Distinct scene — The hero image features a close-up of the Cybertruck's steering wheel with the driver's hands visible, but their eyes are cast📷 Photo by Tech&Space
- ★Tesla promotes FSD
- ★FSD not fully autonomous
- ★Ophthalmologist recommends FSD
Tesla North America's official account on X promoted a video interview of a new Cybertruck owner who says his ophthalmologist recommended he buy a Tesla with 'Full Self-Driving' because he is losing his eyesight. According to Electrek, this promotion is problematic. Tesla itself classifies FSD as a Level 2 driver-assist system that requires driver monitoring at all times — and the driver is responsible for the vehicle at all times.
The issue here is that Tesla's promotion of FSD is fundamentally incompatible with its requirement that drivers must monitor the vehicle. As The Verge notes, this incompatibility raises questions about the safety and efficacy of FSD. It appears that Tesla is trying to have it both ways, promoting FSD as a solution for people with disabilities while also requiring drivers to be fully attentive at all times.
This tension between Tesla's marketing and the reality of FSD is not new. As Wired has reported, Tesla has been criticized for its aggressive marketing of FSD, which some argue is misleading and potentially dangerous. The company's decision to promote FSD as a solution for people with disabilities is likely to add fuel to this criticism.
Tesla's FSD Hype📷 Photo by Tech&Space
Demo vs. deployment reality
The community is responding to Tesla's promotion of FSD with skepticism. Some users report that they are concerned about the safety implications of FSD, particularly in situations where the driver is not fully attentive. As GitHub discussions show, the technical community is also debating the merits of FSD and its potential limitations.
The real signal here is that Tesla is trying to navigate a complex regulatory and technical landscape. As Forbes notes, the company is facing increasing scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers, who are concerned about the safety and efficacy of autonomous vehicles. The gap between Tesla's marketing and the reality of FSD is likely to be a major point of contention in this debate.
For all the noise, the actual story is about the limitations of FSD and the need for more transparency and accountability from Tesla. As TechCrunch reports, the company needs to be more clear about the capabilities and limitations of FSD, and to provide more data and evidence to support its claims.