Rivian CEO Envisions Humanoid Robots Working Alongside Factory Employees
"The plan is to keep Mind separate from Rivian, unlike Tesla's approach with its Optimus robot."
Rivian Automotive CEO RJ Scaringe stated that the electric vehicle maker's manufacturing employees may eventually work alongside humanoid robots. Scaringe spoke during a media event for the launch of the Rivian R2 EV in Park City, Utah.
A Robotics Venture with Billion-Dollar Backing
Scaringe founded a robotics company called Mind Robotics in late 2024. According to Scaringe, Mind has raised over $1 billion. Humanoid robots are designed to mimic human shape and movement, powered by AI and hardware. Proponents see applications in factories and other settings, while critics raise job displacement concerns.
What's Coming Next
Scaringe said Mind expects to reveal its first product in less than a year. Rivian is a large minority shareholder and launch customer. Mind has approximately 20 open positions.
A Separate Path from Tesla
Scaringe serves as executive chair and acting CEO of Mind. He stated the plan is to keep Mind separate from Rivian, unlike Tesla's approach with its Optimus robot. He noted that Rivian will be a "huge beneficiary" of Mind, which uses data from Rivian for AI training. Rivian will be Mind's first customer.
The Big Picture
Scaringe said he believes the total addressable market for industrial labor robots is in the trillions of dollars.