Tesla has highlighted multiple recent Full Self-Driving (FSD) experiences from customers with the v12 software, as shared in a mega-thread on X this week.
On Tuesday, the main Tesla X account shared an article featuring multiple FSD videos from customers across the platform, showing a number of edge cases and how the vehicles handled them. The drivers in the videos are using either FSD Supervised v12.3.4 or v12.3.6, and Tesla notes the specific situations tackled by the semi-automated driving system in each video.
The so-called article, which is essentially just the series of seven videos, details different edge-case traffic situations, showing off some of the positive encounters customers have recently had with the neural net-based system. We’ve embedded each video below, or you can check out the article directly on X here.
Navigating a construction zone & taking into account signs from workers indicating when to proceed
FSD 12.3.6 vs road works.
This was quite impressive!
Going up this hill, there were road works causing my lane to be closed. Workers were there with signs indicating when we could move.
Without hesitation, FSD put the indicator on and went around onto the other side, cleared the… pic.twitter.com/uazXrd8diN— Darryn Appleton (@DrTeslaFSD) May 16, 2024
Making a turn in a busy area with a large number of pedestrians crossing the street
How many pedestrians can FSD track simultaneously?
All of them.LA is nothing like Manhattan but we have this little area of town that gets super busy with tourists and a great test for FSD at low speed negotiation around pedestrians and traffic. The key for success is to always… pic.twitter.com/ASWWA0T3Ru
— Edge Case (@edgecase411) May 6, 2024
Driving like a human would—with good spatial awareness & reaction time
Thank you @Tesla and @elonmusk for #FSD v12.3.4 — avoiding hazards, oncoming traffic, merging in/out of lanes. Insanely good. Human. pic.twitter.com/PS8gnkxeSp
— CyberMan (@thalerz) April 15, 2024
Road etiquette matters
Navigating through heavy traffic in my Tesla Model X with FSD (Supervised) v12.3.4 today, my car showed impeccable manners, stopping to let a fellow driver pass. A true example of how technology can enhance road etiquette! pic.twitter.com/0iQFbg5iQc
— TeslaFamOnBoard – Jose Negron⚡️??? (@TeslaFamOnBoard) April 15, 2024
Braking for another vehicle despite having right of way
FSD deals with driver failing to yield due to light malfunction?@Tesla @cityoflubbock @LubbockPolice
Guys can we get Lubbock Traffic control on X! Would make reporting much easier!
9 Major Accidents Avoided! Save lives & drive a Tesla! pic.twitter.com/74EKlMg2Ze— Allen Iron (@myprojectpluto) May 23, 2024
Adjusting to real-life situations that require temporary overriding of traffic rules
Nothing to see here.
Just a robot car making a left at a light and calmly driving over a double yellow line avoiding a garbage truck.
No other car you can buy is capable of anything close to this.
FSD 12.3.4 pic.twitter.com/AKWHQmQ3Qu— Pete Balls to the wall FSD ?? (@kylaschwaberow) April 13, 2024
Giving adequate space to pedestrians
FSD V12 prioritizes pedestrian safety more than most human drivers pic.twitter.com/MH45CAo544
— AI DRIVR (@AIDRIVR) May 19, 2024
While it’s not entirely clear where Tesla’s social media and advertising divisions stand following multiple rounds of layoffs in the past several weeks, the company has taken no break from sharing select ads across socials.
Throughout late last year and early this year, Tesla’s focus on using social media platforms, especially X, as a means of advertising was becoming more apparent than ever. Meanwhile, many shareholders had been calling for the company to increase its advertising presence in general, especially for the sake of helping to educate the public on misconceptions about electric vehicles (EVs).
Many of the company’s executives had also been interacting directly with fans and shareholders on the social media platform in recent months, though at least a few of said executives have since departed. Tesla has also been highly focused on FSD ahead of the unveiling of a future robotaxi platform in August, recently offering free one-month trials of the software for the first time ever, and rolling out mandatory demos of the system with purchase of a vehicle.
The company is also seemingly preparing to launch FSD in China and potentially other markets in the coming months, being granted tentative approval in April. Recent wording spotted in a Tesla customer vehicle in China also suggests that FSD could be coming to the country sooner rather than later.
What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.
News
Tesla Cybercab display highlights interior wizardry in the small two-seater
Photos and videos of the production Cybercab were shared in posts on social media platform X.
The Tesla Cybercab is currently on display at the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., and observations of the production vehicle are highlighting some of its notable design details.
Photos and videos of the production Cybercab were shared in posts on social media platform X.
Observers of the Cybercab display unit noted that the two-seat Robotaxi provides unusually generous legroom for a vehicle of its size. Based on the vehicle’s video, the compact two-seater appears to offer more legroom than Tesla’s larger vehicles such as the Model Y, Model X, and Cybertruck.
The Cybercab’s layout allows Tesla to dedicate nearly the entire cabin to passengers. The vehicle is designed without a steering wheel or pedals, which helps maximize interior space.
Footage from the display also highlights the Cybercab’s large center screen, which is positioned prominently in front of the passenger bench. The display appears intended to provide entertainment and ride information while the vehicle operates autonomously.
Images of the vehicle also show an additional camera integrated into the Cybercab’s C-pillar. The extra camera appears to expand the vehicle’s field of view, which would be useful as Tesla works toward fully unsupervised Full Self-Driving.
Tesla engineers have previously explained that the Cybercab was designed to be highly efficient both in manufacturing and in operation. Cybercab Lead Engineer Eric E. stated in 2024 that the Robotaxi would be built with roughly half the number of parts used in a Model 3 sedan.
“Two seats unlocks a lot of opportunity aerodynamically. It also means we cut the part count of Cybercab down by a substantial margin. We’re gonna be delivering a car that has roughly half the parts of Model 3 today,” the Tesla engineer said.
The Tesla engineer also noted that the Cybercab’s cargo area can accommodate multiple golf bags, two carry-on suitcases, and two full-size checked bags. The trunk can also fit certain bicycles and a foldable wheelchair depending on size, which is quite impressive for a small car like the Cybercab.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s xAI wins permit for power plant supporting AI data centers
The development was reported by CNBC, citing confirmation from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).
Mississippi regulators have approved a permit allowing Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI to construct a natural gas power plant in Southaven. The facility is expected to support the company’s expanding AI infrastructure tied to its Colossus data center operations near Memphis.
The development was reported by CNBC, citing confirmation from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).
According to the report, regulators “voted to approve the permit” of xAI subsidiary MZX Tech LLC to construct a power plant featuring 41 natural gas-burning turbines “after careful consideration of all public comments and community concerns.”
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality stated that the permit followed a regulatory review process that included public comments and community input. Jaricus Whitlock, air division chief for the MDEQ, stated that the project met all applicable environmental standards.
“The proposed PSD permit in front of the board today not only meets all state and federal permitting regulations, but goes above and beyond what is required by law. MDEQ and the EPA agree that not a single person around our facilities will be exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution,” Whitlock stated.
The planned facility will help provide electricity for xAI’s AI computing infrastructure in the Memphis region.
The Southaven project forms part of xAI’s efforts to scale computing capacity for its artificial intelligence systems.
The company currently operates two major data centers in Memphis, known as Colossus 1 and Colossus 2, which provide computing power for xAI’s Grok AI models. xAI is also planning to build another large data center in Southaven called Macrohardrr, which would be located in a warehouse previously used by GXO Logistics.
Large-scale AI training requires substantial computing power and electricity, prompting technology companies to develop dedicated energy infrastructure for their data centers.
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell previously stated that xAI plans to develop 1.2 gigawatts of power capacity for its Memphis-area AI supercomputer site as part of the federal government’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge. The commitment was announced during an event with United States President Donald Trump.
“As part of today’s commitment, we will take extensive additional steps to continue to reduce the costs of electricity for our neighbors. xAI will therefore commit to develop 1.2 GW of power as our supercomputer’s primary power source. That will be for every additional data center as well. We will expand what is already the largest global Megapack power installation in the world,” Shotwell said.
“The installation will provide enough backup power to power the city of Memphis, and more than sufficient energy to power the town of Southaven, Mississippi where the data center resides. We will build new substations and invest in electrical infrastructure to provide stability to the area’s grid.”
Elon Musk
Tesla China teases Optimus robot’s human-looking next-gen hands
The image was shared by Tesla AI’s account on Weibo and later reposted by Tesla community members on X.
A new teaser shared by Tesla’s China team appears to show a pair of unusually human-like hands for Optimus.
The image was shared by Tesla AI’s account on Weibo and later reposted by Tesla community members on X.
As could be seen in the teaser image, the new version of Optimus’ hands features proportions and finger structures that look strikingly similar to those of a human hand. Their appearance suggests that they might have dexterity approaching that of a human hand.
If the image reflects a new generation of Optimus’ hands, it could indicate Tesla is continuing to refine one of the most critical components of its humanoid robot.
Hands are widely viewed as one of the most difficult engineering challenges in robotics. For Optimus to perform complex real-world work, from manufacturing tasks to household activities, its hands would need to be the best in the industry.
Elon Musk has repeatedly described Optimus as Tesla’s most important long-term product. In posts on social media platform X, Musk has stated that Optimus could eventually become the first real-world Von Neumann machine.
In theory, a Von Neumann machine is a self-replicating system capable of building copies of itself using available materials. The concept was originally proposed by mathematician John von Neumann in the mid-20th century.
“Optimus will be the first Von Neumann machine, capable of building civilization by itself on any viable planet,” Musk wrote in a post on X.
If Optimus is expected to carry out complex work autonomously in the future, high levels of dexterity will likely be essential. This makes the development of advanced robotic hands a key step towards Musk’s long-term expectations for the product.