- Rivian’s chief software program officer confirmed the corporate’s EVs will get textual content messaging capabilities in 2025
- The textual content messaging resolution will make the most of native text-to-speech by way of a brand new voice tech stack
- Google Forged and native YouTube utility will come within the subsequent software program replace
Two years in the past, Rivian Chief Software program Officer Wassym Bensaid informed homeowners and followers that the automaker was engaged on text-to-speech textual content messaging talents.
Two years later and that performance hasn’t appeared in any Rivian electrical automobiles.
In a hearth chat with media and homeowners in November on the Rivian Area in Los Angeles, Bensaid mentioned native textual content messaging talents will come to Rivians in 2025.
Bensaid admitted Rivian has “made a number of makes an attempt for textual content to speech,” however the issue, in keeping with Rivian’s CSO, is the prevailing options obtainable within the trade “are usually not nice.”
An answer was in place and able to ship, however throughout ultimate testing Bensaid refused to log out and mentioned “no, we can’t ship,” as a result of it was “fragmented.” The exec mentioned the difficulty was particularly prevalent for Android customers, and the staff desires to make sure each iOS and Android—regardless of most Rivian homeowners apparently having Apple gadgets, in keeping with Bensaid—have a seamless expertise.
One other difficulty with earlier makes an attempt included lacking texts. “Supporting group chat is known as a nightmare,” Bensaid mentioned. He famous emojis or reactions are additionally “actually a nightmare.”
The issue with at present’s options is “it is not a wealthy expertise,” Bensaid mentioned.
Bensaid mentioned the staff’s engaged on a new voice tech stack that can redefine the expertise. Textual content-to-speech capabilities will come on prime of this new software program stack, and he is been testing early prototypes for weeks. “It is means, means completely different. I imply, truthfully, it is the kind of expertise that I need to actually have,” Bensaid mentioned.
The brand new voice tech stack will coexist with at present’s Alexa implementation, in keeping with Bensaid. The exec famous he sees the longer term as the whole lot being accessible by way of the touchscreen and voice, not only one or the opposite. Bensaid famous that AI presents an incredible alternative on this regard.
However it will not solely be text-to-speech. There might be a bodily interface on the display screen to work together with textual content messages. Bernsaid would not elaborate on what which may appear like or the way it’ll function except for noting “it is actually a pleasant interface”
“So my message is, please be affected person with us,” Bensaid requested of householders. He went on to say Rivian’s implementation might be higher than the rest within the trade at present.
2025 Rivian R1S
However that is all to return. The following software program replace, in keeping with Bensaid, will allow Google Forged together with native YouTube implementation. Google Forged will include the help of greater than 3,000 functions, besides Netflix, which Rivian remains to be working with Google on, in keeping with the software program exec. Dolby Encompass Sound is within the playing cards, however no timeline was given. Rivians already function Dolby Atmos when utilizing the brand new Apple Music app.
In the meanwhile, Google Forged will solely be on the entrance display screen, however Bensaid mentioned the staff’s tips on how to allow it for rear screens. Immediately, the one rear display screen Rivian presents is a small display screen mounted on the again of the middle console, like in Teslas. Bensaid mentioned enabling Google Forged for the rear seats would make it so the function might be utilized by passengers whereas driving.
