Tesla's Full Self-Driving Version 12.5: The Next Step Towards Autonomous Driving

Tesla's Full Self-Driving Version 12.5

Tesla has initiated the broad release of its latest Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, version 12.5, marking another milestone in its ambitious pursuit of autonomous driving. While CEO Elon Musk has once again promised the imminent arrival of fully unsupervised self-driving, past experiences suggest a cautious approach to such claims.

Hardware Compatibility and Performance

This latest FSD update is being rolled out to vehicles equipped with Tesla's Hardware 4 (HW4) suite of sensors and processors. Owners of older Tesla models with Hardware 3 (HW3) will have to wait as the company works on optimizing the software for the less powerful hardware. Musk estimates this delay to be around ten days, although previous delays suggest it could take longer.

The gap between HW3 and HW4 performance highlights a growing concern among Tesla watchers: Is the older hardware capable of supporting the increasingly complex software required for FSD in its current state, let alone actual autonomous driving? With each update demanding more processing power, it's likely that HW3 will struggle to achieve the promised level of autonomy.

Enhancements and Skepticism

For those fortunate enough to have HW4, version 12.5 promises significant improvements. Musk has claimed that drivers could go a year without needing to intervene, a bold statement met with skepticism even among Tesla enthusiasts. The merging of highway and street driving stacks, a feature expected to improve the system's ability to handle complex driving scenarios, has been delayed until a later update, tempering expectations for version 12.5 and highlighting the challenges Tesla faces in integrating diverse driving environments.

Despite the lingering doubts and delays, the release of FSD 12.5 marks another step in Tesla's pursuit of autonomous driving. While the promises made by the CEO may never be fully realized by the current crop of vehicles, the progress made so far is undeniable.

New Features in FSD 12.5

The update potentially offers "5 to 10 times more miles per intervention," according to Musk. This means that drivers might only rarely need to take the wheel while FSD is active. The merging of highway and city navigation stacks, a feature expected to improve the system's ability to handle complex driving scenarios, has been delayed until a later update. This further tempers expectations for version 12.5 and highlights the challenges Tesla faces in integrating the diverse requirements of different driving environments.

Tesla's new Cybertruck will also receive FSD with version 12.5, as confirmed by Musk at the X Takeover event in San Luis Obispo, California. The release for the Cybertruck is expected "at some point in the next two to four-ish weeks," dependent on final testing and fusing together the highway and city navigation stacks.

Safety and Smoothness Enhancements

Tesla Autopilot Director Ashok Elluswamy has emphasized improving the safety and smoothness credentials with the latest version. He mentioned his personal test to not spill an open cup of coffee while driving on FSD, reporting that version 12.5 was the breakthrough for this mission on 30-minute-long drives.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite the advancements, the performance gap between HW3 and HW4 hardware underscores a growing concern. Can older Tesla models truly support the complex software demands of full self-driving? With each update requiring more processing power, it appears that HW3 might never achieve the promised level of autonomy.

Additionally, Tesla's ambitious timelines have often been met with delays. While Musk estimates a ten-day wait for HW3 vehicles to receive the update, past experiences suggest it could take longer. The merging of highway and street driving stacks, expected to enhance the system's ability to handle complex scenarios, has been postponed to a future update, highlighting the ongoing challenges Tesla faces.

Cost and Release Date

The rollout of FSD 12.5 is significant, yet it comes with a price. For HW3 vehicle owners, the delay might be frustrating, and the cost of upgrading to HW4 could be substantial. The merging of highway and street driving stacks, a feature that promises to enhance the system's capabilities, has been delayed to a later update, adding to the anticipation and skepticism surrounding Tesla's FSD journey.

In summary, Tesla's FSD 12.5 represents a crucial step towards fully autonomous driving, with significant improvements for HW4 vehicles. However, the performance gap between HW3 and HW4, along with the ongoing delays and challenges, raises questions about the feasibility of achieving true full self-driving in the near future. The journey continues, and with each update, Tesla inches closer to its ambitious goal, albeit with cautious optimism from its community of enthusiasts and skeptics alike.