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Decoder with Nilay Patel

Rivian's software chief thinks you don't need CarPlay or buttons

Decoder with Nilay Patel

Vox Media Podcast Network

Business, Technology

4.23.4K Ratings

🗓️ 28 May 2026

⏱️ 74 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today, I’m talking with Wassym Bensaid, the chief software officer at Rivian, and the co-ceo of Rivian’s platform joint venture with Volkswagen. That joint venture, called RV Tech, is about a year and a half old, so I wanted to ask Wassym how it all works and Rivian’s ongoing relationship with Volkswagen.  Because it’s Rivian, I also had to ask Wassym about CarPlay. But the company also just launched an AI-powered voice assistant, which I got to try early. So I had a lot of fun digging into that with Wassym, too. This is a fun one – really in the weeds of a lot of my favorite things to talk about. Links:  Rivian’s AI-powered voice assistant is ready to roll | The Verge The R2 is nearly here — can Rivian stick the landing? | The Verge Rivian’s AI pivot is about more than chasing Tesla | The Verge Rivian / VW will start testing their first EVs next year | The Verge Rivian CEO: ‘We’re really convicted’ about skipping CarPlay | Decoder (2025) Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe says too many carmakers are copying Tesla | Decoder (2024) Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe isn't scared of the Cybertruck | Decoder (2023) Rivian’s chief software officer says in-car buttons are ‘an anomaly’ | TechCrunch Subscribe to The Verge to access the ad-free version of Decoder! Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt,. This episode was edited by Xander Adams. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.  The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

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Or when you're bouncing between projects like a ping pong ball.

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And built-in intelligence so you can stay focused on whatever

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you're doing del technologies built for you del dot co dot uk forward slash del PCs support for this show

0:31.9

comes from clavio imagine hiring two brilliant employees the first takes your marketing from idea to full campaign, email, SMS, push, and the time it takes to describe it.

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The second handles every customer conversation 24-7, answering questions, recommending products, handling orders, both on brand and always on.

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Your next hires, Clavio's AI agents. Get started at K-L-A-V-I-O.com. Support for the show comes from Service Now. AI is moving fast across the enterprise, but without

1:12.5

visibility, it's just chaos, different tools, different models, different teams using AI in

1:18.7

completely different ways. Service Now turns that chaos into control. With the AI control tower,

1:25.0

you see all your AI across the business in one place.

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What it's doing, what it's done, and what it's about to do.

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So you stay in control.

1:33.7

To put AI to work for people, visit servicenow.com.

1:43.0

Hello and welcome to Decoder. I'm Neely Patel, editor-in-chief The Verge, and Decoder is my show about big ideas and other problems.

1:49.0

Today I'm talking with Wissim Ben-Sayett, the chief software officer at Rivian and the co-CEO of RIVAN's platform joint venture with Volkswagen, which everyone just calls RV Tech.

1:57.0

But that joint venture kicked off about a year and a half ago with a nearly $6 billion

2:01.0

investment from Volkswagen, and it effectively puts Wissim in charge of the operating

2:05.1

system and electrical architecture for every future EV from Volkswagen and its associated

2:10.0

brands, including familiar names like Audi, but also new companies like Scout.

...

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