A video of the owner of a silver Tesla Cybertruck driving a car in a new virtual reality headset went viral online and even caused a flurry of criticism from an American official.
Witnesses filmed a Tesla owner driving his Cybertruck in Apple’s virtual reality glasses using the built-in autopilot.
The recently introduced Apple Vision Pro is a wearable virtual reality glasses that can overlay programs on real-world images by following the wearer’s eyes and using the hands to select options or change screens. The design of the headset can significantly block the user’s peripheral vision.
Tesla’s Autonomous Driving (FSD) technology, which Cybertruck is equipped with, still requires the driver to be alert and aware, and to be ready to take over if the semi-autonomous system detects a hazard or shuts down.
That is, the design features of both systems are opposite to each other, and therefore using a virtual reality headset and an autopilot together can be dangerous.
The original video has garnered over 24 million views and has prompted a number of responses, as well as a warning from a senior U.S. government official.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg posted the video on his X page, noting: “Reminder: ALL advanced driver assistance systems available today require the driver to be in control and fully engaged at all times.”
Reminder—ALL advanced driver assistance systems available today require the human driver to be in control and fully engaged in the driving task at all times. pic.twitter.com/OpPy36mOgC
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) February 5, 2024
Interestingly, some X users were outraged by the behavior of the Cybertruck owner. One of them stated: “It’s time for a full investigation into Tesla’s autopilot and either certify it or remove it from the market,” while another asked: “How will the government deal with those who put others in danger with behavior like this in the video?”
