- 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 through 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 instructed 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 autos.
In a fireplace chat with media and homeowners in November on the Rivian House in Los Angeles, Bensaid stated 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, based on Rivian’s CSO, is the prevailing options out there within the trade “usually are not nice.”
An answer was in place and able to ship, however throughout remaining testing Bensaid refused to log out 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 crew needs to make sure each iOS and Android—regardless of most Rivian homeowners apparently having Apple gadgets, based on Bensaid—have a seamless expertise.
One other challenge with earlier makes an attempt included lacking texts. “Supporting group chat is known as 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 approach, approach completely different. I imply, actually, it is the kind of expertise that I wish to actually have,” Bensaid stated.
The brand new voice tech stack will coexist with at this time’s Alexa implementation, based on Bensaid. The exec famous he sees the long run as all the pieces being accessible by means of the touchscreen and voice, not only one or the opposite. Bensaid famous that AI presents an amazing alternative on this regard.
However it will not solely be text-to-speech. There can 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 apart from 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 can be higher than the rest within the trade at this time.
2025 Rivian R1S
However that is all to come back. The subsequent software program replace, based on 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 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 interim, Google Forged will solely be on the entrance display screen, however Bensaid stated the crew’s learn how to allow it for rear screens. At this time, the one rear display screen Rivian presents is a small display screen mounted on the again of the middle console, like in Teslas. Bensaid stated enabling Google Forged for the rear seats would make it so the characteristic might be utilized by passengers whereas driving.
