Rivian has expanded its board of directors with the addition of Aidan Gomez, CEO and co-founder of generative AI company Cohere. The move signals Rivian’s strategic focus on integrating advanced AI technologies into its electric vehicle development and software initiatives.
Gomez brings extensive experience in artificial intelligence, having co-authored the groundbreaking 2017 research paper “Attention Is All You Need” that revolutionized transformer models in machine learning. His background includes leadership roles at Google Brain and the establishment of Cohere, which provides enterprise-focused AI solutions to major corporations.
This appointment comes as Rivian advances its $5.8 billion software development partnership with Volkswagen Group. The joint venture aims to create shared electrical architecture and software platforms that could eventually be licensed to other automotive manufacturers. Company executives have emphasized that Rivian’s internal AI projects, including an intelligent vehicle assistant in development since 2023, will remain separate from the Volkswagen collaboration.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe highlighted Gomez’s technical expertise as crucial for implementing next-generation technologies across the company’s product lineup, manufacturing processes, and digital services. The board appointment aligns with Rivian’s broader strategy to position itself as a leader in automotive software innovation while expanding its AI capabilities in vehicle intelligence and user experience.
