Tesla — new features, public incidents
Tesla pushed a 'Hey Grok' voice feature live under Controls > Audio with a demo clip on X, and Elon Musk posted claims that a new AI5 chip is 3× more efficient than NVIDIA Blackwell and offers 5× the compute of AI4 ( ). Separately, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at Tesla’s New Orleans office — there were no injuries and the incident is under ATF investigation — and the post notes this followed a prior Sydney attack on Tesla facilities (x.com).
Tesla rolled out a new “Hey Grok” voice command in its Spring 2026 software update as the company also faced a firebomb attack at its New Orleans office. (electrek.co) (usatoday.com) Tesla owners with the update can enable the feature in Controls > Audio and wake the assistant by saying “Hey Grok.” The update also adds location-based reminders and ships as part of software version 2026.14. (notateslaapp.com) (electrek.co) Elon Musk said on April 15 that Tesla had “taped out” its AI5 chip, meaning the design has been sent for manufacturing. Musk also said AI5 would deliver five times the compute of AI4 and be three times as power-efficient as NVIDIA’s Blackwell, claims that have not been independently verified. (electrek.co) (techpowerup.com) Tesla’s in-house chips are the processors that handle the neural-network math behind driver-assistance features. The Spring 2026 update’s redesigned Self-Driving app is limited to vehicles with AI4 hardware, tying the software push to Tesla’s newer onboard computing platform. (electrek.co) (teslarati.com) In New Orleans, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said a suspected Molotov cocktail was thrown at Tesla’s sales office on Tchoupitoulas Street early on April 14. Federal agents and New Orleans police said no one was injured. (wdsu.com) (fox8live.com) The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives treats Molotov cocktails as illegal destructive devices under federal law, which is why the agency is leading the explosives side of the investigation. (atf.gov) (usatoday.com) The New Orleans case followed a March 31 fire at Tesla’s Parramatta showroom in western Sydney, where police said three vehicles were destroyed and the blaze was being investigated as suspected arson. Tesla Australia said the building suffered fire damage and several vehicles were caught in the fire. (9news.com.au) (driveteslacanada.ca) The same week, Tesla was using its software channel and Musk’s X account to push a different message: more in-car artificial intelligence, more custom silicon, and more direct links between Tesla and xAI’s Grok assistant. The hardware claims now move to manufacturing, while the criminal investigations move to federal and local police. (electrek.co 1) (electrek.co 2) (wdsu.com)
