Rivian software chief Wassym Bensaid went on Decoder, and it's the clearest look yet at the VW deal, why Rivian's software culture is the real asset, and what RV Tech means for every future EV from Audi to Scout.
Rivian's software and autonomy leads jumped into a Reddit AMA and ended up spilling more concrete R2 detail than we've gotten in a while. Wassym handled most of it, with James stepping in for the self driving questions. From point to point autonomy timelines and the edge compute bet to the heat pump, the charging mat retrofit, and why the premium audio actually works, here's everything worth knowing.
Rivian just rolled out a 60-day free trial of Connect+ to all owners, which means you can finally try Rivian Assistant without paying for it. Update to 2026.15 to turn it on, and here's what you get before the $14.99 a month kicks in.
RivianOS 2.0 is launching on R2 first, with R1 vehicles getting it later this year. Rivian's goal is one core operating system that feels the same across the lineup no matter how different the hardware is, which means R1 owners aren't getting left behind on an old build.
Rivian's Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid is back for his third Reddit AMA this Thursday, May 21st, and this one is focused specifically on the R2 software platform. He'll be live from the Palo Alto office between 11:30am and 3pm PST.
If you've tried replying to a group text through Rivian Assistant and noticed the option just isn't there, you're not imagining it. Bluetooth messaging in the vehicle only supports one on one conversations, and it's a limitation that affects basically every car using Bluetooth for texts, Tesla included.
Rivian Assistant launches with 2026.15 and Google Calendar is the only platform it supports at launch. If you live in iCloud or Outlook, you'll need a sync tool to mirror your schedule into Google so the assistant can actually see your appointments, navigate to them, and reschedule events by voice from day one. Here are the options worth considering.
Rivian 2026.15 is rolling out with the new Rivian Assistant as the headline feature. Here's my hands-on video review covering how it works, what it can do, and where it lands in the real world.
The upcoming 2026.15 software update brings Rivian Assistant, the new AI voice assistant, as the headline feature, alongside Profile PIN authentication and a handful of Gen 2 refinements. Here's what to expect when it lands.
A Better Route Planner relaunched its website this week with a fresh look and a new EV Comparison tool that lets you stack up to three EVs side by side. Rivian acquired ABRP back in June 2023, and the platform keeps getting better.
