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Rivian, the maker of electric trucks and SUVs, opened the doors to its headquarters in Palo Alto, California, this week for its Autonomy & AI event, giving us a front-row look at the company’s next-generation driver-assistance technology. It also detailed how the new AI technology will be used to power future self-driving features and the new Rivian Assistant voice interface that will launch in the R1 and R2 EVs next year. I was sitting up front as Rivian’s engineering leaders walked us through a major evolution in the brand’s hardware and software portfolio — the technology that will shape the upcoming R2 SUV and upgrade existing R1 trucks and SUVs.
Rivian’s new brain: the RAP1 and its third-generation autonomous computer
Powering Rivian’s next-generation technology strategy is its first in-house AI chip: the Rivian Autonomy Processor. This multi-chip module combines processor and memory into a single package, designed from the ground up to process data for artificial intelligence and autonomous driving tasks. The upcoming R2 electric SUV will use two RAP1 modules inside what Rivian calls a Gen 3 Autonomy Computer. The company says the ACM3 is 2.5 times more energy efficient than its current system, which probably won’t have a huge impact on range, but for an electric car, every watt saved counts.
The automaker’s new custom hardware is said to feature four times more AI processing power than current chips.
More importantly, the new silicon is said to deliver four times the performance of the current Gen 2 system, which is a huge improvement. Rivian says the ACM3 will be able to process about 5 billion pixels of sensor data per second, which is important because the R2 is getting a major sensor upgrade.
More than meets the eye: the R2’s lidar sensor array
The big news here is that Rivian’s R2-generation EV will see a lidar array join the party, subtly integrated into the roofline just above the windshield. Rivian was keen to point out how its designers were able to avoid the ‘taxi tower’ design seen in vehicles like the Volvo EX90, while maintaining a clean silhouette when viewed from the side.
The R2 platform’s 11 cameras will also see resolution improvements, now totaling 65 megapixels giving Rivian’s perception suite sharper and more detailed visual awareness. Five redesigned radar units complete the package. The short-range capability is said to be so good that Rivian has ditched the ultrasonic parking sensors entirely, a bold move and a sign of confidence in the new radar technology.
By placing the lidar beam in the roofline, Rivian avoids “taxi” hump and maintains a smooth profile.
Rivian’s autonomy roadmap: hands-off, hands-off, and eventually Level 4
Beyond the hardware, Rivian has laid out an ambitious roadmap for autonomous driving powered by what it calls the Grand Driving Model, a high-capacity AI model trained to handle complex real-world driving scenarios. The name seems to be based on many of the same techniques, neural networks and training patterns as the now-familiar large language models of AI-powered chatbots, which sounds like a new approach to developing autonomous driving. But Rivian assures us that it put safety first when building the technology.
The large driving model will soon power Rivian’s Autonomy Plus driver assistance suite. Autonomy Plus will launch in early 2026 for existing R1 owners, and will expand Rivian’s hands-free driving coverage to 3.5 million miles of U.S. and Canadian roads. It will also allow hands-free operation on non-highway roads, as long as lane markings are clear.
Pricing is set at a one-time $2,500 upgrade or $50 per month for drivers who want to test the waters first.
Rivian’s Universal Hands Free driving assistance system will be expanded next year to cover 3.5 million miles of highway and off-road driving.
With more AI processing hardware and the added peace of mind that lidar technology provides, Rivian says its autonomy roadmap leads to full hands-free point-to-point driving for upcoming R2 EVs, eventually evolving into sightless driving and eventually to Full autonomy level 4The vehicle can operate autonomously under specific conditions.
Rivian Assistant: A new AI voice interface with real-world capabilities
The event was not just about autonomy. Rivian also showcased how its new AI hardware will enhance comfort and dashboard technology inside its electric vehicles.
Rivian Assistant is the automaker’s new online and offline AI voice assistant designed to understand natural speech and link directly to vehicle apps and services. In a live demo, Rivian used Assistant to access a user’s Google Calendar, find the day’s appointments, and then reschedule a meeting in real time. Through another series of spoken commands, Rivian then pulls up the destination from the appointment, searches for nearby restaurants and then sends the top three dining options to meeting attendees, complete with an estimated time of arrival.
Rivian joins the ranks of automakers offering AI-powered chatbots in the dashboard. The Rivian Assistant looks promising.
It all works with simple conversational commands, and if Rivian can maintain this level of integration across more services, it could become one of the most useful in-car assistants available.
Rivian Assistant will launch early next year on current first- and second-generation R1T and R1S vehicles, and will debut natively on the R2 toward the end of 2026.