3-minute ride in Tesla’s Robotaxi right here in Austin, Texas.
This one’s all about showcasing the brand-new arrow-to-car navigation feature in the Tesla app, cruising past the iconic Congress Street Bat Bridge, and soaking in the vibes with some upbeat music.
It’s a glimpse into the future of autonomous ridesharing.
The Ride Highlights
I hopped into this Robotaxi for a short trip through downtown Austin at dusk – the perfect time to catch the city lights and that magical evening energy. The star of the show? The Tesla app’s arrow navigation system.
If you’ve ever struggled to spot your ride in a busy parking lot or on a crowded street, this feature is a game-changer. It uses augmented reality-like arrows on your phone screen to guide you straight to the vehicle, counting down the distance in real-time (from 121 feet all the way to “You’ve arrived!”). It’s intuitive, fun, and honestly feels like playing a little AR game – I was hooked!
Once inside, the Robotaxi handled everything flawlessly with Full Self-Driving (FSD). We glided smoothly through traffic, past bustling buildings and neon signs, and over the Congress Avenue Bridge – home to Austin’s famous bat colony (though no bats were out this time).
The ride was serene, with chill music playing in the background to set the mood. No driver, no fuss – just pure autonomous bliss.
We arrived at the destination in no time, and the car parked itself like a pro.
Why This Matters
Tesla’s Robotaxi is pushing the boundaries of urban mobility, and features like this arrow navigation make it more accessible and user-friendly for everyone. Whether you’re directionally challenged (like some of us!) or just want a seamless experience, it’s details like these that elevate the whole system. As a beta tester and a supporter of Elon Musk’s vision, I can’t wait to see how this evolves – imagine this scaling to cities worldwide!
Watch the Full Episode
If you’re new to the podcast, subscribe to my account on X for more Robotaxi adventures, Tesla FSD updates, and insights into the world of electric vehicles and autonomy.
Podcast Ep. 129: Quick 3 minute Austin ride in Robotaxi, showing off App arrow-to-car navigation, cruising past the Bat Bridge on Congress St. Loaded with music, it’s LIVE! 🦇 pic.twitter.com/jCtrRjcMGs
Hey everyone, Gail here – your go-to early Robotaxi tester, Tesla FSD podcaster, and professional poaster! If you’ve been following my adventures on X, you know I’m all about Tesla. Episode 126 of my Robotaxi series is a wild one. I took Tesla’s autonomous beast for a spin through the heart of Austin, Texas, and let me tell you: this thing handled the University of Texas campus like a pro, conquered a ridiculously steep driveway, paused for a feathered friend, and even had a brief meeting with another Tesla Robotaxi.
The Setup: Hailing the Future
I summoned Robotaxi via the app (who needs to drive when AI can do it better?), and within minutes, out cab came. No driver small talk, no awkward radio choices – just autonomy. This is Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta in action, with a safety rider on board for those extra peace-of-mind vibes during testing. I headed to Hancock Recreation Center, right through the bustling UT campus. You’ll notice on the screen, the estimated arrival was 4:32 PM.
Spoiler: It nailed it.
Zipping Through UT: Pedestrians, Buses, and Zero Stress
As we cruised into the University of Texas area, the real test began. Picture this: pedestrians darting across paths, buses lumbering along as expected and traffic that’s equal parts chaotic and charming. My Robotaxi? Cool, both with the AC inside and the relaxed vibe. . It seamlessly shifted lanes, prepped for left turns on busy streets, and even adjusted speed when a big Austin Metro bus cut in front. I couldn’t help but narrate the whole thing (check the video below – I turned it into a mini-podcast episode on the fly). One highlight? We passed under a pedestrian bridge and navigated around more buses than I could count. It got me thinking: How long until these empty daytime buses get replaced by fleets of efficient, Robotaxis? Safer for everyone, cheaper for society, and zero emissions. Elon Musk and the Tesla team are onto something revolutionary here – rethinking not just cars, but entire transit systems.
The Steep Challenge: Hancock’s Hill of Doom
Now, for the pièce de résistance: the driveway up to Hancock Recreation Center. If you’ve been there, you know what I’m talking about – it’s steeper than many rollercoaster drops! I held my breath as we approached, but the Robotaxi swung left with precision, letting another car go first in a super polite move (take notes, human drivers). Then, up we went: smooth acceleration, no scraping, no drama. We pulled into the parking lot, dodging golfers and a guy with his cart, and parked right on time. As the ride ended and I gathered my stuff, the Robotaxi gently rolled away… and slowed down for a bird in the road. A BIRD! That’s next-level AI empathy right there. Safety isn’t just about avoiding crashes; it’s about protecting all life on the road.
Watch the Full Adventure
Don’t just take my word for it – dive into the action yourself. Here’s the video from my X post, embedded for your viewing pleasure:
🚗 Robotaxi rocks Austin! Zipping through UT campus, tackling a steep golf course, pausing for a bird, and meeting another Robotaxi. Episode 126 is LIVE! pic.twitter.com/ifa1QEZfdF
Rides like this aren’t just fun – they’re a glimpse into a world where traffic jams are history, accidents are rare, and getting around is effortless. As a beta tester, I’m blown away by how far Tesla’s tech has come. From interacting with other autonomous vehicles to handling urban unpredictability, it’s clear we’re on the brink of something massive. If you’re in Austin, keep an eye out for these bad boys – and if you’re not, stay tuned because Robotaxis are coming to a city near you soon. Would you hop in a driverless Tesla tomorrow? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast for more episodes. Robo dreams are real, y’all! Until next ride, Gail Alfar Writer, Podcaster, and Mom of Five Great Kids!
Austin, Texas. Join my daughter Grace and I on a Tesla Robotaxi trip to Freddo coffee shop ATX and the Yeti store. We’ll also stop by the Embassy Suites Hotel on Congress where we’ll show someone their very first glimpse of a Robotaxi!
We also discover that the Robotaxi takes NO TIPS. Instead a cute hedgehog pops on the phone screen to say, “JUST KIDDING.”
Watch here:
Ep 123 of Gail’s Podcast is here! 🎙️ We’re inviting you to join us on a Tesla Robotaxi trip to Freddo ATX and Yeti in Austin, Texas pic.twitter.com/8knVml9f1x
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Today, over a cup of hot Texas Pecan coffee, I began thinking about how great my Tesla is running on FSD beta, and I was wondering just how far away we all are from a Tesla Robotaxi.
My Tesla seems almost fully autonomous, so I wanted to find out about other peoples’ experiences. I did a little searching and came to find out there are many people all over the USA driving in many conditions with zero disengagements when they use FSD beta. I found out Tesla’s first concern is safety and that no other vehicle companies are doing it like Tesla. Let’s look further into these details, and come up with a smart estimate of how far away we are from full Tesla autonomy.
Three Tesla drivers (including me) experience near-autonomous driving on busy challenging roads
On a typical street in the suburbs in front of a typical Austin house, I got ready to do errands I put the Tesla in FSD beta mode –always remember that when you use FSD beta, your eyes must be constantly on the road and your hands on the steering wheel– and sat back and monitored the car’s driving as it began to wind around Austin streets, up and down hills and to a busy intersection where it made a right on red and merged quickly onto the 183. After a smooth change onto busy Mopac, the car exited onto a two-lane access road and a half mile down it slowed and turned onto a private drive and took us past parked cars, and stopped at the front doors of a medical clinic.
Several hours later, I was back in the Tesla. Tesla maps have a tab that says “hungry.” I used this to find a new place to get food and then pressed FSD beta and the car was off. We came to a 4 lane unprotected left turn –kinda an anxiety provoker for me– and the software found a break in the traffic and moved to the middle divider. After several cars, it made the left turn, moved over 2 more lanes, and then made a quick right. Taking a street I had never been on before, the car turned into a parking lot and stopped in front of the restaurant. We had a GREAT meal and talked about, you guessed it, Tesla!
People across the country, from California to Texas to New York, are essentially already experiencing supervised and safe autonomy on complex unmarked roads with turns, construction, and more.
Around the same time, in San Francisco, Omar Qazi of Whole Mars Blog, was testing FSD beta in his Tesla, he explains, “If you went and gave a few Uber rides using FSD Beta, the vast majority of the passengers would not notice that the car is being driven by software. Some people didn’t believe me so I ran an experiment… “ The first passenger had no clue at all that the car was driving itself, and when she found out she laughed with delight and called it cool!
The second passenger didn’t notice at first but then later noticed the car was stopping when Omar did not have his feet on the brakes, He said, “so this is like a driverless car?” He was clearly delighted and also thought it was awesome.
Meanwhile, in New York state, a similar scenario was playing out. Corey Aronson wrote, “Just did three Uber rides in a row. All zero takeover. All passengers on all rides had zero clue the car was driving itself. I can’t drive better than FSD Beta anymore, almost ever. Everyone is just on their phone getting driven by the robot.” Corey told me the most common things people ask first about FSD beta are if it “Works without the yellow road lines?” and “Will it put the blinker on?” Of course, the answer is YES to both!
What more is needed for full Tesla autonomy?
To try to answer this, I listened carefully to what Elon Musk said during the Tesla, Q3 2022 earnings call,
“The safety that we are seeing, when the car is in FSD mode is actually significantly greater than the safety that we are seeing when it is not, which a key threshold for going to wide beta.” – Elon Musk
Elon Musk explained that in Q4 2022, we should expect Tesla will release FSD beta to every single person that has purchased FSD.
This means that before we see full autonomy, more people need to use FSD beta, in order to contribute valuable data to Tesla’s AI team. The more use cases there are, the better!
Why is Tesla leading in this area and what’s the difference between what Tesla does and what other vehicle companies are doing for autonomy?
Tesla AI team has some of the best artificial intelligence researchers in the world, so the software evolves into sharper accuracy and greater safety over a short time. Elon Musk spoke about the great interest in Tesla AI at the Q3 2022 earnings call,
“Our goal with that AI Day was to push recruiting, and we’ve seen a massive influx of world class artificial intelligence engineers and scientists. It generated a tremendous amount of interest from some of the best AI researchers in the world.
I can’t emphasize the importance of this enough. Because I think, finally, it has become clear to the smartest AI technologists in the world, that Tesla is among the very best!” – Elon Musk
No other companies that aim to produce vehicles are like Tesla because they are relying on outdated, overpriced, and unreliable technology like Lidar and radar.
Elon Musk has stated before that Tesla will offer their autonomous capabilities to others. Thus far, I have not found any other vehicle manufacturer outside of China to be seriously mass-manufacturing electric vehicles.
No other carmaker in the world has scaled the production of EVs like Tesla has. Tesla aims to mass-produce autonomous-capable cars. Other manufacturers appear to be content with creating cars based on assembly techniques better suited to combustion cars and to employ “driverless systems” that are expensive, limited in speed, limited to where they are used, and cannot be scaled.
CONCLUSION
As shown in this article, Tesla vehicles are already capable of a high degree of autonomy in challenging situations including where there are no lane markings. If you define autonomy in the high-quality way that Tesla does, Tesla is so far ahead of any other company, and when they offer Robotaxi, it’s going to apply to every situation, and it will not be limited.
It’s hard to say if autonomy will be solved for Tesla in 2023 or beyond, but I do think that the larger the fleet of vehicles are, the closer we are to it.
As a Registered Nurse, I always advocate for maximum safety for humans, and this coincides with Tesla’s mission!
Currently, there has to be a driver in the seat supervising because the system still needs to be safer. When the driver detects an unsafe situation, that driver takes over and that data can be sent to Tesla
Tesla’s AI Team, the best of its kind in the world, strives to increase safety all the time. The smartest AI technologists in the world like to work for Tesla!
As safety reaches a point where it is above or equal to what the best human driver could do, we will start to see local regulatory agencies open the door to allowing Tesla to test Robotaxis on complex roads.
Who Will Benefit Once Tesla Autonomy is Solved? I believe a world where autonomy is the norm is closer than we realize. This article attempts to answer the question, who will benefit once Tesla autonomy is solved?
You can use Autopilot on your daily drives and disable it anytime during a drive
Images in this article of the Model Y Midnight Cherry Red are Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
Article Exclusive to What’s Up Tesla – October 29, 2022. All Rights Reserved. “My goal as an author is to support Tesla and Elon Musk in both making lives better on earth for humans and becoming a space-faring civilization.” – Gail Alfar
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Last week, my commute to work across Austin using Tesla Full Self Driving Beta version 10.69.2 was flawless! I continue to experience this daily.
I believe a world where autonomy is the norm is closer than we realize. This article attempts to answer the question, who will benefit once Tesla autonomy is solved?
Anyone who is unable or does not want to own a car
The Elderly and other People in need
Commercial Industry
Mars building team
Millions of people will avoid fatalities and injuries
Tesla Humanoid Robot
Anyone who is unable or does not want to own a car
Tesla S Interior, credit, Tesla Gallery
“Self-driving electric cars will be all that matters. Gas car without autonomy will be like riding a horse & using a flip phone. That still happens, but it’s niche.” July 2022 – Elon Musk
Three of my kids use Uber to get to work and school instead of owning a car, but the cost is high for this service. Going to work daily in a shared autonomous vehicle (a dedicated Robotaxi) will cost much less than today’s Uber or Lyft because an autonomous vehicle will not have to have a person at the wheel.
When costs to commute in dedicated Robotaxis become low enough, it can follow that many people will decide not to buy a vehicle.
The commute as we know it can be transformed when autonomy is solved.
Tim Urban tweeted, “The big story is hard to see when you’re inside of it. We’re all this wrong about something right now.” Tim quoted a newspaper clip from December 2000 from the Daily Mail which read “Internet may be just a passing fad as millions give up on it.” The article cited ‘experts’ from the Virtual Society project, which published a report saying that “predictions that the Internet would revolutionize the way society works have proved wildly inaccurate.”
So, as weird as it may sound, it may become niche to own a car at all in the future. Can we imagine a future where the majority of vehicles are autonomous?
“When the car is FSD without supervision, ie Robotaxi, you’ll be able to earn far more than monthly lease/loan cost by allowing others to use it. Managing a small fleet of Robotaxis will be a career for many & much better than driving a single car. “ October 2019 – Elon Musk
The Elderly and Other People in Need
I reached out to several Tesla owners and others for ideas, and many agree that when Tesla autonomy is solved, it can benefit the elderly and the disabled.
“I am completely blind, and would love to walk you through an average day, and how many times an autonomous vehicle would be of assistance.” rlloken
“It will give the elderly greater independence for longer. Also opens doors for the physically disabled folks who might not be able to drive currently.” Wanda Hudson
“People with physical disabilities and medical conditions such as seizure disorders & visual impairment would greatly benefit from such incredible technology. And those who depend on others to get places. For many, it will be independence they never experienced before.” IheartTesla
Tesla autonomy has to be able to work on roads that the car hasn’t been on before and in situations where there is no connectivity. This will help many people who live in rural areas to gain independence if they cannot own a car.
War situations put people in great danger and autonomous vehicles could help bring supplies and rescue people. Tesla autonomy has to be able to work in millions of unpredictable situations and that will include places with unrest.
Commercial Industry
Tesla Semi, credit, Tesla Gallery
Autonomous Tesla Semi will be a huge benefit to businesses and allow the trucker to perform other valuable tasks instead of tedious driving.
Autonomy will lead to lower costs for production and delivery of all goods and food throughout the entire supply chain. Delivering these essentials will be less expensive.
Mars Building Team
Credit Arash Malik Cybertruck is like a Mars Rover for Earth.
Elon Musk tweeted right after the official Cybertruck unveiling in Nov 2019,
“Tesla Cybertruck (pressurized edition) will be official truck of Mars.”
I believe that in our lifetime, humans will travel to Mars. When the Mars building team gets there they can all benefit from autonomous Cybertrucks that will help deliver and haul in extreme conditions. In this sense, these heavy-duty vehicles can protect human lives and help build the first outpost on Mars.
Just as there is a small window of opportunity for humans to make it to Mars, there is also a similar small window of time where full autonomy can be solved. Now is that time.
Millions of People will Avoid Fatalities and Injuries
Every day Tesla gets closer to solving autonomy, and we see vehicle safety improvements. Tesla does not intend to create autonomy that is specific to keeping a car in its lane or even lane changes. Autonomy for Tesla is a generalized solution.
"I definitely want talented people who are working on AI to consider working at Tesla because I think we’re solving an important part of AI, and one that can ultimately save millions of lives and prevent tens of millions of serious injuries by driving an order of magnitude safer than people.”
Elon Musk (at 2022 Sharholder's Meeting)
If you have ever taken care of kids you know how frightening it is when a child runs into a busy street. It is heartbreaking to hear about a life ending in a car crash.
There were 35,766 fatalities and 1,593,390 injuries from crashes in 2020 (source data NHTSA) There were a total of 5,982 pedestrian fatalities from being struck by a car (source data NHTSA). Distracted driving led to 3,142 deaths in 2020, NHTSA reported, “The number of fatalities in distraction-affected crashes, i.e., a crash involving at least one driver who was distracted, was 3,142 or 8.1 percent of all fatalities in 2020. This represents a 0.7-percent increase from 3,119 in 2019.” – Overview of Motor Vehicle Crashes 2020
Tesla expects the safety level of autonomous cars to be 10 times safer than non-autonomous cars.
Safety is emphasized in this excerpt from Tesla’s blog,
“In the US, there is one automotive fatality every 86 million miles across all vehicles from all manufacturers.
For Tesla, there is one fatality, including known pedestrian fatalities, every 320 million miles in vehicles equipped with Autopilot hardware.
If you are driving a Tesla equipped with Autopilot hardware, you are 3.7 times less likely to be involved in a fatal accident.
Tesla Autopilot does not prevent all accidents – such a standard would be impossible – but it makes them much less likely to occur.
It unequivocally makes the world safer for the vehicle occupants, pedestrians and cyclists.
No one knows about the accidents that didn’t happen, only the ones that did.
The consequences of the public not using Autopilot, because of an inaccurate belief that it is less safe, would be extremely severe.
There are about 1.25 million automotive deaths worldwide.
If the current safety level of a Tesla vehicle were to be applied, it would mean about 900,000 lives saved per year.
We expect the safety level of autonomous cars to be 10 times safer than non-autonomous cars.”
When Elon Musk spoke at the ONS 2022 conference in Norway, he emphasized the importance of having Tesla cars being able to do self-driving when he answered the question, “what keeps you up at night?” he stated,
“But I am fundamentally an engineer or a technologist and so the two technologies I am focused on to ideally, get done before the end of the year are getting our Starship to orbit, which I think is important for expanding consciousness beyond earth and life beyond Earth. And then, having the Tesla cars being able to do self driving. So have self driving and wide release at least In the USA, and hopefully, potentially in Europe, depending on regulatory approval.” – Elon Musk
Tesla is developing a helpful humanoid robot that will rely on the same technology that is available in every vehicle. At Tesla AI Day 2021, Elon Musk said,
It's around 5’ 8”, has sort of a screen where the head is for useful information, it’s otherwise basically got an autopilot system in it so its got cameras, about eight cameras, full self-driving computer, and makes use of all of the same tools that we use in the car.
Things that I think are really hard about having a useful humanoid robot is, can it navigate through the world without being explicitly trained? I mean without explicit line-by-line instructions?
Tesla AI Day Part 2 on September 30 will be very interesting as it will reveal the incredible progress as well as the challenges of building a humanoid robot whose purpose is to help humans in a world built by humans.
CONCLUSION
This quote from Tim Urban invites us all to imagine the future. “The big story is hard to see when you’re inside of it. We’re all this wrong about something right now.”
When Tesla Autonomy is solved, people of all ages can benefit. This article highlights these 6 ways:
The elderly and also the many talented people with disabilities that make it so they cannot drive
People who live in areas of unrest or war and even in rural areas
All of us because we depend on the commercial industry and its supply chain. When this becomes driven by autonomy, it will usher in a new era
We will go to Mars one day, and having an autonomous fleet of pressurized Cybertrucks there will help get the hard work done
Fatalities and injuries will be reduced by a large margin, saving millions of lives. Tesla expects the safety level of autonomous cars to be 10 times safer than non-autonomous cars
People will benefit from a high-functioning Telsa bot fleet, which relies on the same tools as Tesla cars
This article is part one of a series. It is written before “Tesla AI Day II.” We’ll look at this question again after the September 30 event. Tesla and SpaceX remain the top two most desirable places to work for engineers and hire some of the smartest people in the world to work on their AI Team.
Exclusive to What’s Up Tesla – This article was created by Gail Alfar with the goal to inspire you to support the important advancement of generalized autonomy as a force for good. The header photo is by @BLKMDL3 with permission. All Rights Reserved. September 18, 2022
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