Rivian announced the creation of Mind Robotics, its second spinoff company this year, focusing on industrial AI and robotics to enhance manufacturing efficiency through data from its operations.
The third-quarter shareholder letter, released on Tuesday, describes Mind Robotics as an entity dedicated to applying industrial AI to transform operations in physical-world businesses. This involves establishing a robotics data flywheel based on Rivian’s existing operations data. During an investor call on the same day, CEO RJ Scaringe explained that the company identified an opportunity to create products and robotic solutions specifically designed to improve the efficiency of its manufacturing plants. He emphasized the board structure, stating that he would serve as chairman of the board of directors for Mind Robotics, with Rivian holding a shareholder position in the new venture.
Scaringe elaborated on the strategic rationale during the investor call, noting the transformative potential of AI beyond digital applications. He stated, “As much as we’ve seen AI shift how we operate and run our businesses through the wide‑ranging applications for LLMs, the potential for AI to really shift how we think about operating in the physical world is, in some ways, unimaginably large.” This perspective underscores the decision to form a separate company to maintain control over the development process. He further described the initiative as “the culmination of us coming to the view that we wanted to have direct control and direct influence over the design and development of advanced AI robotics that would be very focused on industrial applications.” Rivian provided no additional details beyond these statements when asked for clarification on the technical aspects outlined in the shareholder letter.
Mind Robotics has secured a $115 million seed funding round, led by the venture capital firm Eclipse. Jiten Behl, a partner at Eclipse and a former Rivian employee, confirmed this investment through a LinkedIn post following an initial report by TechCrunch on Eclipse’s involvement. This funding supports the early-stage operations of the spinoff, enabling it to pursue its objectives in industrial AI and robotics.
This launch represents Rivian’s second spinoff in 2024. Earlier, in March, the company separated its skunkworks micromobility division into a standalone startup named Also Inc. That entity received partial funding from Eclipse, supplemented by investments from Greenoaks Capital. The structure of Also Inc. involved the transfer of Rivian employees to the new company, but details regarding personnel movements to Mind Robotics remain undisclosed. A Rivian spokesperson declined to provide information on whether employees would transition to the new venture. However, the shareholder letter suggests this possibility by highlighting the company’s resources. Scaringe wrote in the letter, “With our strong bench of technology talent and an innovation‑driven culture, we have been able to identify additional areas of value to accelerate our mission on a wider scale while maintaining Rivian’s focus.” This approach allows Rivian to explore adjacent opportunities without diverting core electric vehicle production efforts.
The field of robotics and industrial AI currently attracts substantial investment. Numerous humanoid robotics companies are securing capital and advancing product development, with Tesla among the prominent players. General Motors is also establishing its own division dedicated to robotics and AI initiatives. These trends reflect growing interest in applying AI to physical operations across industries. Despite this context, specific plans for Mind Robotics remain limited in public disclosure.
Mind Robotics lacks a substantial online presence at this stage. The only available record is a trademark application filed under the name, which encompasses a wide range of potential uses. This includes machinery, vehicles, and even incubators for eggs, indicating flexibility in future applications but providing no concrete operational details.
