Charles Esther
The robotaxi race is heating up across the US.
Tesla is gearing up to launch its autonomous ride-hailing service in Austin using its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software.
Meanwhile, Alphabet’s Waymo has been offering fully autonomous rides to the public in San Francisco since 2024.
Both companies are leveraging artificial intelligence to revolutionize how we get from one place to another.
A Real-World Test in San Francisco
Business Insider journalists Lloyd Lee and Alistair Barr tested both systems in San Francisco.
Their objective was to compare the AI drivers’ capabilities in real-world conditions.
The test route started at Twin Peaks and ended at the Chase Center.
Both rides took place on the same day under similar traffic conditions.
The Waymo ride used a Jaguar I-PACE equipped with the company’s fifth-generation Waymo Driver.
This system includes five lidar sensors, six radars, and 29 cameras.
The Tesla ride used a 2024 Model 3 running FSD Supervised version 13.2.8, with eight external cameras.
It should be noted that Tesla’s robotaxi rollout will use FSD Unsupervised, which does not require a human behind the wheel.
Riding with Waymo
Waymo’s ride was smooth and confident.
The AI driver handled yellow lights assertively but safely.
It even made a subtle lane change behind a stopped car at a stop sign — a human-like move.
Adjustments like music and temperature could be made by passengers.
The ride felt natural and comfortable, allowing the journalists to chat and record footage without stress.
Waymo’s ability to plan ahead and make optimal driving decisions stood out.
One amusing observation was the AI’s apparent impatience, described as “New York cab driver energy.”
Waymo cannot currently take highway routes, but it excelled in urban and suburban roads.
Testing Tesla’s FSD
Tesla’s FSD provided a mostly smooth experience.
It navigated smoothly around stalled vehicles and executed clean lane changes.
Phantom braking issues reported in past versions were not observed.
Tesla’s highway handling was flawless, something Waymo can’t yet match.
However, a critical error overshadowed its performance.
On the return route to Twin Peaks, the Tesla ran a red light at a complex intersection.
The vehicle detected the red light, came to a stop, then proceeded through it without the light changing.
Though no collisions occurred, the incident was alarming.
Other Tesla drivers have reported similar issues, but Tesla has not publicly addressed them.
The Verdict
Waymo clearly won the test due to Tesla’s serious error.
Running a red light is a critical fault that could endanger lives.
Waymo’s route may be more limited today, but it performed without any glaring mistakes.
Tesla’s FSD does offer some advantages like highway routing and rapid real-world learning through its large fleet.
Still, the mistake highlights the risks of releasing a fully autonomous system without a human driver.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk claims the company’s camera-only system will ultimately surpass competitors.
With a public launch scheduled soon, Tesla must ensure that FSD Unsupervised lives up to its promises.
Until then, Waymo remains the safer choice in the robotaxi space.
We’ll continue to monitor how both systems evolve as they scale nationwide.
