- 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 instructed 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 fireplace 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 response to Rivian’s CSO, is the present options out there 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 stated “no, we can’t 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, in response to Bensaid—have a seamless expertise.
One other concern 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 right now’s options is “it isn’t 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 high 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 stated.
The brand new voice tech stack will coexist with right now’s Alexa implementation, in response to Bensaid. The exec famous he sees the longer term as all the things being accessible by the touchscreen and voice, not only one or the opposite. Bensaid famous that AI affords an incredible alternative on this regard.
However it will not solely be text-to-speech. There will probably 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 other than 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 probably be higher than anything within the trade right now.
2025 Rivian R1S
However that is all to return. The subsequent software program replace, in response to Bensaid, will allow Google Forged together with native YouTube implementation. Google Forged will include the assist of greater than 3,000 purposes, besides Netflix, which Rivian continues to be working with Google on, in response to 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 Forged will solely be on the entrance display screen, however Bensaid stated the crew’s taking a look at the right way to allow it for rear screens. At present, the one rear display screen Rivian affords 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 could possibly be utilized by passengers whereas driving.
