Tesla has initiated driverless robotaxi rides in Austin, marking a significant advancement in autonomous transportation technology. According to Tesla’s AI lead Ashok Elluswamy, the company plans to gradually increase the ratio of unsupervised vehicles within the robotaxi fleet over time.
CEO Elon Musk announced the news on X, stating, ‘Just started Tesla Robotaxi drives in Austin with no safety monitor in the car.’ Musk also called for engineers interested in real-world AI challenges to join the Tesla AI team, hinting at the potential development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
Initially, Tesla’s robotaxi deployment in Austin included safety operators in the front passenger seat. However, the recent transition to driverless rides signifies Tesla’s confidence in its autonomous driving technology. While not all vehicles in the fleet will operate without supervision initially, Tesla aims to integrate more unsupervised vehicles gradually.
Unlike some competitors like Zoox and Waymo, Tesla is charging for these driverless rides in Austin. Additionally, there are reports of chase cars accompanying the driverless vehicles, ensuring additional safety measures.
Source: TechCrunch