Aidan Gomez, co-founder and CEO of the generative AI startup Cohere, has been appointed to the board of Rivian, the electric vehicle manufacturer, as revealed in a recent regulatory filing. This move signals Rivian’s intent to harness AI technologies as part of its strategy to become a leader in automotive software.
Board Expansion and Term Details
Rivian expanded its board and elected Gomez, whose term is set to conclude in 2026. This addition emphasizes Rivian’s commitment to integrating artificial intelligence within its operations and product offerings.
Gomez’s Background in AI
With extensive experience as a data scientist, Gomez has been instrumental in advancing AI technologies. He co-founded Cohere in 2019, focusing on AI foundation models tailored for enterprise needs. The startup counts notable companies like Oracle and Notion among its clients. Prior to Cohere, Gomez contributed to Google Brain alongside renowned researchers, co-authoring the influential paper “Attention Is All You Need” in 2017, which is foundational to many modern generative AI models.
Strategic AI Initiatives at Rivian
Gomez’s role at Rivian is particularly relevant as the company engages in a significant $5.8 billion joint venture with the Volkswagen Group aimed at developing advanced software solutions. This partnership allows Rivian to leverage its electrical architecture knowledge while potentially licensing its intellectual property. There is speculation that the resulting technologies might be offered to other companies in the future.
Ongoing AI Projects
Rivian is also in the process of developing an AI assistant for its electric vehicles, separate from the Volkswagen collaboration. Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid highlighted this endeavor, which focuses on the orchestration framework for the AI assistant, during a recent interview.
The addition of Gomez to the board has been positively received by Rivian’s founder and CEO, RJ Scaringe, who believes that Gomez’s insights will aid the company in incorporating innovative technologies into its products and manufacturing processes.