Tesla FSD 12.5 is a HUGE Leap Forward (First Impressions & Highlights)

Summary

The video discusses the latest Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) software update, version 12.5, which is hailed as a significant improvement in smoothness, confidence, and comfort compared to previous versions. The speaker highlights enhanced driving behavior, smoother turns, better decision-making, and impressive handling of complex scenarios like avoiding accidents and interacting with pedestrians. Despite some minor issues, such as occasional curb proximity and unexplained lane changes, the update represents a big leap towards driverless capabilities. The speaker praises Tesla's AI team for making FSD feel more refined, confident, and enjoyable to use.

Takeaways

• 🚗 Full Self-Driving (FSD) 12.5 is a significant improvement over previous versions in terms of comfort, confidence, and consistency.
• 👍 Feedback from users across the US and Canada has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the smoothness and reliability of the update.
• 🧠 The AI driving model has been enhanced with 5x more parameters, leading to better predictions, accuracy, and performance in real-time.
• 🚦 The system handles complex driving situations, such as accidents and pedestrian interactions, with impressive decision-making and control.
• ☕ FSD 12.5 can pass the ‘coffee test,’ meaning it drives so smoothly that it won’t spill an open cup of coffee during a ride.
• 🖥️ Hardware 4 has an edge over Hardware 3, but FSD 12.5 will eventually come to Hardware 3 with some optimizations.
• 📈 The increase in parameters could pave the way for future versions to approach full Robo-taxi level autonomy.
• 🐱 FSD demonstrated smart recognition of animals in the road, like stopping smoothly for a cat, showing its awareness of non-vehicle obstacles.
• 🔧 This version performs better in tricky scenarios, like navigating through unprotected left turns, lane changes, and handling yellow lights.
• 🚨 Some challenges remain, such as tight proximity to curbs and handling red blinking lights, but overall, the update marks a huge leap forward.

Q & A

What makes the FSD 12.5 version a significant improvement compared to previous versions?

FSD 12.5 is considered a significant improvement due to its increased smoothness, confidence, and consistency in driving. It delivers better steering inputs, acceleration, and braking, making the ride feel more comfortable and natural. The overall decision-making, particularly in complex situations, has also improved.

What does the 5x increase in the parameter count of the driving model mean for FSD 12.5?

The 5x increase in the parameter count means that the FSD model can make better use of training data and has greater capacity for accurate predictions. This results in a more capable and confident driving system, allowing for smoother and more consistent behavior in real-world scenarios.

How does FSD 12.5 handle difficult traffic situations, like accidents or blocked intersections?

FSD 12.5 demonstrates enhanced decision-making in difficult traffic situations. In one example, it avoids moving into a left-hand turn lane because it recognizes oncoming cars using the lane to go around an accident. The system shows intent by creeping forward and waits for the right moment to proceed safely.

What is the role of smoothness in the FSD 12.5 update, and why is it important?

Smoothness in FSD 12.5 contributes to a more confident driving experience, as the car handles maneuvers with more control and less abruptness. This translates to a more comfortable ride, with fewer sudden stops or jerky movements, giving passengers the feeling that the car is making thoughtful and confident decisions.

How does FSD 12.5 handle yellow traffic lights compared to previous versions?

FSD 12.5 shows a marked improvement in how it handles yellow lights. It no longer brakes harshly or hesitates as much, opting for smoother transitions through intersections. However, opinions differ on whether it should brake harder or proceed more assertively at yellow lights.

What new ability has been demonstrated by FSD 12.5 in terms of lane changes?

FSD 12.5 shows improved anticipation in lane changes, such as quickly moving over to avoid slowing down behind vehicles with their hazard lights on or when detecting that the car ahead is preparing to slow down. This proactive behavior enhances the overall driving experience.

How does the system handle close encounters with curbs in version 12.5?

While FSD 12.5 has generally improved curb avoidance, there are still issues in some sweeping corners where the system gets uncomfortably close to curbs. In certain instances, the driver may need to disengage the system to avoid hitting the curb.

What challenges does FSD 12.5 face with blinking red lights?

FSD 12.5 struggles with blinking red lights, treating them like regular red lights instead of stop signs. The car often requires manual intervention from the driver, such as pressing the accelerator, to proceed through these intersections.

What are the differences between Hardware 3 and Hardware 4 when running FSD 12.5?

FSD 12.5 runs on both Hardware 3 and Hardware 4, but the latter has more potential due to its higher compute power. The parameter count increase in FSD 12.5 has led to a noticeable performance edge for Hardware 4. While Hardware 3 will receive the update, it might need future optimizations to match Hardware 4's capabilities.

How does FSD 12.5 handle pedestrian encounters compared to previous versions?

FSD 12.5 demonstrates more confidence around pedestrians. For instance, it can anticipate when pedestrians will move out of its path and proceeds without abrupt stops. This is a significant improvement in handling complex pedestrian interactions compared to earlier versions.