Why Tesla’s Latest Self-Driving Chips Just Crushed a Mind-Bending Street Test—And What It Means for the Future of Autonomous Cars
Tesla’s Cybertruck aces a tricky fake wall test while Model Y falters—discover how HW4 chips are transforming self-driving tech for 2025.
- HW4 Chip Power: Up to 500 trillion operations per second
- Fake Wall Test: Model Y failed, Cybertruck stopped autonomously
- Investment in AI: Tesla & xAI invested over $10 billion last year
- Industry Impact: Rivals like Waymo, Baidu, and Google are racing for dominance
In a captivating real-world challenge, Tesla’s 2024 Cybertruck just proved its AI muscle—while its older sibling, the Model Y, failed the same impossible test. The experiment, dubbed the “fake wall cognition test,” placed a life-like wall, painted to mimic an open road, directly in a Model Y and a Cybertruck’s path. The Model Y, equipped with Tesla’s previous-generation Hardware 3 (HW3) system, sailed ahead oblivious, while the Cybertruck, powered by the all-new Hardware 4 (HW4) chip, stopped cold—identifying the deception in time to save the day.
Why Did the Cybertruck Succeed Where Model Y Failed?
The answer lies in Tesla’s relentless semiconductor innovation. The Cybertruck’s HW4 chipset isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a revolution under the hood. Packing up to 500 trillion operations per second, HW4 more than triples the computational firepower of the Model Y’s HW3, which topped out at 144 trillion. This jump means smarter, faster, and safer decision-making in the split seconds that count.
Tesla’s HW4 chip is the backbone of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) ambitions, using an advanced 5nm process and integrating CPU, GPU, NPU, and 12 high-res cameras—vision akin to an eagle’s. It can see through rain and snow, recognize tricky scenarios, and even reattach radar to keep autonomous cars aware in all conditions.
With competition from Google and Waymo, as well as China’s Baidu, every millisecond matters. Tesla’s custom chip design, once reliant on Mobileye and Nvidia silicon, has become its main competitive edge in the global autonomous vehicle race.
How Tesla’s Self-Driving Tech Evolved: From HW1 to HW4
Tesla’s quest began in 2014 with HW1, built around Mobileye’s EyeQ3 chip, introducing basics like cruise control and lane keeping. After a fatal Autopilot crash in 2016, Tesla ditched off-the-shelf components and started designing its own chips, first with Nvidia-powered HW2, then with self-developed HW3 in 2019. HW3 enabled two redundant chips for fail-safe driving, instant recognition in city intersections, and the launch of Tesla’s FSD Beta Program.
But the real leap came with HW4 in 2023, shrinking silicon to 5nm and adding vision and radar technologies for richer surroundings analysis. Now, autonomous vehicles can spot fake roads, concealed hazards, and predict complex urban chaos—what makes or breaks real-world safety tests like YouTuber Kyle Paul’s fake wall experiment.
Q: What’s Next? Is Self-Driving Ready for the Real World in 2025?
Tesla is already looking ahead with “AI5,” a rumored next-gen chipset rumored to deliver up to 2,500 trillion operations per second—more than five times HW4’s power. With semiconductor partners like TSMC and Samsung, Tesla aims to mass-produce even smarter, safer self-driving chips by 2025.
Entire cities could soon see fleets of Robo-Taxis navigating seamlessly, as more nations relax regulations by 2029. Mobility for the elderly and disabled will surge, transforming urban life and reshaping jobs, city layouts, and social norms.
How Do I Know If My Tesla Has HW4?
You’re likely equipped with HW4 if you drive a 2024 Cybertruck or late-model vehicles, especially those with multiple external cameras and enhanced FSD features. The HW4 module sits at the lower center of the windshield and inside the frunk for optimal signal reception. Check your vehicle specs in the Tesla app, or visit Tesla for official hardware support details.
Can Other Automakers or Countries Catch Up?
A worldwide “chip war” is heating up. Heavyweights from Apple to Riot and OpenAI (with close Tesla ties) are joining the AI-vehicle arms race. Even governments recognize that owning next-gen semiconductor tech is critical—not just for cars, but for sovereignty in the global AI order.
Don’t get left behind in the self-driving revolution—now is the time to explore smarter vehicle tech and understand where the future is headed!
-
Action Checklist for Staying Ahead:
- Check your Tesla’s hardware version via the app or at a service center
- Keep up with regulatory changes in self-driving in your state or country
- Explore FSD upgrades and software updates from Tesla
- Track AI and chip innovation news from leaders like Google and Baidu
