An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: The trend of big touchscreens in cars has left many yearning for the not-so-distant days when most user interactions happened with physical buttons. But Rivian‘s chief software officer Wassym Bensaid believes using buttons in a car is an “anomaly.” “It’s a bug. It’s not a feature,” Bensaid said Wednesday at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. “Ideally, you would want to interact with your car through voice. The problem today is that most voice assistants are just broken.” To that end, Bensaid said that “every week” he’s driving around an engineering vehicle that has an AI-powered voice assistant, though he did not specify which one. He mentioned earlier in his interview with TechCrunch’s transportation editor Kirsten Korosec that Rivian has “partnerships that I cannot yet talk about.”
“I think the car is actually a fantastic environment for AI,” he said, while noting that latency and hallucinations are still very big problems that need to be solved. “The final north star I have is having voice [controls] become the primary means of interaction with the vehicle. The reality is that the vehicle is so feature-rich, that even if we do a fantastic job in the UI, there will always be prioritization that we need to do in terms of having things one or two menus behind,” Bensaid told TechCrunch after he got off stage. Bensaid also said he’s a big believer in the ability of AI-powered voice controls to handle complex requests. For instance, he said if a driver says “I’m hungry” the in-car assistant should be able to quickly direct them to a nearby restaurant that they might prefer. Bensaid said the company is committed to creating a unique, integrated user experience tailored for Rivian owners — one that won’t include CarPlay.
CarPlay “takes over all the pixels in the screen, and it’s a replacement of the entire experience, and we truly believe that with the technology capabilities that we have, we can offer a much more refined, integrated experience,” he said.
Discussion with Experts:
To delve deeper into these revelations from Rivian’s chief software officer Wassym Bensaid, we’ve invited a panel of experts from the automotive and technology sectors for a vibrant discussion:
- Dr. Emily Chen, an automotive technology analyst, who focuses on the integration of AI in vehicles.
- Michael Thompson, a user experience (UX) designer with extensive experience in automotive interfaces.
- Professor Richard Holden, a computer science professor specializing in voice recognition technology.
Discussion Points:
On the Shift from Physical to Digital:
Dr. Chen: “The move towards AI and voice control in vehicles is indicative of broader trends in technology. It also raises questions about accessibility and user comfort when relying exclusively on these systems.”User Interaction: Voice vs. Physical Buttons:
Michael Thompson: “While the convenience of voice commands is appealing, we must consider user testing. Some users, especially the elderly, may find voice commands less reliable than physical buttons.”- The Limitations of Current Voice Technology:
Professor Holden: “Latency in voice recognition can indeed be frustrating. Until we address these issues, many consumers may prefer hybrid solutions that combine voice with other interaction methods.”
Engagement Prompt:
What do you think about Rivian’s vision of an AI-driven car experience? Are you ready to embrace voice commands as the primary interaction method while driving? Join the conversation in the comments below!
Interviewer: Welcome to this exclusive interview with our special guest today, Wassym Bensaid, Rivian’s chief software officer. Wassym, it’s great to have you here!
Wassym Bensaid: Thank you for having me! Excited to discuss the future of in-car technology.
Interviewer: Let’s jump right in. You recently described physical buttons in cars as an “anomaly.” Can you elaborate on that?
Wassym Bensaid: Absolutely. I see buttons as a bug, not a feature. The future is about seamless interaction with your vehicle, ideally through voice commands. At Rivian, we’re working hard to develop a voice assistant that can reliably serve drivers’ needs.
Interviewer: You mentioned that most voice assistants today are “broken.” What specific issues are you facing with voice technology in cars?
Wassym Bensaid: There are significant challenges with latency and hallucinations—situations where the AI generates responses that are inaccurate or nonsensical. We want drivers to have a smooth, intuitive interaction with their car, but currently, there’s a lot of work to be done to ensure that voice controls are reliable and responsive.
Interviewer: That makes sense. You hinted at having partnerships that you can’t discuss yet. Should we expect exciting developments in voice technology soon?
Wassym Bensaid: I wish I could share more! But yes, we are pursuing advancements that will enhance how drivers interact with their vehicles, leveraging partnerships that will ultimately refine our AI capabilities.
Interviewer: You’ve emphasized AI-powered voice interactions as the “north star” for Rivian. Can you give us an example of how you envision this working in practice?
Wassym Bensaid: Certainly! Imagine you’re driving and say, “I’m hungry.” The in-car assistant should recognize the context, analyze your preferences, and quickly suggest a nearby restaurant. It’s about creating a natural dialogue between the driver and the vehicle that feels organic and helpful.
Interviewer: Rivian is also steering clear of conventional solutions like CarPlay. Can you explain your reasoning for wanting to create a unique user experience?
Wassym Bensaid: CarPlay takes over the entire screen, which can disrupt the integrated experience we want to provide. We believe that with our technology capabilities, we can deliver a more refined and cohesive relationship with our digital interface, ensuring it complements the driving experience rather than replace it.
Interviewer: This is indeed a fascinating direction for in-car technology. How do you plan to prioritize features and make them accessible within the interface?
Wassym Bensaid: We’re committed to great user interface (UI) design, but due to the richness of features, things may be one or two menus deep. Our goal is to streamline access while ensuring drivers can focus on what truly matters—safety and ease of use.
Interviewer: Last question, Wassym—what excites you the most about the future of AI in automotive tech?
Wassym Bensaid: I’m thrilled about the potential for AI to transform driving into a more personalized experience. We’re only scratching the surface of what’s possible. The dream is to have a vehicle that understands you better than anyone else, anticipating your needs in real-time— that’s truly revolutionary!
Interviewer: Thank you, Wassym, for joining us and sharing these insights! The road ahead for Rivian and in-car technology certainly looks promising.
Wassym Bensaid: Thank you for having me! I can’t wait to see how this journey unfolds.