Rivian is rolling out its AI-powered in-vehicle voice assistant with the automaker’s newest software program replace. It is going to be accessible to all Rivian Gen 1 and Gen 2 homeowners paying for the corporate’s Join+ mobile subscription service, which prices $15 a month or $150 a 12 months, or are in the midst of an energetic trial. The assistant may also be accessible on Rivian’s upcoming R2 mid-size electrical SUV that has not too long ago started production. Rivian is anticipated to make the primary deliveries of the R2 EV’s costliest variant later this spring and to supply its $45,000 base mannequin in 2027.
The automaker first announced Rivian Assistant at its inaugural Autonomy and AI day in December 2025, the place it stated that the assistant will “orchestrate completely different fashions and select the very best one for the duty.” Rivian is looking this multi-modal AI basis “Rivian Unified Intelligence.” It understands the merchandise and operations as one steady system and learns from customers to ship a customized driving expertise. Assistant saves any discovered private context to particular driver profiles, so it does not get data between a number of customers in a single family confused.
To summon Assistant, customers will solely should say “Hey, Rivian” or press the left steering wheel button. Rivian says its Assistant, which is constructed instantly into its system, provides customers direct management over {hardware} that different phone-mirrored assistants cannot do. It can perceive pure language, so drivers do not should memorize instructions. If a person asks it to make everybody’s seat “toasty” besides theirs, it would flip up heating for the passengers’ seats. It can change drive modes, alter journey top, open the entrance trunk, alter the local weather and verify the EV’s different options hands-free.
Drivers can ask Assistant for instructions, for particular areas within the map and to establish media for them, reminiscent of trying up a music’s identify or when it got here out. The Assistant can even learn texts, summarize them for the person and draft texts for them, in addition to summarize native information or inform them the climate. Customers can ask it normal questions and for troubleshooting assist, as properly, reminiscent of for directions on methods to change their car’s tires.
Rivian Assistant may also be capable of hyperlink with third-party apps and instruments. Its first third-party integration is with Google Calendar, permitting customers to ask Assistant to verify and even handle their appointments and conferences with out having to entry the app itself. Take notice, nonetheless, that Assistant can solely perceive English and can solely reply to instructions and questions within the language.
