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.

This is not a dramatically new idea; Automakers like Mercedes-Benz have spent years promising a seamless voice-controlled in-car experience, with mixed results. But Bensaid said Rivian’s goal is to make it possible to take every touchscreen control and make it available by voice.