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It’s always been weird to me that it seems like it’s assumed that the world really wants FSD. It clearly has its benefits in freight transport via truck, as the

It’s always been weird to me that it seems like it’s assumed that the world really wants FSD. It clearly has its benefits in freight transport via truck, as the value add there is clear. When it comes to personal transportation, however, where’s the value add? It seems like adoption would be fueled by personal preference, and in my experience people tend to want to retain control where there is an option to do so. It’s possible this is a solution searching for a problem.

saberience 3y ago
I have to disagree here, as someone with two elderly parents, one of whom has stopped driving due to eye sight issues, having FSD would be hugely impactful. There are many, many people out there who don’t drive or can’t drive for various reasons and FSD would enable them to be independent, get jobs, see friends and family. Not everyone lives in areas with decent public transport and with my parents, they live in a hilly area where walking to use public transport is at most very difficult and at worst impossible. Another example, I know a fairly young man who had started having seizures in his 30s and was disqualified from having a driving license, FSD would change his life. What about all the people who didn’t get a driving license for one reason or another? For me personally, while I can drive fine, I would much prefer to study or read or long car journeys and would love a car which is more like a moving living room, so I can sit and work at my laptop while the car takes me to my destination. I assure you there is a massive, massive market for the first company that really cracks this problem.
lll-o-lll 3y ago
FSD may not be the earth shattering feature that every consumer is looking for (although it would be a big differentiator). However, for taxis, trucks, any transport where an expensive human can be removed, it would be paradigm shifting. You know, like the EM Drive would have been if it had worked, or the room temperature super conductor, or cold fusion. It gets airplay because it’s easy to imagine all the cool things that would be possible if it were real. Like FLT. Musk said himself; Tesla is worth practically nothing without FSD. https://electrek.co/2022/06/15/elon-musk-solving-self-driving-difference-between-tesla-worth-a-lot-or-nothing/#:~:text=Musk%20suggests%20that%20Tesla%20would,solve%20despite%20several%20missed%20timelines https://electrek.co/2022/06/15/elon-musk-solving-self-drivin.... Tesla is just another car company if these hopes and dreams aren’t true.
OJFord 3y ago
Sure some people love driving, but (and even if we say those people always do) some just don't care, the car is a tool, an A->B transportation mechanism, and the time they spend operating the machinery is time and mental taxation they could spend on something else: sleeping, reading, watching, conversing/thinking/anything to a greater extent than they feel they can safely while driving, etc. And we don't really know how liability will end up working when regulators start approving them (assuming that happens), but I would love it if it meant any potential issue or collision was never my fault or my problem - no concern that even though I didn't believe it was my fault I had to convince someone else, find a witness, deal with all that. Just like taking a taxi, except it's there waiting for you whenever you're not using it. It's a chauffeured car for the masses, really. And that is evidently something that people do want.
Mashimo 3y ago
> When it comes to personal transportation, however, where’s the value add? Doing other stuff, like watching a movie, resting/sleeping or maybe even working. Could be cool in an RV. Go to sleep, wake up in a different location without "waiting" Or send your car to pick you up at the airport / train station.
solumunus 3y ago
People pay to be driven places all the time, it's a huge global industry! I'm not sure how the value add is eluding you because you must know this. People rich enough almost always pay for a driver so they can conduct business or relax while going from one place to another, it simply buys you time to do more productive things than driving. Giving that option to everyone on the planet who can afford a car, you don't see the value add in that?

saberience 3y ago

I have to disagree here, as someone with two elderly parents, one of whom has stopped driving due to eye sight issues, having FSD would be hugely impactful. There are many, many people out there who don’t drive or can’t drive for various reasons and FSD would enable them to be independent, get jobs, see friends and family. Not everyone lives in areas with decent public transport and with my parents, they live in a hilly area where walking to use public transport is at most very difficult and at worst impossible. Another example, I know a fairly young man who had started having seizures in his 30s and was disqualified from having a driving license, FSD would change his life. What about all the people who didn’t get a driving license for one reason or another? For me personally, while I can drive fine, I would much prefer to study or read or long car journeys and would love a car which is more like a moving living room, so I can sit and work at my laptop while the car takes me to my destination. I assure you there is a massive, massive market for the first company that really cracks this problem.

lll-o-lll 3y ago

FSD may not be the earth shattering feature that every consumer is looking for (although it would be a big differentiator). However, for taxis, trucks, any transport where an expensive human can be removed, it would be paradigm shifting. You know, like the EM Drive would have been if it had worked, or the room temperature super conductor, or cold fusion. It gets airplay because it’s easy to imagine all the cool things that would be possible if it were real. Like FLT. Musk said himself; Tesla is worth practically nothing without FSD. https://electrek.co/2022/06/15/elon-musk-solving-self-driving-difference-between-tesla-worth-a-lot-or-nothing/#:~:text=Musk%20suggests%20that%20Tesla%20would,solve%20despite%20several%20missed%20timelines https://electrek.co/2022/06/15/elon-musk-solving-self-drivin.... Tesla is just another car company if these hopes and dreams aren’t true.

OJFord 3y ago

Sure some people love driving, but (and even if we say those people always do) some just don't care, the car is a tool, an A->B transportation mechanism, and the time they spend operating the machinery is time and mental taxation they could spend on something else: sleeping, reading, watching, conversing/thinking/anything to a greater extent than they feel they can safely while driving, etc. And we don't really know how liability will end up working when regulators start approving them (assuming that happens), but I would love it if it meant any potential issue or collision was never my fault or my problem - no concern that even though I didn't believe it was my fault I had to convince someone else, find a witness, deal with all that. Just like taking a taxi, except it's there waiting for you whenever you're not using it. It's a chauffeured car for the masses, really. And that is evidently something that people do want.

Mashimo 3y ago

> When it comes to personal transportation, however, where’s the value add? Doing other stuff, like watching a movie, resting/sleeping or maybe even working. Could be cool in an RV. Go to sleep, wake up in a different location without "waiting" Or send your car to pick you up at the airport / train station.

solumunus 3y ago

People pay to be driven places all the time, it's a huge global industry! I'm not sure how the value add is eluding you because you must know this. People rich enough almost always pay for a driver so they can conduct business or relax while going from one place to another, it simply buys you time to do more productive things than driving. Giving that option to everyone on the planet who can afford a car, you don't see the value add in that?