As excitement around Tesla’s automation software continues to grow, the company introduces a new Full Self-Driving (FSD) update to select Early Access Program users. Tesla’s software evolution has drawn attention, especially as consumers await capabilities that push vehicles closer to true autonomous driving. The latest FSD version, v14.1.2, now promises a feature many have requested, and executive hints have fueled speculation throughout the Tesla community.
Tesla’s previous updates to its FSD software, including v14 and v14.1.1, focused on refining the system’s response, addressing issues like hesitancy at intersections and providing smoother rides. Earlier reports detailed improvements in the software’s decision-making as well as new user-set speed profiles. The introduction of Actually Smart Summon (ASS) established a foundation, allowing vehicles to autonomously approach the user via the Tesla mobile app.
What Has Tesla Revealed About the Latest FSD Update?
Ashok Elluswamy, Head of AI at Tesla, announced the release of FSD v14.1.2 to early access users, teasing a highly anticipated addition. He suggested on social media that this feature was much awaited by the community, using racing and smoke emojis that spurred speculation about a possible speed-related enhancement.
FSD v14.1.2, going to early access today, will debut a much awaited feature
Is the “Banish” Feature Now Becoming a Reality?
Observers believe the “Banish” function, previously hinted by CEO Elon Musk, could appear in this release. Unlike Actually Smart Summon, which retrieves the car upon request, Banish aims to autonomously drop the occupant at their destination and seek out parking independently. This function addresses user feedback for greater flexibility in self-driving scenarios and could build on the current capabilities of Smart Summon.
“Full Self-Driving would be capable of it very soon,” Musk mentioned earlier this month.
What Do Early Access Participants Expect to Learn?
Early feedback often sets the tone for general user experience as new FSD features roll out. Selected testers now anticipate reviewing the newest capabilities as release notes become public. With each software iteration, participants gain insight into both major highlights and incremental changes, directly shaping future refinements and customer expectations.
Comparison to previous update cycles reveals a pattern of Tesla using the Early Access Program to trial significant features with a select community before wider release. While past updates primarily improved safety and usability, recent news points to Tesla aiming to close the gap between hands-on supervised use and genuine convenience-driven automation. The speculation around the Banish feature reflects ongoing public interest in seeing Tesla fulfill its vision for autonomous mobility, though critics remain cautious due to the slow pace of regulatory approval for truly driverless operations.
Tesla’s continued push to enhance Full Self-Driving functionality highlights the company’s iterative software release model, where user feedback and data guide development. For existing owners and those tracking the autonomous driving landscape, this update underlines the importance of transparency and real-world testing. As new features—teased or confirmed—are introduced, drivers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with software notes and remain vigilant while using FSD in supervised mode. By closely monitoring advances such as Actually Smart Summon and Banish, users and industry observers can better assess the practical and ethical considerations around self-driving technology. With broader adoption, understanding both the pace of innovation and the limits of automation remains critical for safe and effective use.
