Tesla Autopilot trainers told to ignore traffic signs
Tesla trainers working on Autopilot data labeling reportedly received instructions to ignore traffic signs during training to make the system seem more natural, according to an anonymous employee. The worker said supervisors dismissed safety concerns about this practice.
What happened
An anonymous Tesla Autopilot trainer at the Buffalo facility told Business Insider that supervisors instructed workers to ignore certain road signs, including 'No Turn on Red' and 'No U-Turn' signs, to make the system drive less like a 'robot.' When workers raised concerns about these directives, managers dismissed their objections with responses such as 'Mind your business and your pay grade.'
Reported impact
The employee stated the instructions made them and coworkers uncomfortable, as ignoring road signs could result in fines for drivers who would be held legally responsible for violations generated by the system.
Index analysis
Autopilot is a Level 2 autonomous driving system that requires human oversight. The trainer's job is to review video footage and label objects such as road signs so the system learns to recognize them. Instructing trainers to ignore traffic signs during this labeling process directly undermines the system's ability to follow traffic rules.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.