Rivian unveils custom AI chip and autonomous driving tech with lidar, hinting at robotaxi future
33 Sources
[1]
Rivian goes big on autonomy, with custom silicon, lidar, and a hint at robotaxis | TechCrunch
Rivian detailed Thursday how it plans to make its electric vehicles increasingly autonomous -- an ambitious effort that includes new hardware, including lidar and custom silicon, and eventually, a potential entry into the self-driving ride-hail market, according to CEO RJ Scaringe. The
[2]
Rivian is building its own AI assistant | TechCrunch
Rivian has spent nearly two years building its own AI assistant, an effort that remains separate from its multi-billion dollar technology joint venture with Volkswagen, TechCrunch has learned. Rivian hasn't revealed when it will put the AI assistant in consumers hands. However, in an interview
[3]
Rivian Reveals New AI Chip, Rooftop Lidar Coming to R2 EVs in 2026
Rivian Assistant: A new AI voice interface with real capability Electric truck and SUV maker Rivian opened the doors of its Palo Alto, California, headquarters this week for its Autonomy & AI event, giving us a front-row look at the company's next-generation driver assistance tech. It also
[4]
Rivian Refuses to Support Apple CarPlay, But Its New Workaround Looks Promising
Rivian shows off its new purple Borealis trim on stage at Autonomy Day (Credit: Rivian) Rivian debuted a new AI assistant this week, and it brings welcome relief to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto lovers who went cold turkey on their favorite dash tech since switching to one of the company's swanky
[5]
Rivian unveils its own in-house RAP1 AI chip and ACM3 self-driving platform -- automaker one-ups Tesla with LiDAR support
Most folks would think of Rivian as a runner-up to Tesla thanks to its aluminum unibody R1 vehicles, but the automaker has actually been making a tidy sum in software and services. True to that statement, Rivian today announced its Rivian Autonomy Processor chip and Autonomy Compute Module 3
[6]
Rivian announces AI chip in move towards self-driving future
Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe hosted the EV manufacturer's first Autonomy and AI Day this week, announcing a slew of big advancements from his no-longer-fledgling company. Appropriately, from Rivian's headquarters in Silicon Valley, the automaker revealed a project it has been keeping under
[7]
Rivian Unveils AI Chip for Automated Driving, Ditches Nvidia
Rivian Automotive Inc. shares fell after the company unveiled its own artificial intelligence chip designed to replace Nvidia Corp. technology as part of a broader push to enhance automated-driving features in future vehicles. The automaker will equip its upcoming R2 sport utility vehicles with
[8]
Rivian's AI, autonomy impress Wall Street, but EV and capital concerns remain
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe at the company's first "Autonomy and AI Day" on Dec. 11, 2025, in Palo Alto, California. Rivian Automotive impressed Wall Street on Thursday with its plans for artificial intelligence, automation and an internally developed silicon chip, but significant challenges involving
[9]
Rivian expands hands-free driving system, builds proprietary AI chip
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. What we know so far: Rivian is betting its future on artificial intelligence as the cornerstone of fully autonomous vehicles, even as financial losses and a tougher electric-vehicle market challenge
[10]
Rivian Reveals New AI Assistant, Lidar, and Autonomous Driving Coming in 2026
Attempting to leapfrog competitors ahead of a crucial vehicle launch and a race to integrate AI and advanced driver assistance systems, Rivian revealed its latest hands-free driving system with better highway mapping, a custom processor, lidar, and a voice assistant as it prepares for the launch of
[11]
Rivian announces new AI tech, in-house chip and robotaxi ambitions
Rivian debuted new tech at its first "Autonomy and AI Day" on Thursday in Palo Alto, California. Electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive has developed a custom chip, car computer and new artificial intelligence models that will enable it to bring self-driving features to its forthcoming vehicles,
[12]
Rivian expected to talk autonomous driving EV features Dec. 11
Tesla this. Tesla that. Are you interested in EVs and autonomous vehicles, but tired of hearing about Elon Musk and company? Then you'll probably want to tune into Rivian's upcoming "Autonomy and AI Day" on December 11 at 12pm ET. Rivian, the California-based electric vehicle manufacturer founded
[13]
Rivian CEO says the EV maker's new large driving model will one day allow for fully autonomous driving -- and maybe a spot in the robotaxi race | Fortune
Rivian has developed its own artificial intelligence chip, replacing Nvidia Corp. technology as part of a broader push to add automated-driving features to future vehicles.Getty Images -- Jason Henry/Bloomberg Announcements around these topics headlined Rivian's first "Autonomy and AI Day" in Palo
[14]
Rivian turns to AI, autonomy to woo investors as EV sales stall
DETROIT -- Rivian Automotive will let artificial intelligence take the wheel to try to convince investors that its future can be more lucrative than its past. The all-electric vehicle maker is set to host its first "Autonomy and AI Day" Thursday as its core business of producing and selling EVs
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Rivian Launches 'Universal Hands-Free' Driving -- And An AI Assistant
These updates are coming to the second-generation Rivian R1 vehicles and the forthcoming R2 crossover. Arguably, the biggest news out of Rivian's inaugural Autonomy and AI Day event is that the Rivian R2 will be the most affordable new U.S. market car to deploy lidar for more advanced autonomous
[16]
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe charts a new course for autonomous vehicles
When I caught up with Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe after the company's "AI & Autonomy Day" keynote on December 11 at its Palo Alto headquarters, he marveled that the company had managed to keep the event's news under wraps until it was ready for its big reveal. It did -- and there was a lot
[17]
Rivian AI & Autonomy Day: In-house silicon chip, next-gen AI platform, LiDAR for Level 4 self-driving [Video]
As promised, we are here in Palo Alto, California, live at Rivian's inaugural AI and Autonomy day, which the American automaker has been teasing for a month now. The event was filled with numerous exciting updates, including new in-house technology, a new AI assistant, the addition of LiDAR, and a
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The Rivian R2 Is Getting Lidar. Here's Why It's An Even Bigger Deal Now
Rivian says the crossovers will also gather valuable data for training its driving models. Rivian's first shot at the mainstream car market, the $45,000 R2 crossover, is one of the most anticipated electric vehicles of 2026. Come next year, it will also be equipped to take Rivian's autonomous
[19]
Rivian announces home-grown AI assistant coming to all R1 vehicles in 2026
Rivian announced its home-grown AI assistant at the AI & Autonomy event in Palo Alto, confirming a launch in early 2026 for every existing R1T and R1S vehicle to enable natural conversation for controlling A/C, music, and vehicle stats. Rivian has developed the AI assistant internally over two
[20]
Rivian Is Coming for Uber and Waymo With Its 'AI-Defined Vehicle'
Rivian is putting AI in the driver's seat. At an event on Thursday, the Palo Alto-based electric vehicle company unveiled a new AI assistant feature and teased details about the expanded self-driving tech it's developing. Rivian's AI-powered Rivian Assistant, which responds to the phrase "Hey
[21]
Rivian's Stock Pops Friday. The EV Maker Is Leaning Into Autonomy and AI
The move higher came even as worries about an AI bubble weighed on other stocks exposed to the technology. Are investors ready to buy into Rivian's vision for its autonomous vehicles and AI? Shares of the electric vehicle maker surged 12% Friday, erasing yesterday's losses after an "Autonomy & AI
[22]
How To Watch Rivian's Autonomy And AI Day Event
The event livestream starts at noon today, and you can watch it here on InsideEVs. The heat is on Rivian. With the $7,500 federal tax credit out of the picture and the upcoming R2 SUV yet to be on sale, the American EV startup is looking for ways to diversify its revenue streams. It already scored
[23]
Rivian targets year-end release for in-house AI assistant
Rivian has developed its own AI assistant over nearly two years, separate from its joint venture with Volkswagen, TechCrunch reports. The project targets a release by year-end, as stated by software chief Wassym Bensaid, with further details to emerge at the company's AI and Autonomy Day event on
[24]
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe Hasn't Ruled Out Robotaxis, Says RIVN Is Focused On Level 4 Autonomy - Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:RIVN)
Rivian Automotive Inc. (NASDAQ:RIVN) CEO RJ Scaringe hasn't ruled out the automaker entering the Robotaxi race in the future. Rivian Robotaxis In The Pipeline? Speaking to Fast Company in an interview released on Monday, Scaringe outlined that the company's focus on "personally owned" vehicles
[25]
Rivian's Stock Pops 15% Friday. The EV Maker Is Leaning Into Autonomy and AI
The move higher came even as worries about an AI bubble weighed on other stocks exposed to the technology. Are investors ready to buy into Rivian's vision for its autonomous vehicles and AI? Shares of the electric vehicle maker were up about 15% in recent trading, erasing yesterday's losses after
[26]
Why Rivian Stock Sank After Its AI Event Today | The Motley Fool
Rivian will add an "autonomy computer" to its EVs, designed to enable advanced self-driving capabilities. Rivian Automotive (RIVN 6.14%) held its first "Autonomy and AI Day" today in Palo Alto, CA, and so far, it appears that analysts and investors have been underwhelmed. CEO R.J. Scaringe
[27]
Rivian Unveils Custom AI Chip, Reduces Dependence on Nvidia | PYMNTS.com
By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. The announcement, made at the company's first "Autonomy & AI Day" in Palo Alto,
[28]
What analysts are saying about Rivian after its AI & Autonomy Day event (RIVN:NASDAQ)
Rivian Automotive (RIVN) is being sized up by analysts after its AI & Autonomy Day showcased a new in-house autonomy chip and Gen 3 computer, a "Large Driving Model" AI stack, and the Rivian Assistant in-car AI. The company detailed Universal Hands-Free driving on over 3.5 million Rivian's
[29]
Rivian Builds AI Assistant To Run The Vehicle, Not Just Talk - Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:RIVN)
Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:RIVN) has spent nearly two years developing its own artificial intelligence assistant, a project separate from its $5.8 billion technology joint venture with Volkswagen AG (OTC:VWAGY). Rivian designed the assistant to integrate fully with vehicle controls rather
[30]
Rivian stock soars after Needham raises price target on AI advancements By Investing.com
Investing.com -- Rivian Automotive Inc (NASDAQ:RIVN) stock surged 14% Friday, climbing to $18.70 after Needham analyst Chris Pierce raised his price target on the electric vehicle maker to $23 from $14 while maintaining a Buy rating. The price target increase follows Rivian's inaugural Autonomy &
[31]
Rivian shares surge as analysts cheer shift to custom self-driving chip, AI strategy
Dec 12 (Reuters) - Shares of Rivian Automotive surged 18% on Friday as analysts issued bullish commentary on the electric pickup truck and SUV maker's efforts to develop a custom chip for self-driving features and its integration of artificial intelligence. The stock had closed about 6% lower on
[32]
Rivian debuts custom self-driving chip, $2,500 driver-assistance package
PALO ALTO, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Rivian Automotive on Thursday unveiled its first custom computer chip for self-driving and a new paid driver-assistance package called Autonomy+, as the electric-vehicle maker leans on artificial intelligence to boost revenue. The announcements, made at Rivian's first
[33]
Rivian Unveils Custom Silicon, Next-Gen Autonomy Platform, and Deep AI Integration at Inaugural Autonomy & AI Day
American automotive technology company showcases roadmap toward global leadership in AI-defined vehicles and ownership experience Rivian (NASDAQ: RIVN) today announced significant breakthroughs in vertically integrated automotive technology at its first Autonomy & AI Day. During the event at its
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Rivian showcased its ambitious autonomous driving roadmap at its first Autonomy & AI Day, revealing a custom-built RAP1 processor, lidar integration, and a sophisticated AI assistant. The EV maker plans to expand hands-free driving to 3.5 million miles of roads and aims for Level 4 autonomy, with CEO RJ Scaringe hinting at potential entry into the ride-hail market to compete with Waymo.
Rivian Unveils Custom Silicon and Self-Driving Platform
Rivian detailed its autonomous driving ambitions at its inaugural Autonomy & AI Day event in Palo Alto, California, revealing hardware and software advancements that position the EV maker as a serious competitor to Tesla and other automakers. The centerpiece of this announcement is the Rivian Autonomy Processor (RAP1), an in-house AI chip built on a 5nm process using Armv9 architecture with 14 Cortex-A720AE cores
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. This custom silicon powers the third-generation autonomy computer, ACM3, which delivers 1,800 TOPS of INT8 inference and can process 5 billion pixels per second—representing 2.5 times better energy efficiency and four times the performance of the current Gen 2 system3
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Source: Bloomberg
The ACM3 will debut in late 2026 versions of the upcoming R2 EVs, paired with lidar sensors integrated into the roofline above the windshield. This marks a strategic departure from Tesla's camera-only approach, with Rivian emphasizing that lidar provides "three-dimensional spatial data and redundant sensing" for real-time detection of edge cases
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. The R2 platform will feature 11 cameras totaling 65 megapixels and five redesigned radar units, with improved short-range capability allowing Rivian to eliminate ultrasonic parking sensors entirely3
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Source: Electrek
Large Driving Model Powers Autonomous Capabilities
Rivian is building what it calls a Large Driving Model, an AI system trained on real-world driving scenarios that represents a shift away from rules-based frameworks for developing autonomous vehicles
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. The company claims this approach uses Group Relative Policy Optimization, similar to techniques employed by DeepSeek, and applies the same neural network and training patterns familiar from large language models used in AI chatbots5
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Source: Tom's Hardware
This technology will enable Universal Hands-Free driving, launching in early 2026 for second-generation R1 trucks and SUVs. The feature will cover 3.5 million miles of roads across the USA and Canada, extending beyond highways to surface streets with clear lane markings
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. Rivian will charge a one-time fee of $2,500 or $49.99 per month for this Autonomy+ service1
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.Path to Level 4 Autonomy and Robotaxi Ambitions
CEO RJ Scaringe outlined an ambitious roadmap that progresses from point-to-point navigation to eyes-off driving, ultimately reaching what Rivian calls "personal L4"—referring to Level 4 autonomy where vehicles can operate independently under defined conditions
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. "What that means is you can get into the vehicle at your house, plug in the address to where you're going, and the vehicle will completely drive you there," Scaringe explained, describing future capabilities where drivers can reclaim their time by reading or using their phones1
.Scaringe also hinted at potential competition with Waymo in the ride-hail market. "While our initial focus will be on personally owned vehicles, which today represent a vast majority of the miles driven the United States, this also enables us to pursue opportunities in the rideshare space," he stated
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. This signals Rivian's interest in the robotaxi market, though the company emphasizes that personally owned vehicles remain the priority.Related Stories
Rivian AI Assistant Offers CarPlay Alternative
Rivian has spent nearly two years developing its Rivian AI assistant, a sophisticated voice interface that integrates deeply with vehicle controls and third-party services
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. The assistant launches in early 2026 on all Rivian vehicles, including first- and second-generation R1T and R1S models, with native integration on the R2 by late 20263
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.The voice assistant addresses a major pain point for customers who miss Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. During a live demonstration, the system read and responded to text messages, accessed Google Calendar to reschedule meetings, found nearby restaurants, and sent updated ETAs to contacts—all through natural, conversational commands
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. The assistant can also control vehicle functions like switching drive modes or activating seat warmers, going beyond what CarPlay or Android Auto can accomplish4
.Wassym Bensaid, Rivian's chief software officer, explained that the company built an architecture that is model and platform agnostic, using what the industry calls an "agentic framework" to interface with different AI models
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. The system combines edge AI for on-device tasks with cloud AI for more compute-intensive operations, creating a flexible hybrid software stack2
. Rivian also plans to use the assistant for predictive maintenance by embedding AI into diagnostics to help technicians pinpoint complex issues4
.Strategic Implications and Industry Competition
These announcements represent a public signal to shareholders that Rivian is keeping pace with or exceeding the automated-driving capabilities of rivals like Tesla, Ford, General Motors, and automakers from Europe and China
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. The timing is significant as Rivian pushes to begin production of its more affordable R2 SUV in the first half of 2026, with initial models shipping without the ACM3 or lidar sensor before the upgraded versions arrive later that year1
.The AI assistant and autonomous driving development remain separate from Rivian's $5.8 billion joint venture with Volkswagen, which focuses on electrical architecture, zonal compute, and infotainment systems
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. However, Bensaid noted that this separation "doesn't mean that it may not be in the future," suggesting potential expansion of the partnership2
. With Rivian's software and services business already turning a profit unlike its automotive division, the company may look to sell its autonomous driving and assistant technology to other automakers5
.References
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