Tesla CEO Elon Musk has once again predicted that the company will achieve fully autonomous driving "later this year." Speaking via video link at an artificial intelligence conference in Shanghai on Thursday, Musk said he thinks Tesla is "very close to achieving full self-driving without human supervision."

"This is only speculation," Musk stressed, nodding to his history of overly optimistic forecasts on the arrival of fully driverless vehicles. However, he said it feels like "we're closer to it than we ever have been."

Musk's prediction comes as Tesla is facing increasing competition in the self-driving car space. Other automakers, such as Waymo and General Motors, are also developing their own self-driving technology, and some experts believe that Tesla could be overtaken by its rivals.

However, Musk remains confident that Tesla will be the first company to achieve fully autonomous driving. He has said that Tesla's self-driving technology is based on a "different approach" than that of its competitors, and he believes that this approach will ultimately be more successful.

Only time will tell if Musk is right. But if he is, Tesla could revolutionize the transportation industry and change the way we travel.

What does Musk's prediction mean for the future of self-driving cars?

Musk's prediction is a significant development in the self-driving car space. If Tesla is able to achieve fully autonomous driving this year, it would be a major milestone for the industry. It would also put Tesla in a very strong position to compete with other automakers that are developing self-driving technology.

Of course, there are still some challenges that need to be overcome before fully autonomous driving can become a reality. These challenges include developing robust software that can handle all sorts of driving conditions, and ensuring that self-driving cars are safe enough to operate without human supervision.

But if Tesla is able to overcome these challenges, it could open up a whole new world of possibilities for self-driving cars. For example, self-driving cars could be used to provide ride-hailing services, deliver goods, or even chauffeur people around.

It is still too early to say for sure what the future of self-driving cars will look like. But Musk's prediction is a sign that the technology is getting closer to reality, and it could have a major impact on the way we travel in the years to come.

What do experts think about Musk's prediction?

Some experts are skeptical about Musk's prediction, while others are more optimistic. Those who are skeptical point to Musk's history of making overly optimistic predictions about Tesla's self-driving technology. They also argue that the challenges of achieving fully autonomous driving are still significant, and it is not clear that Tesla will be able to overcome them.

However, other experts are more optimistic about Musk's prediction. They point to Tesla's progress in developing self-driving technology, and they believe that the company is well-positioned to achieve fully autonomous driving this year. They also argue that the benefits of fully autonomous driving are so great that it is worth taking the risk of investing in the technology.

Only time will tell if Musk's prediction is correct. But regardless of whether or not Tesla is able to achieve fully autonomous driving this year, the company's progress in this area is a significant development for the self-driving car industry.