Rivian’s software chief thinks you don’t need CarPlay or buttons
Rivian software chief Wassym Bensaid argues that AI-defined vehicles and voice interfaces render physical buttons and CarPlay obsolete for a superior user experience.Summary
Wassym Bensaid, Rivian’s Chief Software Officer and co-CEO of the Rivian-Volkswagen joint venture (RV Tech), explains his vision for the future of vehicle software. He argues that the automotive industry is shifting from "software-defined" to "AI-defined" vehicles, where centralized zonal computing and intelligent, agentic voice assistants replace the need for traditional buttons and third-party systems like Apple CarPlay. By owning the full software stack and electrical architecture, Rivian aims to create highly integrated, intuitive experiences that leverage local edge computing to handle complex tasks, while allowing the company to maintain a cohesive ecosystem that prioritizes safety and user convenience over fragmented mobile projections.
(Source：The Verge)