Tesla is developing an upgraded autopilot on‑board computer with double memory capacity

Tesla plans to double the memory volume in HW 4 on-board computers

Yesterday Tesla CEO Elon Musk shared thoughts on modernizing the existing electric vehicle fleet from the perspective of installing new generation HW 4 on‑board computers. His comments were just one source of information: the company is already preparing a scheduled upgrade that will allow the memory volume to double next year.

What will change
- AI 4 → AI 4.1 (or AI 4 Plus)

Musk explained that the AI 4 chip will gradually become obsolete. To keep its production and sales, Tesla plans to switch to next‑generation memory: from 16 GB to 32 GB RAM per processor. The total capacity will then be 64 GB, which will increase computational performance by about 10 % and boost memory bandwidth.

- GDDR6 Memory

New chips will use GDDR6 memory, as already implemented in HW 4. Samsung, which currently supplies AI 4 using a 7‑nm process, will also handle the production of the updated version.

Why it matters
- Autopilot

Musk emphasizes that the limited bandwidth of the memory subsystem in HW 3 hindered the implementation of full autopilot without driver intervention. Switching to AI 4.1 with improved memory is key to further developing autonomous features.

- Update plan

In January Tesla already began supplying Model Y from its U.S. assembly line with on‑board computers that now come equipped with three chips instead of two. If another update occurs next year, it will be the third in two years.

What owners can expect
- Availability of a “reserve”

Owners of vehicles with HW 4 can anticipate the possibility of software updates in a few years, but as AI 4.1 is being prepared, expectations become more complex.

- Future capabilities

Musk has not ruled out full autopilot support on HW 4 yet, but further memory and chip improvements will help achieve that goal.

Thus Tesla continues to invest in modernizing on‑board computers to provide higher performance and prepare the platform for future autonomous driving functions.