Rivian’s software chief thinks you don’t need CarPlay or buttons

Wassym Bensaid, Rivian's chief software officer, leads both Rivian's internal software development and RV Tech, a joint venture with Volkswagen that builds the operating system and electrical architecture for future electric vehicles from Volkswagen Group brands. Rivian recently launched an AI-powered voice assistant in its R1 vehicles and is preparing to release the R2, the first car built on the new shared architecture developed through the joint venture. The article discusses how Rivian is moving toward AI-powered, agent-like software platforms in cars while reducing reliance on traditional physical controls and Apple CarPlay integration.