Elon Musk confirmed at Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting that the Full Self-Driving (FSD) software is about to reach a new milestone. According to him, one of the most popular features—the ability to text while the car drives itself—could be accessible within the next several months. This update, part of FSD version 14, is a significant step toward Tesla’s goal of completely autonomous driving. Musk dubbed this feature the “killer app” for autonomy since it addresses an issue that many drivers encounter daily: balancing attention on the road and keeping connected. While texting and driving is outlawed in most countries, Tesla believes that allowing the software to handle the driving may be safer than existing methods.
What Musk Said About Texting While Driving
Elon Musk made it clear that Tesla is nearing a point where drivers could legally and safely text while using FSD. He said, “And now with version 14, we’re actually getting to the point where we almost feel comfortable allowing people to text and drive, which is kind of the killer app because that’s really what people want to do and do do.”
Musk emphasized that the system would still monitor driver attention but allow more flexibility. This means the car will know if the driver is paying attention enough to remain safe while performing other tasks, like texting. He added, “In the next month or two, we’re going to look at the safety statistics, but we will allow you to text and drive essentially. So yes.”
A Major Shift in Driver Monitoring
One of Tesla’s biggest challenges has been balancing driver freedom with safety regulations. Currently, FSD enforces strict eye tracking using an in-cabin camera. Drivers must keep their eyes on the road, and the system can even remind them to apply torque to the steering wheel if their focus shifts. The upcoming FSD enhancements may ease these stringent restrictions. Musk emphasized that this may really improve driving safety. Many people now disable FSD merely to text and then restart it later. Allowing the car to handle driving while texting eliminates the chance of switching from manual to autonomous modes, which is more dangerous.
Safety Comes First
Musk stated that Tesla will not enable texting immediately. The company intends to study real-world safety data from FSD v14 during the next month or two. Only if statistics show the system is reliable will the limits be relaxed. This careful approach highlights Tesla’s commitment to safety, even as it pushes boundaries with autonomous driving.
Tesla’s FSD is still a supervised driver-assistance system. Currently, it requires drivers to pay attention and be ready to take control at any moment. However, Musk has been hinting at full autonomy for years, aiming to release a Level 5 self-driving system.
With the rollout of FSD version 14 across Tesla vehicles, including the new Cybertruck, Musk believes the company is close to a breakthrough. He even hinted that v14.3 could allow drivers to “pretty much fall asleep and wake up at your destination.” While past timelines for Tesla autonomy have been optimistic, recent developments, like the Robotaxi rollout in Austin, suggest that a future with true self-driving cars may be nearer than many think.
