Irvine-based EV maker Rivian announced Thursday, Oct. 22, that it has acquired Third Dimension AI, a startup that uses AI to turn real-world images and video into realistic 3D environments. Terms were not disclosed.

Why it matters: Rivian plans to supply robotaxi versions of its R2 SUV to Uber's app in 2028, TechCrunch reported. Better simulation helps test whether self-driving software is safe to ship.

What Rivian gets

  • A platform that turns real driving data into controllable 3D scenes, so rare situations can be recreated and varied, Rivian said.
  • A 15-person team, mostly in the U.K., joining Rivian's autonomy and AI group led by James Philbin, TechCrunch reported.

Rivian gets more than 400,000 driving sequences uploaded from customer vehicles each day, Philbin told TechCrunch. Third Dimension, founded in 2024 by Tolga Kart and Piotr Sokólski, had raised $7 million in seed funding.

Rivian also plans to release hands-free software for surface streets and highways by the end of the year, with drivers still supervising.

Elsewhere in self-driving: Tesla starts Optimus robot production in Fremont.