A Forbes journalist recently tested a Tesla equipped with FSD version 14.3.3 in Los Angeles, describing the experience as one of the most compelling demonstrations of the system on public roads to date. The vehicle navigated heavy highway traffic and city streets with confidence, completing the entire journey without requiring a single intervention from the driver, according to the author.
What stands out most about this test isn't any individual maneuver, but the overall impression of how the car behaves. FSD is increasingly being viewed less as a simple assistant and more as a system capable of autonomously navigating complex urban environments. Consequently, comparisons to Waymo's robotaxis are becoming more frequent, even though Tesla's technology is still technically classified as Level 2 and requires constant human supervision.
Tesla is steadily refining FSD by training its neural networks on a massive dataset of real-world driving. Every challenging road event—from congested traffic to high-stakes lane changes—is fed back into the system's learning loop. As a result, software updates are gradually broadening the range of scenarios where the car operates with poise.
Tesla’s progress is particularly striking when compared to its rivals. While many automakers continue to offer driver-assistance systems with limited functionality, Tesla is pushing FSD toward more autonomous road behavior. Nevertheless, the system has not yet reached the stage of full, human-free autopilot.
Regulators in California and Texas are keeping a close eye on the technology’s evolution. Although fully driverless trips are not yet permitted, real-world testing suggests the gap between advanced driver assistance and near-autonomous driving is narrowing.
For everyday drivers, this evolution means that trips are becoming less taxing and more predictable. However, Tesla still has a long road ahead before its vehicles can truly navigate any condition without a human at the wheel.
