Well, that didn't take long.
Yesterday, Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] released its Version 7.0 software update which contains the new Autopilot feature, and Model S drivers have already begun uploading videos of the system's performance.
CHECK OUT: Tesla Version 7.0 Software Update Activates First Autopilot Features
The results—as you can imagine—are widely varied between responsible and informative, to kind of boring, to reckless and stupid.
In an interview about the technology, Tesla founder Elon Musk was clear Autopilot does not enable autonomous driving, and that like the airplane version, its use requires human oversight. Of course, there were those who immediately ignored warnings that the driver's hands should always remain on the wheel, and that the system should only be used on the highway, leading to some scary incidents on two-lane roads.
It's certainly interesting to see Tesla leading the change in regard to assisted driving. But at this point, it seems like a risky move from a publicity standpoint—if not a legal one—especially given that Autopilot permits drivers to remove their hands for extended periods of time.
ALSO SEE: Hyundai Uses LEDs To Highlight Benefits Of Its HTRAC All-Wheel Drive: Video
Apparently, the most dangerous part of a car is still the nut behind the wheel.
Watch the video of Musk explaining his views on his company's potential liability in regard to Autopilot, along with more user-uploaded clips, below.
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