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Xpeng executive names unlikely challenge for Tesla FSD in China

Credit: Arash Malek/X

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An Xpeng executive has a good idea of what might be Tesla’s biggest challenge for the rollout of its Full Self-Driving suite in China, and it might not be what you’d expect.

Tesla is working toward rolling out its Full Self-Driving suite in China after it landed regulatory approval in a preliminary sense several months ago. Described as tentative approval, Tesla is inching closer to being able to test its semi-autonomous driving functionality in the world’s largest automotive market.

While there are some likely competitors in the form of domestic companies that have been developing their own programs to attempt to alleviate a driver’s responsibilities behind the wheel, Xpeng’s head of Autonomous Driving, Li Liyun, said Wednesday on Weibo that Tesla will face an unlikely challenge: 300 million e-scooters.

The e-scooter market in China is astonishingly large, and many cities do not have dedicated lanes for non-motorized vehicles. The U.S. has bike lanes in many cities and towns, giving them their own space on the road that helps them share the road with vehicles.

This simply is not as present in China, and Liyun believes that the shortage of dedicated lanes in the country will present an interesting challenge for FSD.

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Liyun said that road conditions in China are much more complicated than in the U.S., and it may take some time for the company’s FSD suite to gain the experience needed to safely operate on the roads.

According to China’s CNEV Post, Liyung sees the notable presence of these types of vehicles in China giving Tesla headaches early on. The e-scooters are used in many cities as they are a reliable and efficient means of transportation for citizens who can complete all of their daily tasks without a car.

There are over 350 million electric scooters in China, according to Ministry of Industry and Information Technology data.

Liyun’s comments come just days after Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng said he was “truly impressed by the significant progress [of] FSD” as he rode the Tesla suite in California. He also experienced Waymo, which he said operated better in downtown San Francisco.

Xpeng CEO bullish on autonomy in Tesla FSD (Supervised) review

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I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.

Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

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Tesla posts FSD demonstrations in Australia and France

Tesla is expected to roll out a robotaxi service that uses FSD Unsupervised in Austin, Texas sometime next month.

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Credit: Tesla Europe & Middle East/X

Tesla definitely seems determined to prove that its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is capable of operating safely anywhere. This was highlighted by the company in a couple of videos posted on social media platform X, which showed the self-driving system in action in Australia and France.

Tesla is expected to roll out a robotaxi service that uses FSD Unsupervised in Austin, Texas sometime next month.

New FSD Unsupervised Demonstrations

To start off Tesla’s recent demonstrations, the Tesla AI Team posted a video of FSD Supervised being tested in Melbourne, Australia. The video was nearly two minutes long, and it featured FSD navigating the city’s busy inner streets. FSD handled the drive without any issues, even performing Australia’s infamous hook turn at one time. The demonstration was received warmly by the EV community, especially since FSD accomplished all this while operating an RHD vehicle. 

Another FSD demonstration, this time posted by the official Tesla Europe & Middle East X account, featured the Supervised self-driving system navigating France’s complicated Arc de Triomphe. The area is challenging, considering that it’s one of the largest roundabouts in the country. FSD Supervised, however, expertly handled the roundabout, pausing for cars as needed and maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles.

Tesla did place a disclaimer on its recent test videos, stating that “FSD (Supervised) engineering test drive in a prototype vehicle driven by a safety driver. For demonstration purposes only. FSD (Supervised) is a hands-on feature that requires driver control of the vehicle and attention on the road at all times. Future activation and use subject to development and regulatory approval.”

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FSD Unsupervised

Tesla is not yet rolling out FSD Unsupervised to consumer vehicles. The company, however, has been using the system to transport cars from the Fremont Factory and Giga Texas’ production lines to their respective staging areas. In Giga Texas, freshly produced Model Y units drive completely driverless for 1.4 miles before reaching its staging lot. The Cybertrucks, on the other hand, navigate a Boring Company tunnel on their way to their staging area.

Tesla is planning on releasing a dedicated robotaxi service using Model Y vehicles equipped with FSD Unsupervised in Austin, Texas this June. Previous reports also suggest that Tesla is hard at work preparing for the rollout of its robotaxi service, with the company reportedly testing 300 vehicles around Austin over the past months. Tesla has reportedly also conducted safety tests and training sessions with Austin’s first responders from the fire department and police as part of its robotaxi service preparations.

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United Airlines debuts Starlink Wi-Fi on Detroit flight

United’s first passenger flight with Starlink Wi-Fi just landed in Detroit. Mainline flights to follow by year-end.

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(Credit: United Airlines)

United Airlines debuted Starlink Wi-Fi on its first passenger flight to Detroit, marking a milestone in in-flight connectivity with SpaceX’s satellite internet.

On Thursday, the morning flight from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport introduced high-speed, gate-to-gate Starlink internet for United Airlines passengers. The Starlink-equipped United Embraer E-175, tail number UA5717, departed at 7:35 a.m. for Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

United announced the rollout on X, stating, “That lightning-fast Wi-Fi we told you about? It’s here. Our first customers just found out what it’s like to break the Wi-Fi barrier and stream, scroll, shop, and game just like at home with Starlink. And it’s FREE for MileagePlus members. Rolling out across our fleet now.”

The service leverages Starlink’s 7,000+ low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver broadband globally, including in remote areas. United is the only major U.S. airline currently offering Starlink. The airline plans to expand the service across its two-cabin regional fleet and introduce it on mainline flights by year-end.

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Sean Cudahy from The Points Guy tested Starlink’s Wi-Fi pre-launch, praising its ease and reliability. “I ran a speed test, and it clocked the Wi-Fi at 217 Mbps of download speed, and 26.8 Mbps of upload speed,” Cudahy shared, noting its suitability for long flights.

Beyond aviation, SpaceX is pitching Starlink as a GPS alternative, emphasizing its potential for Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services. This dual capability underscores Starlink’s versatility.

In a letter to the FCC, SpaceX wrote, “One opportunity stands out as a particularly ripe, low-hanging fruit: facilitating the rapid deployment of next-generation low-Earth orbit (‘LEO’) satellite constellations that can deliver PNT as a service alongside high-speed, low-latency broadband and ubiquitous mobile connectivity.”

As SpaceX expands Starlink’s applications, from aviation to navigation, United’s adoption signals a broader shift toward satellite-driven connectivity on long flights. With plans to equip more aircraft, United and Starlink are redefining in-flight internet, promising seamless digital access at 30,000 feet.

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xAI tackles Grok’s unsolicited responses after unauthorized change

xAI says an unauthorized prompt change caused Grok to post unsolicited political responses. A 24/7 monitoring team is now in place.

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xAI is tackling an issue with Grok, which posted unsolicited comments about “white genocide” in South Africa due to an unauthorized modification on May 14.

Elon Musk’s AI company is aiming to restore trust through enhanced transparency. The incident, reported on Thursday, underscores xAI’s commitment to reliable AI systems.

On Wednesday, X users noticed Grok delivering off-topic responses about “white genocide” under unrelated posts, including a query about HBO’s name changes. xAI clarified the cause in a recent statement.

“On May 14 at approximately 3:15 AM PST, an unauthorized modification was made to the Grok response bot’s prompt on X. This change, which directed Grok to provide a specific response on a political topic, violated xAI’s internal policies and core values. We have conducted a thorough investigation and are implementing measures to enhance Grok’s transparency and reliability.”

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The issue sparked concern among users, with screenshots showing Grok veering from appropriate answers to unsolicited political commentary. xAI’s swift response outlines corrective steps, including revising code review policies and publishing Grok’s system prompts on GitHub for public feedback. Additionally, xAI is introducing rigorous checks to its code review process and establishing a dedicated monitoring team.

“We’re putting in place a 24/7 monitoring team to respond to incidents with Grok’s answers that are not caught by automated systems, so we can respond faster if all other measures fail,” the company stated.

xAI’s actions reflect its proactive stance to prevent future mishaps and align with its mission to deliver trustworthy AI. The incident highlights the challenges of managing AI behavior in dynamic platforms like X, where Grok operates. By opening its prompts to scrutiny and bolstering oversight, xAI aims to rebuild user confidence and ensure Grok remains a reliable tool.

As xAI refines Grok’s framework, the company’s transparency measures could set a precedent for AI accountability. With enhanced monitoring and community input, xAI is poised to strengthen Grok’s role in fostering informed interactions, reinforcing its leadership in ethical AI development.

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