ReplayMore Videos ...Watch Consumer Reports trick Tesla's Autopilot system 01:38
Tesla appears to be changing its tune on whether drivers using Autopilot should be monitored with an in-car camera to make sure they're attentive and safe.
Tesla (TSLA) owners shared photos on social media Thursday of a new version of Tesla software that enables the camera above the rear-view mirror to detect and alert driver inattentiveness while Autopilot is engaged. Previously, Tesla pushed back at the idea of camera monitoring, instead relying on detecting torque on the steering wheel to determine if a driver was engaged.Tesla has included an in-car cabin-facing camera near the rear-view mirror that it says is for recording short video clips following crashes, or when the emergency braking system activates. The camera feature is off by default in the US, according to the Model 3's owners manual. Tesla CEO Elon Musk also said last year that the camera was "meant for vandalism monitoring in a robotaxi future." He's also described video conferencing as a future feature for Teslas.
