According to Sawyer Merritt on Twitter, Elon Musk has publicly confirmed that Tesla vehicles equipped with the AI4 (HW4) hardware will be capable of achieving Full Self-Driving (FSD) in unsupervised mode without requiring any additional hardware upgrades. This clarification directly addresses recent industry speculation regarding whether the current AI4 platform could support the latest advancements in unsupervised FSD technology. For automotive AI businesses, this confirmation signals significant opportunities for software-driven revenue models and after-sales AI feature monetization, as Tesla will deliver enhanced autonomous capabilities via software updates rather than hardware retrofits (Source: Sawyer Merritt, Twitter, Jan 19, 2026).

According to Sawyer Merritt on Twitter, quoting Elon Musk, Tesla's latest AI4 (HW4) hardware is expected to deliver significant advancements in autonomous driving, with claims that it will far exceed human safety standards. Musk also indicated that the next-generation AI5 hardware is at least 1.5 years away. This development signals a major milestone in automotive AI, suggesting near-term business opportunities for AI-based safety features, fleet management, and autonomous vehicle deployment. The focus on surpassing human safety benchmarks positions Tesla as a frontrunner in the race for commercial AI-driven transportation solutions (Source: Sawyer Merritt via Twitter, quoting Elon Musk).

According to Sawyer Merritt, Tesla's upcoming Cybercab will debut with the AI4 chip, which is already present in current Tesla vehicles. This launch strategy allows existing AI4 owners to benefit from new features without immediate hardware upgrades. Merritt confirms that AI5 chips will begin integration in Tesla vehicles around mid-2027, but a significant update to Full Self-Driving (FSD) software leveraging AI5’s advanced capabilities is not expected until late 2027 or early 2028 (source: x.com/elonmusk/status/1989835743829922168). For businesses and investors, this staggered rollout offers continued market appetite for AI4 vehicles, extending the life cycle of the current hardware platform and providing opportunities in FSD software, retrofitting solutions, and AI-powered mobility services.