Rivian Chases ‘Physical World Shift’ With Mind Robotics Launch

Rivian’s next big adventure? Robots that build, learn, and think for themselves.

The electric automaker has spun out a new company, Mind Robotics, marking its first major step beyond electric vehicles into industrial AI. The venture aims to make robotics systems that can change how factories and other physical-world businesses operate.

According to Rivian’s latest shareholder letter, the company created Mind Robotics this month and secured about $110 million in external seed funding. In a call reported by TechCrunch, CEO RJ Scaringe stated that the move reflects Rivian’s goal to develop “advanced AI robotics” to drive the next phase of its technology growth.

Keeping the world adventurous forever

Mind Robotics isn’t Rivian’s first experiment in going beyond cars. Earlier this year, the company carved out ALSO, a micromobility startup developing compact electric vehicles including the TM-B e-bike and TM-Q quadricycle.

Rivian still holds a 40.6% stake in ALSO, maintaining a financial and strategic link while allowing the business to operate independently. The model gives Rivian room to test new markets without diverting focus from its main EV lineup.

In its shareholder letter, the company described this approach as an “innovation-leverage strategy,” using Rivian’s engineering talent and technology base to seed ventures that can expand its mission “to keep the world adventurous forever.”

What we know about Mind Robotics so far

Rivian has shared a few specifics about what Mind Robotics will build or when. What’s clear is that the venture aims to leverage Rivian’s manufacturing expertise and operational data as a foundation for new industrial AI applications.

Scaringe will chair the company, with firm Eclipse taking the lead investor role. Among those backing the venture is Jiten Behl, a former Rivian executive now a partner at the firm.

Scaringe said Rivian wants greater control over robotics design and development, aiming to transform real-world industries, according to TechCrunch.

Aside from those broad outlines, Mind Robotics has offered no public details about its first projects or commercial plans. The company has yet to launch a website or disclose its leadership team, keeping its operations largely under wraps for now.

The robots are here

Mind Robotics enters a market crowded with companies testing what intelligent machines can actually do.

• Chinese automaker XPENG is testing driverless taxis and humanoid robots.
• DoorDash has partnered with Serve Robotics to expand sidewalk deliveries.
• Google is training its Gemini models to guide robots that can plan and act.
• Tesla is pushing ahead with its humanoid prototype, Optimus.

Rivian’s focus is narrower but closer to home. Mind Robotics keeps the attention on production, using automation to refine how things are created and maintained.

Not every robot story is about precision and progress. In one experiment, a household vacuum equipped with a large language model froze, panicked, and broke into song after being asked to complete a basic chore.