Rivian acquires Third Dimension to advance autonomous driving

American electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has acquired Third Dimension, a British startup specializing in artificial intelligence that converts images and video into realistic 3D worlds. While the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, the acquisition aims to accelerate the development of advanced driver-assistance systems and future autonomous robotaxis intended for Uber.

The 15-person team from Third Dimension, founded in 2024 by Tolga Kart and Piotr Sokólski, will join Rivian’s autonomy and AI division led by James Philbin. This move also facilitates the expansion of Rivian’s AI hub in London.

Third Dimension’s technology, originally designed to accelerate video game development, provides a critical tool for autonomous vehicle testing. By using AI to bridge the gap between synthetic data and the physical world, Rivian can use its vast collection of real-world driving data from its R1S, R1T, and R2 fleets to simulate complex driving scenarios without waiting for rare real-world events to occur.