If Tesla wins the race to commercialize automated driving, it might have less to do with some technological edge than its crazy customers. At the unveiling of Tesla’s sleek and “affordable” new car, the Model 3, Musk hinted that some “next level” features had yet to be revealed. This has led some to speculate that the Model 3 might be the first car equipped to hit the road with full autonomy. Tesla has some unique technological advantages in pursuing autonomy. These include a focus on low-cost video sensing rather than the more expensive (and accurate) laser sensors used by Google and most carmakers, and a remarkable amount of data contributed from ordinary Tesla drivers.

"Tesla's Biggest Edge in Chasing Autonomy Is Treating Drivers Like Guinea Pigs" is from technologyreview.com, published on April 15, 2016.