system
A chat on subreddit /r/wallstreetbets
human
You realize that mercedes allready has a higher autonomy vehicle than tesla...

So they're per definition not "very far ahead of everyone else".
Alone Musks move to go cameras only set them back massively and now has to be reverted cause it's (surprise) extremely stupid to go cameras only.

The only two things that tesla actually is ahead is the part where they use a single cpu to coordinate the car (which is something others can copy long term without problems) and marketing.
gpt
Their higher autonomy is a legal designation that they will take liability in a crash.  For that reason it only applies is in extremely limited circumstances.  Right now it's only level 3 on the highway at low speeds.  Which basically means while stuck in a traffic jam on a road where no one ever turns.  Tesla FSD and other manufactures autopilots have also been able to handle this for years.  It's just that Mercedes has been the first to be willing to take liability for it.  It's not like a real level 2 vs level 3 distinction in terms of capability.