New In-Car Alerts Raise Eyebrows
Right, so for a few weeks now, Tesla drivers have been seeing some new alerts popping up on their screens. If the car reckons you’re getting a bit tired or drifting out of your lane, it flashes a message like, “Lane drift detected. Let FSD assist so you can stay focused” or “Drowsiness detected. Stay focused with FSD.” According to a report by WIRED, this feature, rolled out via a software update, is already causing a bit of a stir among Tesla owners here and overseas.
The issue is that these new prompts seem to clash with what Tesla says in its own owner’s manual. The manual is dead clear that drivers need to keep their full attention on the road, even when Full Self-Driving (FSD) is switched on. So, while the official documents are telling you to stay sharp, the car itself, in a critical moment, might be giving you the impression that the system can take over the hard yards.
Experts Warn of “Out-of-the-Loop” Dangers
Automation vs. Alertness: A Risky Mix
Proper experts are not mincing their words about these new alerts. “When drivers show signs of fatigue, the technology should be stepping in to sharpen their attention, not reduce it,” Alexandra Mueller from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety told WIRED. This taps into a well-known issue from the aviation world called the “out-of-the-loop” problem. Basically, when people rely on semi-automated systems, they can quickly lose track of what’s happening and can’t jump back in fast enough when things go pear-shaped. So, in those moments when you’re already feeling tired, handing over more control could actually make things worse, as the less you do, the quicker your concentration fades. Traffic researchers are calling this a serious safety risk.
Regulators Feeling the Heat
US Officials Launch Probe into FSD
It’s not just the safety gurus who are concerned; the politicians are also getting involved. Two Democratic senators in the US, Edward Markey and Richard Blumenthal, have sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), telling them to have a proper look into incidents involving Tesla’s FSD. This comes after complaints that the software has failed to reliably spot trains at railway crossings.
According to Reuters, the senators called this a “catastrophic risk,” pointing out that a stuff-up at a railway crossing is a whole lot more serious than missing a stop sign. The NHTSA has confirmed they’re aware of the incidents and are gathering more info. Tesla, for their part, has kept quiet on the matter so far.
Customers Getting Gatvol
Public Opinion on FSD Takes a Knock
Besides the pressure from government and safety bodies, it seems customers are also becoming a bit sceptical. A survey by Slingshot Strategies, reported by CNBC, found that FSD isn’t winning over many buyers. Only 14 percent of people had a positive view of the tech, while 35 percent were not impressed. Just under half of those asked were even in favour of banning it completely.
These findings come at a tough time for Tesla, as the company is already dealing with sluggish sales and ongoing investigations into accidents. The attempt to market FSD as their big competitive advantage might just be backfiring on them.
Optimus Bot Production Goals Slashed
Ambitious Robot Plans Hit a Snag
In other Tesla news, the company’s ambitious plan to pump out thousands of its humanoid Optimus robots by 2025 has been scrapped. It seems that getting the robot’s hands right is proving to be a real headache, forcing major design changes. The US tech magazine The Information reported on Tuesday that Tesla is backing down from its goal of producing at least 5,000 Optimus bots this year.
Originally, the plan was to manufacture a minimum of 5,000 units in 2025. Back in March, Elon Musk himself told employees that this was the target. But going from just a few dozen bots in 2024 to five thousand this year was a bit too ambitious. The Information reports the production target has now been chopped down to 2,000.
Technical Hurdles and Delays
Hands Prove to be a Handful
Even hitting that lower target is looking dodgy. The robot’s hands, which are the most technically complex part, have been causing delays. Design tweaks to the hands and forearms of the third-generation Optimus bot were meant to sort things out, but it means they won’t be able to produce thousands of them this year. It’s unclear exactly where they are with the redesigns now.
The delays aren’t just down to tricky hardware, though. The departure of Milan Kovac, who was leading the robotics engineering department, in June has left a gap. Now, the hardware design is being handled by Konstantin Laskaris, with Ashok Elluswamy looking after the software. According to The Information, some Tesla employees are quietly questioning whether building such complex humanoid robots for factory work is even a smart move, given the massive technical challenges and effort involved. Training the bots is also a schlep, often requiring custom videos to be made. For now, Tesla is using its own staff for this, but the long-term hope is to use freely available videos from the internet to teach the robot just about any task you can think of.