Tesla has officially begun deploying the highly anticipated Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta version 12 to select customers, marking a significant milestone in the development of its autonomous driving technology. Customers who have received the update are now sharing their initial experiences with the neural net-based software.
Mark Bixby, a long-time FSD beta user, described the jump from version 11 to version 12 as “the biggest release-to-release improvement” he has seen yet. In a detailed post on Facebook, Bixby highlighted several improvements, including turning trajectory, turn signals, and low visibility turns. However, he also cautioned that drivers should remain vigilant and ready to take over control of the car, as the FSD beta is still in beta and requires driver monitoring at all times.
See also: Tesla Enhances Navigation Features with Software Update 2024.2.6
My first impressions of Tesla FSD Beta v12.2.1 as a nobody customer but FSD test pilot since October 2021 — WOW, JUST WOW! Four steps forward, one step back. 😉
Long narrative here:https://t.co/QtqhqZE4fN pic.twitter.com/DHiOqZb0CK
— Mark Bixby (@MarkBixby) February 20, 2024
“While v12.2.1 didn’t do anything dangerous for me today, don’t be lulled by the amazing improvements,” Bixby emphasized. “It’s still beta software, you are still the driver, and you still have the liability if anything goes horribly wrong.”
See also: Tesla Begins Employee Testing of FSD Beta v12.2.1, Public Launch Expected Soon
One notable feature of FSD beta version 12 is its ability to successfully execute U-turns without specific programming. Instead, the software relies on its neural network-based approach to learn and perform this function.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has touted FSD beta version 12 as a crucial step towards achieving full autonomy. The update eliminates over 300,000 lines of human-written code that controlled functions such as steering, acceleration, and braking, transitioning to rely entirely on its neural network trained by millions of frames of video from real-world driving scenarios.
The ultimate goal, according to Musk, is for FSD beta version 12 to control the car instead of simply detecting objects and operating based on programmed rules. Tesla’s FSD beta version 12 represents a significant advancement in autonomous driving technology and is expected to pave the way for future developments in this field.
