Former Tesla FSD Leader, Karpathy, Offers Glimpse into the Future of Artificial General Intelligence – Not a Tesla App

January 29, 2024

By Kevin Armstrong

Andrej Karpathy, former Tesla Autopilot Director, offers a fascinating perspective on Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) by drawing parallels with the evolution of self-driving technology. As the world grapples with the implications of AGI, Karpathy suggests that the trajectory of autonomous vehicles provides valuable insights into what AGI might entail and its impact on society.

The blog post has since been deleted, but you can still check it out here; Karpathy defines AGI as an autonomous system exceeding human capabilities in most economically valuable tasks. This definition hinges on two criteria: complete autonomy and broad economic applicability. According to Karpathy, the journey of self-driving technology exemplifies the societal dynamics of increasing automation and, by extension, AGI's potential evolution.

Self-driving technology stands out due to its high visibility, significant economic footprint, large human workforce, and the complex challenge of automating driving. Unlike other sectors that have seen automation, the path to self-driving is a prime example of AGI's characteristics: accessibility, economic importance, workforce impact, and technical challenge.

Karpathy outlines the gradual development of driving automation. Initially, vehicles featured Level 2 driver assistance, where AI collaborates with humans in navigation, handling many low-level driving aspects while allowing human intervention. This partial automation is analogous to AI tools in various industries, like GitHub Copilot in programming, highlighting the incremental nature of AI advancement.

The leap to full automation, as seen in Waymo's driverless cars, marks a significant milestone. In cities like San Francisco, Waymo offers autonomous rides in a small, geo-fenced area, however, it helps showcase a future where AI will surpass human driving abilities. The transition to full autonomy will depend on public awareness, trust, preferences, and supply constraints in creating a large automated fleet.

The globalization of full automation, Karpathy notes, is a gradual, resource-intensive process. Waymo's current limitations to specific cities illustrate the challenges of expanding automated services, including adapting to local conditions and regulations. This expansion mirrors the broader trajectory of AGI deployment across various sectors, where scalability is both achievable and gradual.

Society's reaction to self-driving technology parallels AGI's potential impact. Despite significant advancements, public awareness and acceptance vary. Some view autonomous vehicles with curiosity and skepticism, while others adapt quickly. This range of responses suggests how society might adapt to AGI in various industries.

Economically, self-driving technology has both eliminated and created jobs. While driver roles are phased out, new positions in data labeling, remote support, fleet maintenance, and sensor technology emerge. This transformation reflects the broader economic implications of AGI, where work is not merely eliminated but refactored and reshaped.

The competitive landscape in self-driving technology, with companies like Waymo, Tesla, and others, mirrors the expected consolidation in AGI-related industries. As with self-driving, only a few companies may dominate the AGI space after an initial burst of growth and competition.

Karpathy envisions AGI as a gradual, society-involved evolution rather than a sudden, uncontrollable leap. Just as self-driving technology is transforming transportation, making it safer and more efficient, AGI promises to reshape various sectors.

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By Kevin Armstrong

Tesla has always responded quickly to changes required by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but what occurred during the latest recall has set a new standard. NHTSA published a recall notice about the rearview camera display in 2023 Model S, Model X, and Model Y vehicles equipped with Hardware 4.0. By the time the government body issued it, Tesla had already fixed it thanks to an over-the-air update weeks prior.

The problem, identified as a bug that occasionally prevented the rearview camera image from displaying, could have decreased the driver's rear visibility. Tesla first became aware of the issue on December 26, 2023, and promptly initiated an investigation. The root cause was found to be insufficient inter-integrated circuit protocol stability, which occasionally failed to activate the rearview camera view.

Tesla developed a fix within just two days of identifying the issue. The fix was initially deployed to a small number of vehicles on December 28, 2023, as a test. Following the successful trial, the update, labeled 2023.44.30.7, was rolled out to all affected vehicles on January 3, 2024. The recall notice from the NHTSA went to Tesla on January 23, 2024 - a full 20 days after the issue had already been addressed.

FSD 11.4.9

Installed on 0% of vehicles

Last updated: Feb 4, 6:00 am

However, despite Tesla's response, which fixed nearly 200,000 cars overnight, being used to showcase the unique advantages of its software-centric approach to vehicle design and maintenance, the legacy media used the recall to run the usual negative stories on the company.

This incident has once again sparked a debate within the Tesla community and beyond regarding using the term "recall" for issues addressed through OTA software updates. Tesla's approach differs significantly from traditional automotive recall processes, as it eliminates the need for physical vehicle servicing. The term "recall" often implies a more laborious and inconvenient process for vehicle owners, whereas Tesla's software updates are quick and seamless and do not disrupt the owner's use of the vehicle.

By Kevin Armstrong

Here we go again. The mainstream media is jumping all over Tesla for a simple over-the-air update that fixes an unusual recall affecting nearly 2.2 million vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration flagged a non-compliance issue concerning the font size of the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System visual warning indicators on the vehicle's dashboard display.

Our favorite Tesla hacker, @greentheonly, noticed something in update 2023.44.30.13, stating, I thought it's no big deal, but apparently it is.

At the heart of the recall is relatively minor -- the font size used for specific dashboard warning indicators. According to NHTSA's findings, the font size used in Tesla's vehicle displays did not meet the minimum requirements set by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Nos. 105 and 135. This discrepancy raised concerns that the smaller font could reduce the driver's ability to quickly recognize and respond to critical safety warnings, thereby increasing the risk of a collision.

FSD 11.4.9

Installed on 0% of vehicles

Last updated: Feb 4, 6:00 am

In a response highlighting Teslas unique capabilities, the company addressed this issue through an over-the-air software update. No need to bring the vehicle into the service center, Tesla remotely updates the affected vehicles, enlarging the font size of the warning indicators to meet regulatory standards. The updates began rolling out last month.

The incident has once again reignited discussions around the terminology and procedures used to classify and manage vehicle recalls in the era of connected and software-driven automobiles. Tesla and Elon Musk have previously criticized the traditional recall system, arguing that "recall" is misleading when issues can be resolved through OTA software updates. This latest event underscores the growing gap between conventional automotive recall practices and the capabilities of electric vehicle technology, prompting calls for regulatory bodies to modernize their approach to reflect these advancements.

Another mystifying aspect of the mainstream medias contempt for Tesla is the number of other physical recalls issued to legacy automakers. Tesla has far fewer recalls, yet when the company does, it is big news, despite the fact that the problem is usually solved before the recall is even published, and it is done in a matter of seconds with an OTA update. As Tesla continues to innovate and lead in the electric vehicle sector and the entire industry, the company's approach to addressing recalls through OTA updates is setting a new standard.

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Former Tesla FSD Leader, Karpathy, Offers Glimpse into the Future of Artificial General Intelligence - Not a Tesla App