Rivian Quietly Builds Its Own AI Assistant as Industry Race Heats Up

[bonk]

Rivian has been developing an in-house AI assistant for nearly two years, TechCrunch has learned — a project entirely separate from its multibillion-dollar joint venture with Volkswagen. While the EV maker hasn’t confirmed a release date, software chief Wassym Bensaid previously hinted the assistant could reach consumers by the end of the year.
The company is expected to reveal more details during its AI & Autonomy Day livestream on December 11. Rivian’s move comes as tech giants like OpenAI, Google, Microsoft and Meta accelerate foundational AI development, pushing automakers to keep pace. But Rivian insists this isn’t a trendy chatbot add-on; it’s part of a long-term push toward deeper vertical integration.

[Abdul Khan]

Every automaker wants in-house AI to avoid dependency on big tech.

[Rimon Khan]

Smart move—custom assistants will shape the future EV ecosystem.