Rivian has pushed its AI‑driven voice assistant into the hands of owners with the latest over‑the‑air update. The feature rolls out to every Gen 1 and Gen 2 vehicle whose drivers subscribe to the Connect+ plan, a $15‑a‑month service, or are currently in a trial. It also ships on the upcoming R2 SUV for early adopters now.

The assistant, branded Rivian Assistant, lives inside the vehicle’s Unified Intelligence platform. Users wake it with “Hey, Rivian” or a steering‑wheel button, then can control climate, ride height, drive mode, or even open the front trunk without lifting a finger. It remembers individual driver profiles, preventing cross‑user confusion in multi‑person households and streamline daily interactions.

Beyond core vehicle functions, the AI can fetch directions, identify songs, read and summarize texts, and pull local weather or news updates. A first‑party integration with Google Calendar lets drivers check or modify appointments hands‑free. Language support is limited to English, and all commands must be spoken in that language for a smoother in‑car experience.

Rivian’s move positions the brand alongside Tesla and other premium EV makers that embed native assistants rather than relying on phone‑based solutions. By tying AI to vehicle hardware, the company promises more reliable, context‑aware interactions, a selling point for buyers considering the $45,000‑base R2 slated for 2027. The feature is live today for eligible owners immediately now.