Tesla teases new FSD features — but it’s still not the self-driving promised

Tesla plans to introduce new Full Self-Driving (FSD) features that will allow the system to remember parking preferences and enable voice interaction via Grok, Elon Musk announced this week. These upcoming capabilities aim to enhance user convenience by allowing drivers to communicate with the vehicle as if giving directions to a taxi driver. While these additions highlight the advancements in FSD's current performance, they also reinforce its status as a driver-assist system requiring supervision, rather than the fully autonomous self-driving technology that Tesla has marketed to its customers. The company has previously faced scrutiny and regulatory attention regarding its FSD claims, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigating its Autopilot and FSD systems. Despite these developments, Tesla continues to position FSD as a key differentiator, with Musk suggesting that the system's capabilities are rapidly evolving towards greater autonomy. The integration of Grok, Tesla's AI chatbot, into FSD is a significant step in this direction, promising a more intuitive human-machine interface. However, the fundamental requirement for a human driver to remain attentive and ready to take control persists, distinguishing it from true self-driving capabilities.