I didn’t realize there was forced voice control? I always presumed it was an alternative like knobs on radio OR voice control.
R2 Test Drive
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Hey Rivian? Hmm seems someone copied the Hey BMW.
Which was great up until July when bmw nerfed a bunch of options since they are updating the API.
Which was great up until July when bmw nerfed a bunch of options since they are updating the API.
Voice Control / "Rivian Assistant" are not forced - you can do anything you want in a few different mediums or with the stalk or buttons (few buttons). You can do things with the app, the screen, the stalk, voice, etc. Its really the provision of choice (with voice) that adds tremendous convenience. However, there is a HUMUNGOUS distinction between voice control and using an AI Voice Agent. Also, how you "awaken" the truck to take commands is nothing new...
Hey Rivian
Hey BMW
Hey Siri
Hey Alexa...
Hey whatever
The HUMUNGOUS distinction with Voice AI and the Rivian assistant is combining individual commands you could make using a standard voice control system into a single instruction. Here's an example: " Hey Rivian, set the front temp to 70 degrees and navigate to the nearest DCFC with food nearby" or "Hey Rivian, set my Regen to LOW and my suspension to SOFT and put the truck in ALL PURPOSE mode".
Actually, J. Alynn you got to experience this on your way to the hotel in BOS now that I think of it...
It is really convenient for combining instructions conversationally without much thought, while keeping your eyes on the road without distraction. Safety is a big reason why I love it.
Hey Rivian
Hey BMW
Hey Siri
Hey Alexa...
Hey whatever
The HUMUNGOUS distinction with Voice AI and the Rivian assistant is combining individual commands you could make using a standard voice control system into a single instruction. Here's an example: " Hey Rivian, set the front temp to 70 degrees and navigate to the nearest DCFC with food nearby" or "Hey Rivian, set my Regen to LOW and my suspension to SOFT and put the truck in ALL PURPOSE mode".
Actually, J. Alynn you got to experience this on your way to the hotel in BOS now that I think of it...
It is really convenient for combining instructions conversationally without much thought, while keeping your eyes on the road without distraction. Safety is a big reason why I love it.
Rivian Assistant has gotten much better but alas, I still don't use it much. While it's true that Rivian Assistant can do many cool things, I can do them in a fraction of the time without using it. Let say, for example, I want to open the charge port door. The fact that I have to either long press a steering wheel button or say "Hey Rivian" to get it to wake, coupled with the response time, means I can press two buttons onthe screen and pop it open in a fraction of the time. I find it more useful while driving, of course, to keep my eyes on the road. Nevertheless, I have to say I rarely use it.
Did I see some rumor somewhere though Scout might be licensing Rivian Assistant? Or did I just make that up?
Wait - you are pressing a button?
I have never pressed a button to activate Rivian Assistant. I just say "Hey Rivian" - if I had to press buttons to use it, I would probably use it less too! Can you try just saying "Hey Rivian"? and see what happens?
I did and was great to see how seamless it was. I found our Acuras to be pretty solid with voice controls as well but certainly was a 1-prompt command only then when executed start with the next so the AI does help streamline the multi task inputs. And as a side note for @cyure , the ride in your truck was flawless as motion sickness goes. Front and back seat passengers and neither of us felt a thing
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You can use it both ways and I do both. You can long press the scroll wheel on the left side of the steering wheel or you can say "Hey Rivian." I can actually press the button just as quickly as I can say "Hey Rivian." Six of one, half a dozen of another.
Couple how long it takes to activate the assistant (by either pressing or saying) with how long it takes to get to the point to where it can listen to me (maybe a second or two) with how long it takes me to tell it to open, for example, the charge port (maybe a second), with how long it takes to respond to that command (2 to 3 seconds), I can already have the charge port door open without using Rivian AI. My point is that unless you're giving it complex things to do, that's the case for most things the assistant can do. I remember when it first came out and so many influencers were like "ooooh, it can drop my tailgate" but using the AI takes five seconds and doing it normal maybe takes one or two.
Totally agree - that is why I highlighted the complexity that the assistant can handle in my examples. I do use the assistant for one-off requests while driving (one example might be for navigation) b/c it keeps your eyes on the road.
But, if I was parked or wanted to open the tailgate or chargeport, I would not be using it either.
Last thing I will say is that this is a perfect example of how a modern, SW-defined vehicle can improve over time with a new feature that can sit on top of so much functionality (and be delivered to owners as an OTA, and cover Gen 1 and Gen 2 trucks). No other truck has ever "evolved" over time the way my R1T has. That is pretty wild to consider, but to be fair, none of my previous trucks have been close to having the tech required to do something like this either. It just didn't exist.
Rivian continues to innovate and this will pay-off for Scout in many ways given the JV (I hope).
I'm both hoping and wanting this to be the case.
You so right. I have a Gen2 R1T and even that thing isn't the same truck I bought two years ago even though it's the current generation. If I remember correctly (I'm sorry if I'm wrong and if I am, please correct me), but I think you have a Gen 1. I can't imagine how different your current truck is from what you bought. It's got to be night and day.
I can't imagine it won't be. The new Scouts are software defined vehicles. The team put a ton of work into designing that UX/UI and I can't imagine they are going to just let it sit there and age. Especially not when many EV owns have come to expect updates from Tesla and Rivian. I feel like if Scout didn't do that, they'd stick out in the market and not in a good way. Even though I don't understand how that's good for the business model (updates=selling new vehicles, but these companies know way better than me!), I almost think they have to and I'm certainly all for it. Software updates are great!
As Gen2 owner also, I totally agree. There has been constant change and improvements. What I found crazy is I owned my Tesla for 3 years and while I got a decent update for the holidays every year, it still didn't feel like I was driving a different vehicle like Rivian has done. Maybe its because Rivian is still so new that they are still learning, adapting and making changes to make their product as attractive and useful as possible. Whereas Tesla was obviously well established and they were just making enhancements, but clearly their main focus was and is FSD.
I've said it on here before, but my one ask from Scout is no matter how big they grow that they don't ever stop listening to and putting us first.
Correct - I have an early Launch Edition, so it really is night and day... WILD.
Although I will admit, I have some Gen II upgrades too. Let's just say there were some massive improvements made to my undercarriage which involved installing a Gen II subframe this year. I guess Ihave a freak Frankentruck, but its actually better now than it has ever been, and that is 65K + miles later.
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