AI Expert Aidan Gomez Joins Rivian Board

Aidan Gomez, a prominent figure in the AI community and co-founder of Cohere, has joined the board of electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian. This strategic move underscores Rivian's commitment to integrating advanced AI technologies into its operations and products. Gomez's appointment is a clear indication of Rivian's ambition to position itself not only as an EV manufacturer but also as a leader in automotive software innovation.

Gomez's background is deeply rooted in AI and data science. Before founding Cohere, he was a researcher at Google Brain, where he co-authored the influential paper 'Attention Is All You Need.' This work laid the groundwork for many of today’s generative AI models. At Cohere, Gomez focuses on developing AI foundation models for enterprises, serving clients like Oracle and Notion.

Rivian's decision to bring Gomez onto its board aligns with its strategic goals, particularly in light of its $5.8 billion joint venture with Volkswagen Group. This partnership aims to develop software solutions, leveraging Rivian's electrical architecture expertise. Gomez's AI acumen is expected to play a pivotal role in this venture, potentially leading to the sale of developed technologies to other companies.

In addition to the joint venture, Rivian is independently working on an AI assistant for its vehicles. This project focuses on creating an orchestration layer or framework for an AI assistant, separate from the Volkswagen collaboration. Rivian's Chief Software Officer, Wassym Bensaid, highlighted this initiative as a key area where Gomez's expertise will be invaluable.

Rivian's founder and CEO, RJ Scaringe, expressed confidence in Gomez's ability to support the company as it integrates cutting-edge technologies into its products and services. This appointment is a strategic move to bolster Rivian's capabilities in AI and software development, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of innovation in the automotive industry.