- Update adds more Grok commands to Tesla models
- Navigation can now learn recurring stops and plan routes accordingly
- Improved parental controls for the rear screen have been added
Tesla regularly releases major updates to its vehicles that bring together a series of software upgrades that not only keep its fleet of vehicles up and running, but also on the cutting edge of in-car technology.
For its summer update, Tesla has added a series of new Grok commands that allow its AI voice assistant to take care of more important vehicle functions without drivers having to hunt around on-screen menus.
When it was first introduced in Tesla models back in 2025, Grok was just an AI voice assistant that could answer generic questions – it wasn’t able to control the functions of the vehicle.
This has slowly changed, with a spring update earlier this year adding a password and the ability for users to set reminders based on location.
Now Grok can make or answer hands-free phone calls, skip tracks or change radio stations on the media screen and adjust the climate inside the vehicle.
Similarly, it’s also capable of opening the glove compartment – something that traditionally involves navigating an on-screen menu – with a voice command.
In addition to the big Grok updates, Tesla has also added improved parental controls to the rear display available for a number of models, allowing front-seat passengers to have full control over what’s playing in the back, or lock it out entirely.
Analysis: Grok updates make Tesla more competitive
Despite Elon Musk’s broader focus on artificial intelligence across much of his business empire, Tesla has been relatively slow to introduce advanced AI voice assistant functionality into its cars.
Several Chinese competitors have long offered smart voice assistants capable of controlling key vehicle functions and even opening windows, while e.g. BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen have rolled out a mix of LLM-powered assistants and proprietary voice assistants that can handle general inquiries as well as more specific vehicle-based requests.
However, Tesla has once again demonstrated that it can improve its vehicles as they age, rather than just reserving its hottest new features for new customers; The Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck are still some of the best examples of software-defined vehicles on sale today.
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