Tesla's FSD Beta program has been progressing more slowly in recent months, the latest iteration, V11.4.6, was released in July, yet it reached only a fraction of Tesla's user base, with just 78 cars on TeslaFi receiving the update. However, responding to a Tesla fan on X.com, Elon Musk stated an even newer build, 11.4.7, will be going "wide release within a week." Yes, we all know about Musk's timelines, but after such a slowdown in updates, Tesla must have something to get out to testers.
99% Based on AI
But it's not all about delays and anticipation. Musk also shared fascinating details about the upcoming major release of FSD software, Version 12. This one is slated to be out of beta, unlike previous versions. It represents a total rewrite, with approximately 99% of the code being neural networks, according to the CEO. Musk describes the build as "mind-blowing", which has ignited excitement. Nevertheless, he also cautioned that FSD V12 would not go public anytime soon, due to the need for extensive testing and validation.
Current Improvements and Challenges
Back to the latest beta version news, 11.4.6 promised several improvements, including short-deadline lane changes, adjusting speed more comfortably, handling of oncoming cars on narrow unmarked roads, better handling near crosswalks, and enhancements to Automatic Emergency Braking, according to the release notes. Still, only a tiny fraction of users have had a chance to try it out, as most are still on Beta 11.4.4.
Adding to the complexity, Tesla has released newer builds like 2023.12, 2023.20, and 2023.26, even with earlier V11.3.6 FSD Beta software. This situation has created a rift between those with the new builds and those awaiting the latest FSD Beta versions. Particularly affected are the owners of Model S, Model X, and recent Model Y vehicles with Hardware 4, as they have not yet had the opportunity to test FSD Beta.
The wait for Tesla's latest FSD Beta updates has blended excitement and frustration, especially with Musk predicting FSD Beta will reach level 4 this year. The upcoming release of version 11.4.7 offers hope, as it promises to reach more users soon. However, it's hard not to look past these beta versions in anticipation of Version 12, where we should see more significant improvements.
