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Back to the Elon Musk. Podcast. This is a show where we discuss the critical Crossroads, the Shape, SpaceX, Tesla X, The Boring Company, and Neuralink, and I'm your host, Will Walden. Tesla is gearing up to release a new update for its full self driving system, version 12.4, which is anticipated to launch sometime next week.
Elon Musk recently announced this on his X account, highlighting significant advancements and improvements in the system, and this update follows the previously released version 12 point 3.6 and aims to enhance the driving experience by refining how the car handles accelerating and braking. Now Musk has expressed that the latest version of Tesla's FSD will dramatically improve user experience, asserting that it
will blow your mind. This update, FSD 12.4, reportedly features nearly entirely retrained models with focus on smoothed out riding, addressing common concerns about the abruptness of the cars movements. Now, according to Musk, the Autopilot team at Tesla has moved beyond resolving urgent safety concerns to refining the system's performance, indicating a significant progression in the technology's development. He noted. The final touches are. For comfort.
As it sometimes accelerates or brakes too fast for most people's taste, this improvement suggests that the fundamental functionalities of FSD have reached a reliable baseline, allowing the team to focus on enhancing user comfort. And beyond the immediate release, Tesla is already working on subsequent versions of the FSD tech.
Versions 12.5 and 12.6 are currently in different stages of testing, dealing with complex driving scenarios that include navigating through narrow one way roads and managing unexpected Rd. closures effectively. Now must detail the specific scenario being tested where Tesla needs to reverse out of a blocked path and find a new route. He said that it's very important of these updates being communicated across Tesla's network to avoid congestion and sure all vehicles are aware of
changes within real time. Now these advancements are particularly crucial as Tesla prepares to launch its Robo Taxi model. Quote The Cyber Cab scheduled to be introduced on August 8th of 2024. Now the ongoing development in FSD technology is crucial for the success of this new venture as autonomous driving capabilities will be a key feature of the Cyber Cab. Now Tesla's recent enhancements also include improvements in
parking technology. Latest FSD update prior to 12.4 introduces features like Auto Park and High Fidelity Park Assist specifically designed for vehicles equipped with ultrasonic sensors in North America.
Now, Musk's ongoing communication on X serves as a primary source for updates on Tesla developments, and his posts provide insights into both the current enhancements and the strategic direction for future updates, ensuring that Tesla users and fans and enthusiasts are well informed about what to
expect. So Tesla's efforts are not just limited to hardware improvements, but also significant investments in AI. Musk has committed approximately $10 billion in 2024 for developing AI capabilities, essentially for maintaining Tesla's competitive edge in automotive technology and with an eye on global markets.
Tesla is preparing for the expansion of its FSD tech, starting with China, and Musk's recent discussions in Beijing indicate that Tesla is negotiating terms for FSD development and data sharing, essentially steps for launching
the technology in new markets. However, while Tesla is optimistic about its expansion in left hand drive countries, right hand drive markets such as the UK and Australia might see delays, and Musk acknowledges the challenges and expresses A cautious optimism toward achieving successful rollouts in these regions. Now, on a different note, Tesla appears to be undergoing organizational changes back in the US Recent reports suggest a hiring freeze with a significant
reduction in job listings. On Tesla's career page, they wiped out all career listings. This is for a broader restructuring within the company and only a few positions are currently advertised, mainly for Tesla's manufacturing development program in the USA. Significant decrease from previous listings. This change follows a series of layoffs aimed at streamlining the operations and enhancing
productivity across the company. It's been about 14,000 people that have been laid off or fired from Tesla and must. Communication with Tesla employees highlights his focus on efficiency and cost reduction. In a recent internal communications, he's showed that the necessity of these measures to prepare for future growth and the harsh reality of job cuts within the US and also a shifting direction of Tesla towards AI.
The recently layoffs have affected many employees across various departments, indicating a significant reshaping of Tesla's workforce. This includes high profile executives and senior positions, suggesting a major reevaluation of staffing needs against the backdrop of Tesla's evolving strategic goals like getting rid of the $25,000 lower price Tesla car and moving towards the cyber cab.
Now, despite these challenges, Musk continues to advocate for rigorous standards within his team, demanding high performance and essential contributions as criteria for job security. This approach reflects his broader vision for Tesla as a leaner, more focused entity capable of sustaining innovation and efficiency, and as Tesla navigates these internal changes and external advancements in technology.
So the success of these updates and the integration of advanced AI and autonomous driving caabilities will likely play a crucial role in Tesla's future, especially with the ucoming launch of the cyber cab. Hey, thank you so much for listening today. I really do appreciate your
support. If you could take a second and hit the subscribe or the follow button on whatever podcast platform that you're listening on right now, I'd greatly appreciate it. It helps out the show tremendously and you'll never miss an episode and each episode is about 10 minutes or less to get you caught up quickly. And please, if you want to support the show even more, go to patreon.com/stage Zero and please take care of yourselves and each other and I'll see you tomorrow.