- 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 utility will come within the subsequent software program replace
Two years in the past, Rivian Chief Software program Officer Wassym Bensaid advised 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 House 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 line with Rivian’s CSO, is the present options out there within the trade “should not nice.”
An answer was in place and able to ship, however throughout ultimate 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 staff desires to make sure each iOS and Android—regardless of most Rivian house owners apparently having Apple units, in line with Bensaid—have a seamless expertise.
One other subject 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 as we speak’s options is “it is not a wealthy expertise,” Bensaid stated.
Bensaid stated the staff’s engaged on a new voice tech stack that can 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 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 as we speak’s Alexa implementation, in line with Bensaid. The exec famous he sees the long run as all the pieces being accessible by way of the touchscreen and voice, not only one or the opposite. Bensaid famous that AI provides an amazing alternative on this regard.
Nevertheless 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 to be 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 householders. He went on to say Rivian’s implementation will probably be higher than anything within the trade as we speak.
2025 Rivian R1S
However that is all to return. The subsequent software program replace, in line with Bensaid, will allow Google Solid together with native YouTube implementation. Google Solid will include the help of greater than 3,000 purposes, besides Netflix, which Rivian continues to be working with Google on, in line with 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 staff’s allow it for rear screens. As we speak, the one rear display screen Rivian provides 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 could possibly be utilized by passengers whereas driving.
