In a move that’s sure to raise eyebrows and safety concerns, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced at the recent shareholders’ meeting that the company is developing a feature allowing drivers to text while using Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode.

Musk claims the technology is advanced enough that drivers could potentially look away from the road to send messages, challenging decades of road safety warnings. Currently, Tesla’s Autopilot system requires drivers to remain attentive and periodically interact with the steering wheel, with the cabin camera designed to detect and warn against mobile device usage.

The proposed feature follows Tesla’s recent introduction of “Mad Max” mode for FSD, which enables more aggressive driving techniques like higher speeds and rapid lane changes. This new mode quickly drew scrutiny from federal investigators, suggesting potential regulatory challenges for the texting feature.

Legal complications could significantly impact the feature’s rollout. Nearly every state in the U.S. has strict laws prohibiting texting while driving, with Montana being the sole exception. These regulations present a significant hurdle for Tesla’s ambitious plan.

Musk’s track record of ambitious technological predictions adds another layer of skepticism. In 2017, he projected drivers would be able to nap behind the wheel by 2019 - a timeline that never materialized. Similarly, his 2019 prediction about immediate robotaxi deployment only saw limited implementation in Austin, Texas this year.

While the technology sounds cutting-edge, transportation safety experts will likely challenge the wisdom of enabling potentially distracted driving. The feature raises critical questions about the balance between technological innovation and public safety.

As the autonomous driving landscape continues to evolve, Tesla’s proposed texting feature represents a bold and controversial step that could reshape how we think about driving interaction in the age of self-driving vehicles.