Rivian Appoints Aidan Gomez to Board of Directors
Aidan Gomez, the co-founder and CEO of generative AI startup Cohere, has been announced as the newest member of the board of directors at electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Rivian. This move, detailed in a regulatory filing, signifies Rivian’s commitment to incorporating AI technology into its operations and cementing its position as a leader in the automotive software industry.
In response to Gomez’s appointment, Rivian expanded the size of its board and granted him a term that will run until 2026, as stated in the filing.
Gomez brings with him a wealth of experience as a data scientist and AI specialist. Before co-founding Cohere in 2019 alongside Nick Frosst and Ivan Zhang, he worked as a researcher at Google Brain under the leadership of Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton. Gomez is renowned for his contributions to the field of generative AI, notably co-authoring the influential 2017 paper “Attention Is All You Need,” which has shaped the development of advanced AI models today.
Rivian’s decision to appoint Gomez is strategic, especially as the company embarks on a $5.8 billion joint venture with Volkswagen Group to focus on software development. This partnership will see Rivian sharing its expertise in electrical architecture with Volkswagen Group and potentially offering its technology to other companies in the future.
Additionally, Rivian has been investing in AI technology for its EVs since 2023, with plans to incorporate an AI assistant into its vehicles. This initiative, spearheaded by Rivian’s chief software officer Wassym Bensaid, is separate from the joint venture with VW and aims to enhance the user experience through advanced AI capabilities.
RJ Scaringe, founder and CEO of Rivian, expressed his enthusiasm for Gomez’s appointment, stating that his expertise will play a crucial role in integrating innovative technologies into Rivian’s products, services, and manufacturing processes.
