Part 8/15:
The Challenges of Simulation and the Need for Real-World Interaction
Dalma and Musk both expressed skepticism about relying solely on simulation for developing self-driving AI. While simulation can cover a significant portion of driving scenarios—up to approximately 90%—the inherently unpredictable and complex nature of the real world makes comprehensive simulation infeasible.
Musk described reality as "far too complex and weird" to replicate entirely in simulation. Factors like unusual driver behaviors, spontaneous interactions with pedestrians or animals, and environmental variability require genuine real-world data. Simulations, although helpful for training and testing, cannot fully substitute the richness and unpredictability of actual driving environments.