Rivian is rolling out its next-generation voice assistant. This one goes deeper than the basic car commands most drivers expect. The Rivian AI voice assistant arrives through the company’s latest software update. It supports compatible Gen 1 and Gen 2 vehicles.
The full feature sits behind Connect+, Rivian’s paid connectivity plan. Owners with an active subscription or trial can say “Hey Rivian.” They can also hold the left steering wheel button.
A voice assistant built into the vehicle
Rivian says the assistant is wired into the vehicle’s hardware and software. That lets it reach controls that phone-based assistants usually cannot. Drivers can ask it to change drive modes, adjust ride height or open the front trunk. It can also tweak climate settings and check range-on-arrival estimates.
That matters because EVs are becoming more software-defined by the month. We have already seen that shift in performance and design stories like Lotus’ next-generation sports car plans. Rivian is pushing the same idea into daily cabin controls.
The assistant also understands more casual requests. Rivian’s own example is “Make everyone’s seat toasty except mine.” That shows the company wants this to feel less like a menu shortcut. It wants it to feel more like a useful conversation.
Calendar, messages and privacy controls
Rivian is starting its outside-app push with Google Calendar. The assistant can check schedules, move meetings, navigate to events and connect a route with related tasks. In one flow, Rivian says it can find a coffee stop and text a contact with an updated arrival time.
Messaging is also part of the update. The assistant can read texts, summarize them and help draft replies by voice. That could be helpful on the road. It still has to be fast and accurate enough to beat waiting until the vehicle is parked.
Rivian is giving drivers some controls over the data side too. Owners can turn off the wake phrase, limit location sharing or disable memory. Personal context is tied to the driver profile, according to the company.
The limits are worth noting. Rivian says cloud-powered parts of the assistant are English-only for now. AI responses may also be incomplete or outdated. That makes this less of a perfect digital co-pilot. It is more of a new layer Rivian can keep improving through software.
Still, the direction is clear. The Rivian AI voice assistant gives Connect+ subscribers a stronger reason to keep paying for connected features. That case gets better if it makes everyday EV tasks feel quicker and less distracting.
