A spectacular demonstration of autonomous driving in an urban environment
In the heart of Paris, at a discreet but significant event, Tesla presented the Cybercab, a 100% autonomous cab, without steering wheel or pedals, driven entirely by on-board artificial intelligence. This vehicle, derived from the Cybertruck platform, is not just a prototype: it marks a decisive step towards the commercial launch of robo-taxis on European soil.
The Cybercab combines several technological advances: a multi-sensor perception system (lidar, HD cameras, radar), an on-board computer based on the Dojo supercomputer, and above all a proprietary artificial intelligence model trained on billions of kilometers of virtual driving.
Tesla relies on AI to redefine urban mobility
The special feature of Cybercab is its real-time decision-making capability, made possible by a multimodal AI agent. This agent is capable of anticipating road behavior, reacting to the unexpected, negotiating complex intersections and even interacting vocally with passengers.
Unlike conventional driver assistance systems (such as Autopilot or Full Self-Driving), the Cybercab does not offer any manual takeover options. It is a fully autonomous system at SAE level 5, which is exceptional in practice.1.
Elon Musk pointed out that France could become one of the first countries in the world to host a pilot fleet, thanks in particular to the experimental framework opened up by the French Mobility Orientation Law (LOM).
A user experience rethought by artificial intelligence
Inside the Cybercab, ergonomics are radically different from traditional vehicles. The absence of a steering wheel frees up space for a cabin designed as a mobile lounge. The on-board voice interface, powered by a specialized version of ChatGPT, enables :
- dialogue with the vehicle,
- give instructions (route change, stop, music…),
- receive personalized suggestions based on the user’s habits.
This integration marks the arrival of an autonomous conversational vehicle, designed not just to get around, but to interact intelligently with its passengers.
Data, regulation and acceptability: the challenges ahead
While the arrival of the Cybercab is fascinating for its technological dimension, it also raises a number of legal, ethical and social questions:
- Traceability of decisions: Who is responsible in the event of an accident? The AI, the manufacturer, the user?
- Data protection: Tesla stores and processes massive flows of behavioral data.
- Social acceptability: An IFOP study in 2024 showed that only 38% of French people had confidence in driverless vehicles.2.
Tesla will also have to convince theEuropean Union, whose requirements for the validation of autonomous systems are stricter than in the USA or China.
A revolution driven by the convergence of AI, sensors and computing power
The Cybercab is not a gadget, but the embodiment of a turning point in the history of the automobile. It synthesizes years of progress in :
- embedded deep learning,
- dynamic mapping,
- fast, low-power inference (thanks to optimized chips),
- cloud-to-edge supervision of autonomous fleets.
Tesla is not alone in this race. Competitors such as Waymo (Alphabet), Zoox (Amazon) and Baidu Apollo are also testing autonomous cabs in Asia and the United States. But the arrival of an operational prototype in Europe gives Tesla a head start… at least symbolically.
References
1. SAE International. (2024). Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving Automation Systems.
https://www.sae.org/standards/content/j3016_202401/
2. IFOP. (2024). The French and autonomous vehicles.
https://www.ifop.com/publication/francais-voiture-autonome/
