Rivian plans to integrate third-party AI agents from Anthropic, OpenAI, and Meta into its electric vehicles, CEO RJ Scaringe revealed at TechCrunch Disrupt. Powered by a proprietary framework that routes voice prompts between edge and cloud models, the car can pull personal context from other devices to plan dinners or schedules. Crucially, Scaringe stressed hard guardrails: AI agents will never control the steering or brakes.
Rivian just rolled out its 2026.31 OTA update, bringing RivianOS 2 to all R1 models in the vehicle's biggest software overhaul to date. The update unifies R1 and R2 onto a single AI-defined platform with an overhaul of the UI, Unreal Engine real-time cabin visuals, and new granular privacy toggles.
Rivian just rolled out Rivian Assistant, a native voice agent deeply wired into Gen 1 and Gen 2 vehicle hardware. Unlike typical phone-mirroring assistants, it directly controls systems like adjusting ride height or opening the front trunk, while also managing Google Calendar events and drafting texts. Why it matters: It shifts in-car voice from clunky dictation to an integrated operational co-pilot, though it currently requires a Connect+ subscription and only supports English.
Uber just announced a deal to invest up to $1.25 billion in Rivian, aiming to deploy 10,000 autonomous R2 vehicles by 2031. Starting in San Francisco and Miami in 2028, the robotaxi fleet will run exclusively on Uber's app. Why it matters: Uber wants to lock in hardware partners and cement itself as the platform for autonomous fleets before self-driving rivals push it aside.
Rivian just revealed final pricing for its R2 midsize electric SUV at SXSW, launching a dual-motor Performance trim starting at $59,485 this spring. It packs 656 hp, 330 miles of range, and a 200 TOPS edge AI chip powering an offline voice assistant. The promised $45,000 base trim is delayed until late 2027.
Rivian just released its 2025.46 software update, expanding hands-free assisted driving for Gen 2 vehicles from 135,000 miles to over 3.5 million miles across the US and Canada. The update also brings Autonomy Drive Styles powered by end-to-end AI models, allowing drivers to choose between Mild, Medium, and Spicy behavior on the road. Why it matters: Hands-free highway driving is quickly moving to everyday surface streets with personality settings to match human preferences.
Rivian just revealed custom silicon and a next-generation autonomy platform built for deep vehicle AI integration. The automaker showcased its Universal Hands Free capability, aiming to roll out hands-off and eyes-off driving under controlled conditions on second-generation models in 2026.
Rivian just announced an Autonomy and AI day for December 11, where it plans to preview its "Universal Hands Free" driving system. CEO RJ Scaringe recently completed a two-hour test drive across Palo Alto with a second-gen R1 driving itself. Rivian targets a controlled hands-off rollout by 2026, though specific pricing and launch timelines may remain under wraps.
Rivian just rolled out an update for its second-generation vehicles, bringing hands-free highway driving to 135,000 miles of roads across the US and Canada. The system monitors driver gaze via an infrared rearview mirror camera, with plans to expand road coverage and add eyes-off capabilities in 2026.
Google just rolled out generative AI capabilities for Google Maps Platform and Google Earth, allowing developers to ground LLMs in real-world data from 250 million places. Google Earth is also getting Gemini-powered multi-step reasoning to slash urban planning analysis time from days to minutes. Next month, Rivian will begin rolling out AI place summaries to its vehicle screens.
