Tesla launched its robotaxi service in Austin on June 22, 2025, with Musk calling it a "great success." The limited rollout included 10-20 Model Y vehicles with human monitors. However, videos soon revealed AI issues—vehicles speeding, swerving into wrong lanes, and making unsafe drop-offs. These problems sparked debates on Twitter (X) about the gap between Tesla's AI promises and real-world performance. Below, we examine the social media response and implications for Tesla's robotaxi future.

Twitter Reactions: From Criticism to Defense

Social media reaction is divided between critics highlighting safety issues and supporters seeing promising technology. Here's what users are saying:

1. Safety Concerns - Users documented vehicles speeding, crossing into oncoming traffic, and making illegal maneuvers. Videos showed a robotaxi driving on the wrong side after hesitating in a turn lane. Others reported "phantom braking" near parked police and illegal lane changes—"safety-critical errors" after just 500 miles. These incidents suggest Tesla's FSD struggles with common road situations.

2. Hype vs. Reality Gap - Critics questioned Tesla's readiness, noting the small scale and remote operator reliance. One called the launch "underwhelming to downright dangerous," while others highlighted broken promises dating to 2015 when Musk predicted driverless cars by 2018. A user remarked, "This is the product after 7 years of selling 'Full Self Driving'? Dropping people off in intersections is crazy bad."

3. Supporters' Perspective - Tesla fans shared positive experiences, with one praising "smooth stops" and "great awareness" of pedestrians. Another reported "11 rides with zero issues," suggesting problems were rare exceptions. Supporters believe scaling will solve current issues, with one noting: "Pick-ups and drop-offs need work, but the driving part is flawless except for rare wobbles." Many view the launch as historic despite limitations.

4. Regulatory Questions - Some users tagged NHTSA asking if they're "ok with lives being endangered for a stock pump." The agency has contacted Tesla about reported incidents. Critics questioned why Tesla deployed vehicles before solving basic safety issues, while others worried the "poor showing" could damage public perception of autonomous technology, particularly for those with disabilities who need such services.

AI's Real-World Challenges

These reactions highlight a fundamental problem: Tesla's AI performs differently in controlled testing versus unpredictable streets. Unlike Waymo's 10+ million driverless trips, Tesla's camera-only approach without lidar struggles with edge cases. Incidents like a robotaxi braking unnecessarily for a parked police car or stopping mid-intersection reveal contextual understanding gaps, eroding trust in a system meant to operate independently.

Musk's "generalized" autonomy approach—using fewer sensors than competitors—draws both praise for ambition and criticism for risk. Users compare Tesla's 10 monitored cars to Waymo's 1,500+ driverless vehicles across multiple cities. While critics note, "Waymo's been doing this 24/7 for years," supporters counter that Tesla's software focus and million-vehicle data collection will eventually prevail.

Tesla's Robotaxi Future

This launch represents a critical moment for Tesla. With stock tied to autonomous driving and declining EV sales (down 13% in Q1 2025), Musk must prove robotaxis' viability. Social media highlights several challenges:

• Technical Issues: Tesla must fix problems like speeding and erratic driving before scaling to thousands of vehicles.

• Regulation: NHTSA's interest and Texas's upcoming autonomous vehicle laws (September 2025) could limit expansion if safety concerns persist.

• Public Perception: Viral videos of failures may deter potential customers, especially with Waymo offering more reliable service.

• Data Transparency: Critics demand disengagement and safety metrics that Tesla hasn't shared.

Tesla supporters remain optimistic, viewing this as beta testing. The company's rapid iteration through OTA updates may close performance gaps. However, as one user noted, "Elon's impatience to deploy before the tech is ready risks more than just a bad launch—it risks lives."