- 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 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 house owners 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 fireplace chat with media and house owners 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, based on 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 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 problem was particularly prevalent for Android customers, and the workforce desires to make sure each iOS and Android—regardless of most Rivian house owners apparently having Apple units, based on Bensaid—have a seamless expertise.
One other subject with earlier makes an attempt included lacking texts. “Supporting group chat is mostly a nightmare,” Bensaid stated. He famous emojis or reactions are additionally “actually a nightmare.”
The issue with in the present day’s options is “it is not a wealthy expertise,” Bensaid stated.
Bensaid stated the workforce’s engaged on a new voice tech stack that may redefine the expertise. Textual content-to-speech capabilities will come on high of this new software program stack, and he is been testing early prototypes for weeks. “It is manner, manner totally different. I imply, truthfully, it is the kind of expertise that I wish to actually have,” Bensaid stated.
The brand new voice tech stack will coexist with in the present day’s Alexa implementation, based on Bensaid. The exec famous he sees the longer term as all the pieces being accessible by way of the touchscreen and voice, not only one or the opposite. Bensaid famous that AI gives an incredible alternative on this regard.
However it will not solely be text-to-speech. There will likely be a bodily interface on the display screen 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 householders. He went on to say Rivian’s implementation will likely be higher than the rest within the trade in the present day.
2025 Rivian R1S
However that is all to come back. The subsequent software program replace, based on 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, based on the software program exec. Dolby Encompass Sound is within the playing cards, however no timeline was given. Rivians already characteristic Dolby Atmos when utilizing the brand new Apple Music app.
In the meanwhile, Google Solid will solely be on the entrance display screen, however Bensaid stated the workforce’s taking a look at find out how to allow it for rear screens. Immediately, the one rear display screen Rivian gives is a small display screen 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 characteristic might be utilized by passengers whereas driving.
