Rivian unveiled a series of major advancements in vertically integrated automotive technology during its first-ever Autonomy & AI Day held at its Palo Alto offices. The event marked a pivotal moment for the company as it introduced its custom-built silicon chip, laid out its next-generation autonomy roadmap, and revealed an enhanced AI-driven software architecture.

As Rivian Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe emphasized, “I couldn’t be more excited for the work our teams are driving in autonomy and AI. Our updated hardware platform, which includes our in-house 1600 sparse TOPS inference chip, will enable us to achieve dramatic progress in self-driving to ultimately deliver on our goal of delivering L4. This represents an inflection point for the ownership experience – ultimately being able to give customers their time back when in the car.” His statement underscores how deeply rooted autonomy and AI have become in the company’s long-term strategy.

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Rivian Autonomy Processor and Gen 3 Autonomy Computer

To push innovation further, Rivian is transitioning toward in-house silicon specifically designed for vision-centric physical AI. At the core of this shift is the first-generation Rivian Autonomy Processor (RAP1), a custom 5nm chip that integrates both memory and processing capacity into a single multi-chip module. Consequently, the company achieves substantial gains in efficiency, performance, and compliance with Automotive Safety Integrity Level standards.

The RAP1 serves as the engine behind Rivian’s third-generation autonomy computer the Autonomy Compute Module 3 (ACM3). Notably, ACM3 delivers 1600 sparse INT8 TOPS and processes up to 5 billion pixels per second. Moreover, RAP1 features RivLink, a low-latency interconnect allowing chips to scale seamlessly, while an in-house AI compiler and platform software power its capabilities. Looking ahead, Rivian confirmed that LiDAR will be integrated into future R2 models to strengthen its multi-modal sensor strategy and boost detection accuracy for complex driving scenarios. The company expects Gen 3 hardware including ACM3 and LiDAR to ship with R2 vehicles starting at the end of 2026.

Rivian Autonomy Platform and Software Innovations

In addition, Rivian highlighted its software-first approach supported by the Rivian Autonomy Platform and an end-to-end data training loop. A key introduction was the Large Driving Model (LDM), designed similarly to a Large Language Model (LLM) and optimized using Group-Relative Policy Optimization (GRPO). This technology will enable vehicles to learn advanced driving strategies from massive datasets.

Transitioning to improvements available sooner, Rivian announced that its second-generation R1 vehicles will soon gain Universal Hands-Free (UHF) capability. This feature allows hands-free assisted driving for extended periods across more than 3.5 million miles of mapped roads in the U.S. and Canada. It also works on non-highway roads with clearly painted lane markings.

Furthermore, the company introduced Autonomy+, its upcoming subscription service priced at $2,500 one-time or $49.99 monthly starting in early 2026. Rivian expects the expanding feature set to enhance road safety, meet customer demand, and play a pivotal role in future revenue growth. The company outlined a clear path for evolving its autonomy from point-to-point navigation to eyes-off driving and eventually personal Level 4 capability.

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Rivian Unified Intelligence and Rivian Assistant

Beyond driving technology, Rivian is integrating AI throughout its operations with the Rivian Unified Intelligence (RUI) framework. This multi-modal data system supports predictive maintenance, strengthens service operations, and powers new smart features. The highlight of RUI is the Rivian Assistant, a next-generation voice interface arriving in early 2026 for Gen 1 and Gen 2 R1 vehicles. Built on edge models, it connects vehicle systems to third-party apps using Rivian’s agentic framework, with Google Calendar as its first integration. It also utilizes advanced language models to deliver natural conversation and reliable reasoning.

Rivian expects RUI to revolutionize service diagnostics by scanning telemetry and maintenance histories to help technicians identify issues quickly. Additionally, the same intelligence will enhance the mobile app, enabling improved self-service diagnostic tools.

Overall, Rivian’s vertically integrated strategy allows it to rapidly refine every aspect of the vehicle experience from core hardware to user-facing features. As the company enters its next phase of growth, the synergy between its hardware and software advancements is set to accelerate even further.

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