- Rivian’s chief software program officer confirmed the corporate’s EVs will get textual content messaging capabilities in 2025
- The textual content messaging answer will make the most of native text-to-speech by way of a brand new voice tech stack
- Google Solid and native YouTube software 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 skills.
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 stated native textual content messaging skills 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 accordance with Rivian’s CSO, is the present options obtainable within the business “should not nice.”
An answer was in place and able to ship, however throughout remaining testing Bensaid refused to log off and stated “no, we can not ship,” as a result of it was “fragmented.” The exec stated the difficulty was particularly prevalent for Android customers, and the crew needs to make sure each iOS and Android—regardless of most Rivian homeowners apparently having Apple gadgets, in accordance with Bensaid—have a seamless expertise.
One other challenge with earlier makes an attempt included lacking texts. “Supporting group chat can be a nightmare,” Bensaid stated. He famous emojis or reactions are additionally “actually a nightmare.”
The issue with at this time’s options is “it is not a wealthy expertise,” Bensaid stated.
Bensaid stated the crew’s engaged on a new voice tech stack that may 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 manner, manner completely different. I imply, actually, it is the kind of expertise that I need to actually have,” Bensaid stated.
The brand new voice tech stack will coexist with at this time’s Alexa implementation, in accordance with Bensaid. The exec famous he sees the long run as all the things being accessible by the touchscreen and voice, not only one or the opposite. Bensaid famous that AI presents an incredible alternative on this regard.
Nevertheless it will not solely be text-to-speech. There will likely be a bodily interface on the display to work together with textual content messages. Bernsaid would not elaborate on what that 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 homeowners. He went on to say Rivian’s implementation will likely be higher than anything within the business at this time.
2025 Rivian R1S
However that is all to come back. The subsequent software program replace, in accordance with Bensaid, will allow Google Solid together with native YouTube implementation. Google Solid will include the help of greater than 3,000 functions, besides Netflix, which Rivian continues to be working with Google on, in accordance 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 interim, Google Solid will solely be on the entrance display, however Bensaid stated the crew’s how you can allow it for rear screens. At the moment, the one rear display Rivian presents is a small display mounted on the again of the middle console, like in Teslas. Bensaid stated enabling Google Solid for the rear seats would make it so the function may very well be utilized by passengers whereas driving.
