Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has appointed Aidan Gomez, co-founder and CEO of generative AI firm Cohere, to its board of directors, expanding its leadership as it seeks to deepen its role in software and artificial intelligence. According to a regulatory filing, Gomez’s term will run through 2026.
The appointment signals Rivian’s increasing interest in AI applications within its operations and vehicle offerings.
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Gomez, a noted AI researcher and co-author of the influential 2017 paper Attention Is All You Need, previously worked at Google Brain before founding Cohere in 2019. His company focuses on AI foundation models for enterprises and counts Oracle and Notion among its clients.
His addition to Rivian’s board comes as the automaker advances a $5.8 billion software-focused joint venture with Volkswagen Group.
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The partnership aims to develop vehicle software architecture and license Rivian’s existing intellectual property, with long-term ambitions to potentially offer the technology to third parties.
Rivian has also been independently developing an AI assistant for its vehicles since 2023, focusing on orchestration frameworks separate from its collaboration with Volkswagen.
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Gomez’s AI background is expected to bolster these initiatives, aligning with Rivian’s broader strategy to evolve into a leader in vehicle software and intelligent mobility solutions.