The car community has been left shocked after a video of Tensor Auto’s personal Level 4 autonomous vehicle went viral. With Tesla, Lucid, and Waymo already fighting over the robotaxi space, Tensor Auto has gone in another direction, offering people “the only Level 4 autonomous vehicle you can own.”
At a quick glance, the Tensor vehicle looks almost identical to Waymo’s. It’s essentially a sterile white vehicle covered in cameras and sensors. However, it’s meant to be your own personal driver. According to Chief Marketing Officer Amy Luca, Tensor is “Designed so you don’t have to drive,” allowing you to take a nap, work on your next presentation, or watch a movie. For this reason, the interior is luxurious and spacious. I’m sort of envisioning the vibe of trying to sleep in business class on a plane.
The response on X was shockingly hostile, which is strange since most people on that social media platform seem very into Tesla and its robotaxis, which are nowhere near safe or ready. The most-discussed feature of the Tensor vehicle was its 37 cameras, five LiDAR sensors, 10 ultrasonic sensors, 11 radar units, and 22 microphones.
“No way they have sufficient raw compute to process such vast amounts of bits in real time with minimal latency,” one skeptic highlighted. “The amount of contradiction between sensors would require more work to determine which sensor is capturing the real scenario than to determine steering and controls.”
Added another: “When sensors disagree, certainty disappears. Like a man with one watch, he knows the time, but a man with two is never quite sure.”
This one made me chuckle: “How’s it supposed to do anything with so few sensors? Needs at least 4,000 more.” A similar tweet mocked the Tensor: “Why stop at Level 4? With all those sensors, it should at least reach Level 11, right?”
The consensus seems to be that the Tensor has too many various cameras and sensors, which could lead to them contradicting and confusing each other, and using too much battery power. Some even wondered if it could make it out of a parking lot.
The other common argument against the Tensor was that it was a lot cheaper to buy a Tesla if you want autonomous driving. The Tensor does cost a wild $200,000, but I think this is a pretty flawed argument, seeing as Tesla is being sued in California right now for its “Full Self-Driving” mode being misleading — you still need to pay attention, even help it drive. The Tensor claims you can be completely asleep at the wheel. Of course, this would be if the Tensor works as intended.
Tensor Auto explains its many sensors, AI assistance, and autonomous driving
Tensor Auto states that the Tensor is “more than just a car.” The company claims it not only takes over every aspect of driving, but can communicate with you and become sort of a personal assistant.
When it’s in Level 4 mode, Tensor doesn’t need supervision “within approved zones.” It can navigate city streets, park, and meet you at the curb. Tensor also has the “first folding steering wheel and retractable pedals.” Basically, there are “no moving parts” when you’re in Level 4 mode. Instead, the cabin transforms into a “lounging area,” the center screen sliding over. If you’re outside of these zones, you can switch to assisted driving.
In response to the people concerned with its 309458234 sensors, the website states: “In total, the Tensor Supercomputer is equipped with 10 GPUs and 144 CPU cores, along with numerous Digital Signal Processors and microcontrollers. It streams and processes over 53 Gigabits of sensor data per second — roughly 1,000 times faster than typical home internet — all within a single Robocar, delivering the speed and intelligence needed to perceive and respond to the world in real time.”
According to Luca, the Tensor vehicle also communicates with you and pedestrians. It has LED screens in the front and back that can let pedestrians know it can sense them. It also has AI assistance, allowing you to speak to Tensor while inside the cabin or even communicate while you’re at home. You can text your vehicle while you’re at a restaurant, requesting it to pull up to the curb.
“It can learn from you,” Luca said. “You can communicate with one another. It will start to anticipate when you need to leave for your next meeting. It will send you a message over the app, telling you that you must leave by 8:15 in the morning to make it to the meeting.”
I’m not sure I fully believe in Tensor Auto just yet. Can this vehicle really drive for you as you play Donkey Kong Bananza on the Switch 2? Then again, it may seem hard to believe because automakers like Tesla have been promising this for years but have not delivered. Not even close. Is Tesla blowing smoke up our holes, something that I wouldn’t put past Elon TheCybertruckIsBulletProof Musk, or is it just not a current possibility for autonomous vehicles?
Tensor Auto would probably say it’s the first one. According to the Tensor Auto website, it has been tested in cities around the world and is currently certified for Level 4 autonomous driving by the California DMV. Since 2020. It continues: “We are working with other transportation governing bodies who are excited to bring L4 autonomous driving to their roads, with major announcements coming soon.”
I’m still not fully convinced, but I personally am rooting for it to be so.
