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I own a Model X. I love the car in many ways. However, I also think the automation is stupider than a 2 year old. Would you trust a 2 year old to drive your car
by timewarrior 8y ago
I own a Model X. I love the car in many ways. However, I also think the automation is stupider than a 2 year old. Would you trust a 2 year old to drive your car or to decide when to close your Garage door?
I use the Auto-Steer, only when road is empty, is in a reasonably straight line and I am in the middle lane of at least 3 lane road. Otherwise I don't use it. It might also be fine to use it in stop and go on a divided highway because there is on way you will die at those speeds even if you are in an accident.
But sadly, some people trust the car automation with much more than what it is capable of. This leads to accidents like these. And I would blame Tesla here. Tesla has clearly been misleading in marketing this feature. Not everyone is very savvy and they sometimes take what a company says at face value. I have really smart friends who have seen the AutoPilot link [https://www.tesla.com/autopilot https://www.tesla.com/autopilot] and think that Tesla already have these advanced features.
In the end Tesla is just slightly more advanced than autonomous features of other manufacturers. However, Tesla claims to be much more advanced than others. Because it claims a lot more credit than it deserves, it's only fair that they also face criticism proportionately when the system fails.
Normally, I am against unnecessary regulation. However in this case, I think it is important to bring regulations around consistent messaging and 3rd party rating for autonomous features from all manufactures. We can't have "Move fast and break things" kill people. It's not the same thing as a social app losing a few posts.
Tesla should rename it's feature to "Drive Assist+" whatever, because that is all it is.
On an ending note - I feel sad that the deceased continued to use Autopilot at this spot, when it was known to them that is has failed at the same spot multiple times. If someone well educated, tech savvy and already aware of the problem can fall for this, I worry that a lot more people might do worse.
- cpt1138 8y agoIf the usage is so subjective, I can't even understand why its allowed. You seem to be saying its no better than a two year old driving. You create a situation in which its "ok" for a two year old to drive? We have laws that state no 2yo's are allowed to be behind the wheel. Why is this 2yo allowed at all?
- darkstar999 8y agoThe same reason cruise control is allowed.
- timewarrior 8y agoExactly. I used Cruise control for the longest time. However having used Autonomous features on Tesla and Mercedes, I can't use Cruise Control anymore. It's just too risky. Tesla Autonomous features have the brains of a 2 year old and consistency of a machine. Which is why there is some value to it.
- rohit2412 8y agoI think the solution is to hold Elon Musk/Tesla liable for their misleading statements on FSD, Tesla Network, AP2 and their timelines about future capability. Future promises if made should come with renaming the product to highlight its capabilities.
- akvadrako 8y agoThat's potentially very complicated. As long as drivers are required to purchase insurance and insurance is required to pay out fair sums for accidental death, the accountability should come automatically in the form of higher rates.
- rohit2412 8y agoDo you also hold the same view regarding medicines? That the FDA shouldn't regulate medicines, and manufacturers can make insane promises? After all, we love free market over human lives.
- cpt1138 8y agoWith cruise control all it does is maintain your speed and with the more advanced cameras your distance from the vehicle ahead of you. There is absolutely no instance where you would ever take your hands off the steering wheel with cruise control. Only your feet off the pedals.