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Elon Musk's Driverless Tesla Robotaxi Journey in Austin Sparks Debate

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, recently made headlines by claiming a fully autonomous Robotaxi navigated him through Austin with no human safety monitor present. This assertion has ignited considerable discussion regarding the safety and readiness of Tesla's self-driving technology for public use, especially as the company pushes towards broader deployment of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.

Musk shared his experience on social media, stating that the driverless Tesla performed flawlessly during his ride across Austin. His claim was echoed by Tesla's AI lead, Ashok Elluswamy, who posted a video from inside a Robotaxi, also operating without a safety driver. However, this video inadvertently highlighted a potential issue, showing the vehicle momentarily exceeding the posted speed limit, which could provoke skepticism about the system's reliability and adherence to traffic laws before its widespread introduction.

The safety concerns surrounding Tesla's autonomous technology are not new. Dan O’Dowd, founder of The Dawn Project, has previously voiced strong reservations about the system's ability to operate safely without human intervention. These ongoing discussions emphasize the critical need for rigorous testing and transparent data as autonomous driving capabilities evolve.

Despite the controversies, Tesla continues to advance its FSD technology, with plans for international expansion. The company is actively working with the Dutch Vehicle Authority (RDW) to deploy FSD in Europe by February 2026. This collaboration underscores Tesla's commitment to overcoming regulatory hurdles and integrating its autonomous vehicles into new markets, potentially transforming urban transportation.

Amidst these developments, there's a growing debate about the sophistication of Tesla's software compared to competitors like Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo. While some, including Nvidia Corp.'s head of Robotics, commend Tesla's FSD for its human-like driving precision, Elon Musk himself has indicated that the company's software has significantly evolved since the departure of former AI lead Andrej Karpathy, whose understanding of the system, according to Musk, is now outdated. This suggests a continuous and rapid development cycle within Tesla's autonomous driving division.

The deployment of Robotaxis in Austin, though potentially on a smaller scale than initially projected, marks a significant step for Tesla. The company’s performance in various metrics, including momentum and quality, remains strong, although value aspects are noted as less favorable. The trajectory of Tesla's stock price also shows positive trends across short, medium, and long terms, reflecting investor confidence despite the challenges and debates surrounding its autonomous technology.

Vitalik Buterin Weighs In on Grok's Impact on X: A 'Truth-Friendliness' Boost Amidst Bias Concerns

Vitalik Buterin, a co-creator of Ethereum, has publicly praised the integration of Grok, an AI chatbot, into the X platform, citing its substantial contribution to promoting factual accuracy. He positioned Grok's role as a critical advancement for the platform's reliability, second only to the established Community Notes feature, highlighting its ability to provide immediate fact-checks for users.

Buterin observed that Grok frequently challenges users' unfounded political beliefs, indicating its effectiveness in dispelling misinformation rather than confirming biases. Despite expressing reservations that Grok's learning process, which incorporates human feedback, could inadvertently reflect the perspectives of X's owner, Elon Musk, he ultimately asserted that the platform's current state with Grok is preferable to navigating unchecked and potentially misleading information from other sources.

Furthermore, Buterin introduced the concept of the 'stationary bandit theory' to support his view, suggesting that prominent, long-standing figures such as Musk possess a vested interest in fostering an environment of transparency, unlike those who might seek short-term gains through less scrupulous means. This commentary isn't Buterin's first engagement with Musk's platform; he previously criticized X for deviating from its foundational goal of free speech, alleging that its algorithms were manipulated to favor or suppress certain content, and Musk has hinted at the upcoming release of Grok 5 in early 2026, projecting its advanced intelligence could potentially rival human cognitive abilities.

The advent of sophisticated AI tools like Grok on platforms such as X marks a significant evolution in how information is disseminated and verified. While the potential for inherent biases in AI systems remains a valid concern, the capacity for these tools to foster a more informed public discourse by actively challenging misinformation and encouraging transparency offers a promising path forward. This commitment to truth and open information exchange is essential for the healthy development of digital communities and the progress of society as a whole.

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Tesla FSD v14: Rain Performance Concerns Raised by Investor Ross Gerber

Investor Ross Gerber of Gerber Kawasaki recently highlighted potential limitations of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) v14.2.1.25 system, specifically its functionality during rainfall. His observations emerged as industry experts have otherwise lauded the FSD v14's advancements. Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has publicly affirmed significant strides in the company's autonomous driving capabilities, even claiming to have been driven autonomously in a Tesla Robotaxi in Austin without a safety monitor.

Investor Raises Concerns Over Tesla FSD v14 Performance in Inclement Weather

On Wednesday, December 26, 2025, investor Ross Gerber, a co-founder of Gerber Kawasaki, took to social media platform X to share his recent experience with Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. While testing the FSD 14.2.1.25 update on his Cybertruck during a rainy outing, Gerber encountered a notable issue. The FSD system displayed a 'Autopilot Visibility Limited' prompt, advising the driver to clear debris from the camera. However, Gerber noted, "There is no dirt. It's just rain," suggesting that the system was misinterpreting raindrops as obstructions. This incident prompts further inquiry into the FSD's robustness in adverse weather conditions. His recent experience contrasts with his earlier positive assessment of the FSD v14 update's overall improvements. Concurrently, Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, has been vocal about the progress of the company's autonomous technology. He recently reported being driven autonomously around Austin by a Tesla Robotaxi, emphasizing the absence of a safety monitor during the ride. This claim aligns with Musk's stated goal of deploying driverless operations in Austin by the end of the year, a target that has been supported by recent sightings of Tesla Robotaxis operating autonomously in the city.

The disparity between these firsthand accounts highlights the ongoing challenges and rapid developments in autonomous vehicle technology. While the FSD system shows promise and receives high praise for its advancements, its performance in varied real-world conditions, such as rain, remains a critical area for further refinement and public assessment. This underscores the need for continued rigorous testing and transparent reporting of autonomous driving systems' capabilities and limitations.

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