Aidan Gomez Joins Rivian’s Board of Directors, Bringing AI Expertise

[COdogman]

If you need AI to figure out if the Rivian app is close enough to the vehicle to unlock it, you’re doing it wrong.

Self Driving getting better, yes.

But what’s the point of your vehicle isn’t built well enough to actually drive. Or spends more time in service than on the road, if you can get service.

I don’t need AI to tell us service times are long because they can’t staff it correctly.

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[captainjp]

But what’s the point of your vehicle isn’t built well enough to actually drive. Or spends more time in service than on the road, if you can get service.

Mine is built pretty damn well and hasn’t been to service once.
derp

 

[CosmicRivian]

For those wondering why this is important, AI can be brought into the autonomous driving and highway assist to help the vehicle make better choices and predict what action to take with context clues around it. So many people complain about lack of FSD compared to Tesla and this can help. It can also help with supply chain efficiencies, service center efficiencies, and other things, but I do believe him joining is more for the autonomous driving Rivian promised to release next year.

AI can help with the things you mentioned as well as improve the self driving and Highway Assist Rivian promised which is likely their goal. Just because they mention "AI" doesn't mean they're using it for chatbots or a new Alexa. Heck, AI could be used to help the vehicle determine if you are coming to the vehicle to unlock it or not which people have complained about.

I agree with everything she said . 100% spot on.

Apple Intelligence (the sorry excuse for AI that Apple is pushing as almost entirely a marketing campaign and little else) is a classic example of a company missing a critical innovation while the market around them experiences tectonic shifts. AI already undergirds so much of how a modern auto company functions, even if most of those functions are hidden to the end user. Bringing to the board someone strong in the AI space is a key move. Does it solve the Service Center problems? Nope. But it's about long-term and big-picture strategy and Rivian is considering and planning for both.

@AlphaSnowbordergirl is totally right.

 

[AlphaSnowbordergirl]

If you need AI to figure out if the Rivian app is close enough to the vehicle to unlock it, you’re doing it wrong.

Self Driving getting better, yes.

But what’s the point of your vehicle isn’t built well enough to actually drive. Or spends more time in service than on the road, if you can get service.

I don’t need AI to tell us service times are long because they can’t staff it correctly.

AI can better coordinate appointments and locations to speed up serviceability and severity of said appointments can take priority, predict possible quality problems before it hits a mass majority of cars, and order and distribute supply to those service centers to speed up service times as some of the wait time is contributed to lack of parts reaching those centers in a timely manner. If utilize correctly, quality in build, distribution of parts, and efficiency can increase. AI can also be used in many ways. AI can also be used strategically in where to build more service centers, find correlation on commonly failing parts (collected from service centers) and if there is another cause making those parts fail and make suggestions for possible improvement. Having a good AI developer is good for Rivian and can help them grow and make better cars.

FYI, the unlocking feature is a common problem with cars that use it, Rivian isn't the only one, so it isn't as easy as you may think. Even Tesla's power door can be troublesome as walking around the front, the door can open and block your way when you aren't trying to go into the car.

 

[DayTripping]

Having enough data to help will take some time and in a consumable manner. Unless they already have tracked the relevant info, then we could see some improvements fairly quickly.

My approach is if it matters, measure it. So I'd be interested to see what data they are tracking about service visits. I am sure they track the heck out of warranty claims to minimize spend there.

They could use AI to do predictive analytics and schedule service visits in advance, have the parts stocked on hand and take care of your truck before it breaks down.

My earlier point is I am so sick of chatbots. They can be useful but very few places do them right. I don't care what they do about autonomous driving at the moment. I'd rather seem the focus on QC, reliability and improving service.

 

[socaladam]

AI can better coordinate appointments and locations to speed up serviceability and severity of said appointments can take priority, predict possible quality problems before it hits a mass majority of cars, and order and distribute supply to those service centers to speed up service times as some of the wait time is contributed to lack of parts reaching those centers in a timely manner. If utilize correctly, quality in build, distribution of parts, and efficiency can increase. AI can also be used in many ways. AI can also be used strategically in where to build more service centers, find correlation on commonly failing parts (collected from service centers) and if there is another cause making those parts fail and make suggestions for possible improvement. Having a good AI developer is good for Rivian and can help them grow and make better cars.

FYI, the unlocking feature is a common problem with cars that use it, Rivian isn't the only one, so it isn't as easy as you may think. Even Tesla's power door can be troublesome as walking around the front, the door can open and block your way when you aren't trying to go into the car.

Amazing…

because my 2017 truck unlocks every time I press the unlock button and it has zero AI.

Oh, and my local truck dealer has me in the service center in a matter of days and I get to talk to a human being.


How will we ever survive without AI.

 

[AlphaSnowbordergirl]

Amazing…

because my 2017 truck unlocks every time I press the unlock button and it has zero AI.

Oh, and my local truck dealer has me in the service center in a matter of days and I get to talk to a human being.


How will we ever survive without AI.

I mean I use a fob too. I don't even have an EV yet (I'm waiting for an R2 and my current car is a basic Nissan Sentra that I've had since 2018 that doesn't even have powered front seats), but a lot of automakers are moving to phone as keys so it's an issue for them (I don't want a phone key as I can't necessarily bring a phone with me to work at times). Your local truck dealer also is more established and is likely from a well established legacy car maker compared to Rivian who is building up their infrastructure.

What I'm saying is, the AI integration probably won't be seen on a deep level by the end user. You'll accept how a map routes you or your service appointment without realizing the algorithms of the AI deciding which route would be best depending on the time of day, accidents consideration, and predicting behavior of other drivers or how the AI is seeing an increased in a service center so it orders parts ahead of time to ensure wait time is minimal. People will still talk to a human being when going into service centers and not know an AI helped with diagnostics or supply chain management.

I think this forum is 1) really has a limited understanding of software and AI integration assuming all AI is intrusive and/or unneeded 2) use of AI stops at chatbot or data stealing and regurgitating images and 3)AI will automatically replace people without considering it can be used as a tool by people to search through vasts amount of data to turn it into useful information so that decisions by humans can be made faster which means faster solutions. AI needs regulation for sure, but bad practices by other companies seemed to have tainted the word and limited what people's understanding of what it actually is or does.

And just so everyone knows, I'm not some huge AI advocate. I have a master's in business and have a BS in business analytics and did about 4 years in mechanical engineering and a minor in modeling simulation (admittedly I've never used my engineering knowledge in the workplace). I did have to learn about simulations, how companies use AI for case studies, and all that. I also love 1960s star trek and 80s dystopian films and have a wariness of AI getting out of hand because of them and believe they need some regulation of use, but I feel it is important to assess the possibilities in how this will move Rivian forward. AI can help with the things people were complaining about, but being countered with "well we can live without" isn't the world we live in. Rivian does position itself as a technology company on the investing end, and to capture market share from Tesla who has the best in the American industry, Rivian has to make gains in this sector along with smoothing out the bugs in their own system. If Rivian is to survive, they need to make gains in a lot of areas. Being a new company will only last so long and mass markets won't tolerate as many bugs or mistakes as their first adapters have. This means their AI needs to improve and compete with their main competitor. We will see how Rivian chooses to use their AI soon enough.

Additionally, there is a college student on this forum asking Rivian owners questions about a paper on how AI can be applied to improve Rivian in ways that I mentioned last week. Good timing for that paper for that student.

 

[comtns]

Why not just license Waymo, which already has tenfold fewer accidents per mile than human drivers according to SwissRe, and focus sharply on achieving net profitability through volume vehicles like R2 and R3? The list of "me too" autonomy systems is likely to get huge soon. Rivian doesn't have any special advantage here. Don't get distracted.

 

[Ingo B]

This is a bit Adam Carolla did during his radio days. Went from funny to prophetic is just under 10 years.

 

[CosmicRivian]

Amazing…

because my 2017 truck unlocks every time I press the unlock button and it has zero AI.

Oh, and my local truck dealer has me in the service center in a matter of days and I get to talk to a human being.


How will we ever survive without AI.

Totally get the sarcasm, but you're kind of conflating basic tech convenience with the much bigger picture of what AI brings to car innovation (and tech innovation broadly and globally).

AI is about things like predictive maintenance, autonomous safety systems, smarter energy use, and adaptive driving environments. Just because your truck works fine now doesn’t mean innovation stops there. That’s like saying smartphones were unnecessary because rotary phones made calls just fine. AI isn’t replacing the button, it’s redesigning what the whole experience can be.

I want to see Rivian plan and innovate for the future and what can be (especially as other automotive companies are doing just this, especially in China).

Imagine a vehicle that learns your driving habits and adjusts performance or cabin settings based on your mood, schedule, or even stress levels. You may not want that specifically, but you can be sure future drivers will come to expect those kinds of innovations built into a modern car.

Or how about AI that detects mechanical issues before they happen, saving you time, money, and breakdowns on the side of the road. Or smart traffic navigation and route prediction in AI systems that analyze real-time traffic, weather, and historical driver behavior to optimize routes dynamically, not just getting you there faster, but reducing fuel use and emissions along the way (or maximizing battery health and energy use broadly).

I can see the use of AI-enhanced manufacturing and QC in the factory, so that an AI systems can use computer vision to inspect parts for micro-defects with greater precision than humans can now, reducing recalls and improving long-term vehicle reliability before it ever reaches the road. We see that in various sectors of manufacturing today and Rivian factories can be part of that innovation with the right people making it happen.

In my work, I engage with AI models on a variety of levels and platforms and it's simultaneously overwhelming, dystopian, and magical. I agree with another member who posted they are tired of AI chatbots. No argument from me (who am I to tell someone what not to be annoyed with or how they feel), but the whole world needs to adapt to this new technology and the companies that see the potential and are prepared to move with consumer expectations about what the cars of the future can and should be will be the ones that survive and the ones that don't, won't. I want Rivian to be one of the companies that not only survives, but thrives.

A sarcastic comment about a 2017 door lock and talking to a real human feels too "Ok, Boomer" for this moment if we're talking about an innovation title wave that will separate true winners and losers, not just today, but in 20 years.

Like it or not, AI is the future. It may not be our future, but any 10-year-old kid today will see a much different reality in 30 years when they are making decisions about mobility and how they participate in their own transportation. Decisions the Rivian Board makes today will impact that reality. Many of us on this forum will be dead by then, but the company will (hopefully/possibility) live on. Company boards need to make decisions for today's needs and challenges and to prepare for future generations of buyers and users and I think bringing on an AI expert is an excellent move, even though it doesn't immediately make the door locks work smoother or shorten the Service Center queues.

 

[comtns]

Totally get the sarcasm, but you're kind of conflating basic tech convenience with the much bigger picture of what AI brings to car innovation (and tech innovation broadly and globally).

AI is about things like predictive maintenance, autonomous safety systems, smarter energy use, and adaptive driving environments. Just because your truck works fine now doesn’t mean innovation stops there. That’s like saying smartphones were unnecessary because rotary phones made calls just fine. AI isn’t replacing the button, it’s redesigning what the whole experience can be.

I want to see Rivian plan and innovate for the future and what can be (especially as other automotive companies are doing just this, especially in China).

Imagine a vehicle that learns your driving habits and adjusts performance or cabin settings based on your mood, schedule, or even stress levels. You may not want that specifically, but you can be sure future drivers will come to expect those kinds of innovations built into a modern car.

Or how about AI that detects mechanical issues before they happen, saving you time, money, and breakdowns on the side of the road. Or smart traffic navigation and route prediction in AI systems that analyze real-time traffic, weather, and historical driver behavior to optimize routes dynamically, not just getting you there faster, but reducing fuel use and emissions along the way (or maximizing battery health and energy use broadly).

I can see the use of AI-enhanced manufacturing and QC in the factory, so that an AI systems can use computer vision to inspect parts for micro-defects with greater precision than humans can now, reducing recalls and improving long-term vehicle reliability before it ever reaches the road. We see that in various sectors of manufacturing today and Rivian factories can be part of that innovation with the right people making it happen.

In my work, I engage with AI models on a variety of levels and platforms and it's simultaneously overwhelming, dystopian, and magical. I agree with another member who posted they are tired of AI chatbots. No argument from me (who am I to tell someone what not to be annoyed with or how they feel), but the whole world needs to adapt to this new technology and the companies that see the potential and are prepared to move with consumer expectations about what the cars of the future can and should be will be the ones that survive and the ones that don't, won't. I want Rivian to be one of the companies that not only survives, but thrives.

A sarcastic comment about a 2017 door lock and talking to a real human feels too "Ok, Boomer" for this moment if we're talking about an innovation title wave that will separate true winners and losers, not just today, but in 20 years.

Like it or not, AI is the future. It may not be our future, but any 10-year-old kid today will see a much different reality in 30 years when they are making decisions about mobility and how they participate in their own transportation. Decisions the Rivian Board makes today will impact that reality. Many of us on this forum will be dead by then, but the company will (hopefully/possibility) live on. Company boards need to make decisions for today's needs and challenges and to prepare for future generations of buyers and users and I think bringing on an AI expert is an excellent move, even though it doesn't immediately make the door locks work smoother or shorten the Service Center queues.

But it doesn't get to why Rivian should do this, rather than just building vehicles, and licensing AI from the winner of the AI battles? Why shouldn't AI be left to AI companies? Just license a good system, like you'd buy a part from a supplier? The winners in AI will likely invest hundreds of billions of dollars, way past what Rivian has. A mediocre, vastly underfunded effort just wastes money, needed for the company's single shot at profitable volume production.

 

[CosmicRivian]

But it doesn't get to why Rivian should do this, rather than just building vehicles, and licensing AI from the winner of the AI battles? Why shouldn't AI be left to AI companies? Just license a good system, like you'd buy a part from a supplier? The winners in AI will likely invest hundreds of billions of dollars, way past what Rivian has. A mediocre, vastly underfunded effort just wastes money, needed for the company's single shot at profitable volume production.

Great points. Maybe an AI expert and initiative are part of a licensing future.

 

[ukyank]

People here arguing about this as if the board of directors is designing the vehicles

 

[AlphaSnowbordergirl]

Why not just license Waymo, which already has tenfold fewer accidents per mile than human drivers according to SwissRe, and focus sharply on achieving net profitability through volume vehicles like R2 and R3? The list of "me too" autonomy systems is likely to get huge soon. Rivian doesn't have any special advantage here. Don't get distracted.

Because building a vehicle these days involve the software too. Even if they license it, they have to adapt the AI to work with their car. Just as Volkswagen bought their software, but still need to change it to match their needs. They can't just build a car and haphazardly throw the AI in there. Licensing also comes with limitations, chance of licensing getting more expensive, being revoked and diverts resources if Rivian wants to build their own. Granted, for the end user, it's not ideal having to wait for Rivian to figure out their technology, but being a technology focused company as they have positioned themselves to be with investors, something this critical being handed off undermines the technology company narrative which can hurt the company. Rivian is also aiming for vertical integration which would include this stage so chances of licensing is small.

 

[COdogman]

Why not just license Waymo, which already has tenfold fewer accidents per mile than human drivers according to SwissRe, and focus sharply on achieving net profitability through volume vehicles like R2 and R3? The list of "me too" autonomy systems is likely to get huge soon. Rivian doesn't have any special advantage here. Don't get distracted.

Waymo only operates in 4 or 5 warm weather cities and only started testing on highways last year

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