Despite resistance by some lawmakers, Tesla launched its robotaxis, the first test drive held on 22 June 2025. In a post on his social-media platform X, Elon Musk called the moment the “culmination of a decade of hard work” and noted that “the AI chip and software teams were built from scratch within Tesla.”
In South Congress, Teslas were spotted early Sunday, with no one in the driver’s seat but one person in the passenger seat. They planned a trial with 10 vehicles with one person in the front seat acting as “safety monitor”. With a flat fare of $4.20, social media influencers test their first drive in a Robotaxi. They are posting a video of their first ride, claiming it was a smooth and safe drive.
Back in 2017, the Texas government passed a law that local cities are not allowed to set rules and regulations by themselves; the state of Texas could make the decisions, so Austin couldn’t ban the robotaxis. Unlike other states, Texas is a place where companies don’t need to follow any rules to make a test drive of self-driving cars. A new rule will start in September 2025, where companies will need to obtain a permit from the government for a test drive. But still, Texas is less strict as compared to other countries like California, where there are a bunch of rules and regulations. This is an edge for Tesla in Texas.
However, the question still arises whether robotaxi is safe enough to provide its service in the state. Can this technology truly be more efficient than the human brain? Will it become a success or lead to unexpected problems? When we have a look at driving jobs, thousands of people currently earn through platforms like Uber, Careem, and Lyft. They often choose this work because there is no time barrier; they can set their hours to work, especially students, retirees, and single parents. These autonomous vehicles will affect their source of income.
Every single day technology is expanding, and work opportunities are shrinking. Just recently Microsoft announced layoffs, majorly because they are investing in AI development. In short, we are entering in an era where machines will work 24/7 without asking for pay, that’s why they prefer machines over humans. It’s a matter of worry; companies need to understand that the use of artificial intelligence should be for human growth and development, not to replace them.
Tesla deployed a small group of self-driving taxis picking up paying passengers on Sunday in Austin, Texas, with CEO Elon Musk announcing the “robotaxi launch” and social-media influencers posting videos of their first rides.