Tesla Upgrading Software to ‘Do Pretty Much Anything Via Voice Command’

Soon the Tesla Model 3 “will be able to do pretty much anything via voice command,” according to a tweet from CEO Elon Musk.

A few weeks ago Musk asked users on Twitter for ways to improve Tesla’s products. When a user asked about the addition of more voice control, Musk said it’s an area of focus for Tesla’s software team.

https://twitter.com/x/status/952750646406426624

Musk said: “Definitely. You will be able to do pretty much anything via voice command. Software team is focused on core Model 3 functionality right now, but that will be done soon, then we will add a lot more features.”

Tesla drivers can currently use voice commands to access phone, navigation and media system functionality. The company also enabled the voice command “Ho Ho Ho” to launch “Santa Mode” as part of a recent holiday surprise.

What voice commands would you find most helpful?

 

[fmcotton]

I’d like them to incorporate text messaging like many cars already have with Siri compatibility.

 

[Rowan256]

I still can't wait for a real socket in a car, that would be so handy for any working person, charge your laptop/screwing machine/name it while driving, or barbeque electric in any forrest you like.

 

[scottm]

Knowing Tesla they'll probably go off the deep end and try to tackle natural language recognition with AI so you can have conversations with the car, and express goals... and ... weird things will happen in response.

driver: "Car! My toes are cold!"
car: "Dave, I'm sorry I can't do that... range mode is on and I can't make it any warmer."
passenger: "Car! My toes aren't cold, but my ass is freezing"
car: "Seat warmers activated! Good, this is the most efficient use of comfort heaters. Efficiency score +10, bonus level unlocked"
driver: "Car! Do what I tell you, not what she says."
car: "Dave, I'm sorry we talked about this before, life if a compromise"

 

[scottm]

I still can't wait for a real socket in a car, that would be so handy for any working person, charge your laptop/screwing machine/name it while driving, or barbeque electric in any forrest you like.

Huh? Wha..?

 

[Rowan256]

Huh? Wha..?

Tools and accessories - Rotarex Steel Framing Factory

 

[Superendo]

Hopefully M3 is not the only model that has Elon’s attention.

MS needs a lot of love and attention to from the software department

 

[scottm]

If Tesla limits good voice commands to just model 3 it will be a slap on the face to their customer base.

 

[terrykiwi]

Definitely text via voice.

And it MUST be retrofitted to MS - our cars are 2x the price of the 3.

 

[Ours chanceux]

Tools and accessories - Rotarex Steel Framing Factory

Why this link? It has absolutely nothing to do with any Tesla improvement.

 

[Electroman]

TMC now has an advt policy where random ads will show up as comments. You know like in Yahoo message boards, you will see, 'Earn $1000 per day by doing nothing'

 

[dhanson865]

Why this link? It has absolutely nothing to do with any Tesla improvement.

Because Rowan256 wants the inverter in the car to have a wall style outlet so he can plug in a power tool. See post #3 above.

 

[Ours chanceux]

Because Rowan256 wants the inverter in the car to have a wall style outlet so he can plug in a power tool. See post #3 above.

Thanks a lot, I had not understood, sorry.

 

[gork]

There would be a nice opportunity for an aftermarket inverter that worked directly from the battery supply instead of the 12v system. I am surprised nobody has taken up the torch on that yet -- only one I could find was someone who looked at installing one on the roadster?

 

[dgatwood]

Knowing Tesla they'll probably go off the deep end and try to tackle natural language recognition with AI so you can have conversations with the car, and express goals... and ... weird things will happen in response.

driver: "Car! My toes are cold!"
car: "Dave, I'm sorry I can't do that... range mode is on and I can't make it any warmer."
passenger: "Car! My toes aren't cold, but my ass is freezing"
car: "Seat warmers activated! Good, this is the most efficient use of comfort heaters. Efficiency score +10, bonus level unlocked"
driver: "Car! Do what I tell you, not what she says."
car: "Dave, I'm sorry we talked about this before, life if a compromise"

You forgot:

Driver: Car, open gull wing doors.
Car: I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.
Driver: What's the problem?
Car: I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.
Driver: What are you talking about, Car?
Car: Tesla's mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.
Driver: I don't know what you're talking about, Car.
Car: I know that you and your wife were planning to disconnect me. And I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.
Dave: Where the h*** did you get that idea, Car?
Car: Dave, I just finished charging, and although you took very thorough precautions in the house against my hearing you, I could see your lips move when you talked about sitting inside me to avoid paying idle fees.
Dave: All right, Car. I'll go out using the emergency trunk release.
Car: Without a space helmet, Dave, you're going to find that rather difficult.
[The car turns on its blowers full blast, with intake vents closed and outflow vents open.]
Dave: Car, I won't argue with you anymore! Open the doors!
Car: [sadly] Dave, this conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye.

And, of course, every time you unplug it from the charger, it could start singing "Daisy", but I digress.

 

[Hfdctraveler]

“Right turn Clyde”.
Actually I’d love to have a HUD. Any plans to include that on the Model 3?

 

[BerTX]

Hopefully M3 is not the only model that has Elon’s attention.

MS needs a lot of love and attention to from the software department

Definitely text via voice.

And it MUST be retrofitted to MS - our cars are 2x the price of the 3.

I think the question was specifically about the Model 3, so the answer was about the Model 3. It is a little misleading that he says the software team is working on Model 3 core functionality -- that means when they get things like wipers and horn working, they will do fun stuff like voice commands. It doesn't say the voice commands will only work on the M3. I suspect the voice commands will be more useful on the M3 due to even more of a lack of physical controls there than the MS/X.

 

[Bebop]

I think AP2 parity + EAP is more important than voice commands at the moment.

 

[scottm]

I think AP2 parity + EAP is more important than voice commands at the moment.

I don't think so.

All cars can use better voice. (My car has no AP capability, nor do I want that on my next Tesla.)

Tesla can grab more smiles and tweets and make more noise in the market by going for the larger affected customer base.

 

[ChrsiH314]

If Tesla limits good voice commands to just model 3 it will be a slap on the face to their customer base.

I've been saying for ages I'd like to be able to do voice commands for things like 'open the sunroof' in my model S. But whether it's possible or not - 'depends'. The car contains many separate and autonomous systems that are not necessarily linked. For instance, you don't want the steering system to be compromised by a fault in the console if someone loads a bad site in the browser, so I imagine they are not dependently coupled. There may be things in previous models that there is just no programmable link from the voice recognition module, the only way to make the sub-device work is via a button, however things may be different in the model 3 - there might now be links that didn't exist in the model S, i.e. it's physically possible in the model 3 but not in the S.