Tesla supervised self-driving electric vehicles have just surpassed the 10 billion mile mark. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration knighted the ​2026 Tesla Model Y as the first vehicle model to ‌pass the agency’s new advanced driver-assistance system tests.  

I understand the theory behind AI-driven vehicles, but experiencing one of them firsthand is something else entirely.

My son Jeremiah test-drove a Tesla Y, urged me to do the same, and I ended up buying one for less than he paid for his new truck. In my view, it is the most impressively engineered consumer product since the smartphone. I say this as a practicing electrical and computer engineering professor with decades of experience in algorithms and artificial intelligence.

Among others, I’ve showed off my Tesla to a control theory professor, a retired Marine fighter pilot, and a retired police officer. All were agog.

Here is a list of features that, together, I find jaw-droppingly impressive:

• Voice Control
  I can tell my Tesla where I want to go by voice or by typing.  The Tesla displays a map with my destination highlighted. I confirm, tap SELF-DRIVING, and we’re on our way.
• Look Ma. No Hands

Most of the places I travel can be reached without me touching the steering wheel. The usual exception is a parking lot, where I tap the brake, take manual control, and look for a parking space.

• Self-Parking
  Even in a parking lot, Tesla impresses. The infotainment screen identifies available parking spaces in dark grey. I tap the space I want, select self-parking, and the car takes over, backing in with perfect alignment between the painted lines.
• Serving a Summons
  After a long hard day of shopping, hunting for your car in a large parking lot can be frustrating. Tesla solves that problem when the car is close enough. Using my phone, I can activate the summon feature, and the car will drive itself to my location with no one inside! Watching the expression of bystanders reacting to a driverless car moving through the parking lot is fun.
• Collision Avoidance
  There was one near-accident in which the Tesla clearly prevented a crash. Driving  through San Antonio in a construction zone, with temporary concrete barriers close on the left and traffic moving on the right, a young driver — who looked like a teenager with a freshly issued license — swerved. The Tesla became the ham in a sandwich between two converging slices of bread. The reaction was instantaneous. The Tesla made the necessary correction to avoid a collision. At the closest point, I would estimate there was no more than an inch or so of clearance on either side of the vehicle. I have little doubt that, without Tesla’s automatic intervention, all drivers involved would now be dealing with their insurance companies.
• Charge! I had a Tesla charger installed at my house, so every morning I unplug and leave home with the equivalent of a full tank of gas. No more visits to gas stations. My miles per dollar are cheaper than gas. If I need to recharge while traveling, the infotainment screen can instantly direct me to the nearest charging station. Tesla has my credit card info so there is no need to fumble for a card at a charging station. I just plug it in and billing is automatic.
• Software Updates While parked at my home, my Tesla connects to my Wi-Fi and automatically downloads any software updates in the middle of the night. When Tesla eventually enables fully unsupervised self-driving, it will be activated by a software update. No new hardware, no dealership appointment — just an overnight update.
• Security Tesla Y’s are equipped with cameras everywhere. If someone approaches the car, the event is recorded. A while back, Tesla vandalism became fashionable as a protest against Elon Musk’s political activities. When vandals began keying Teslas, the built-in cameras often videoed the culprits, leaving few able to escape identification.
• Maintenance There are no oil changes or checking of the transmission and braking fluid. I worry about no vehicle liquids — except occasionally refilling the windshield wiper fluid.
• No Fob The key fob for my Tesla is my cell phone.   I can also access the car through a card about the size of my driver’s license.

There are a few weird features:

• Tesla is my nanny now My Tesla offers fully (supervised) autonomous driving so I’m expected to remain attentive. Once, I spent a little too long admiring a sunset out the driver’s side window and was promptly dinged for not watching the road. Another time, I tried reading a book during self-driving, holding it over the steering wheel. Tesla caught me, and after repeated warnings, I received what’s called a strike. Strikes accumulate; a too many can result in temporary suspension of the self-driving feature. Since my first strike, I’ve been a good boy though.
• Tesla insurance is determined by my driving behavior I subscribe to Tesla insurance. My driving behavior is monitored, uploaded, and used to help determine what I pay for insurance the following month. That creates another strong incentive for me to stay on Tesla’s good side.

Whether Tesla ultimately dominates the future of transportation or merely helps ignite it, one thing is clear: the automobile is being reinvented before our eyes. For those like me who grew up thinking of cars as engines, gears, and gas tanks, stepping into a Tesla feels less like buying a new car and more like getting a glimpse of tomorrow.

Disclaimer: I’ve had no contact with Tesla and received no compensation for writing this article. This is simply an account of my personal experience.