Rivian buys UK AI startup Third Dimension to accelerate self-driving tech

• Rivian acquired UK startup Third Dimension.
• Third Dimension uses AI to create 3D worlds from images and videos.
• The technology will accelerate Rivian's driver assistance and self-driving systems.
• Third Dimension's 15-person team will join Rivian's autonomy and AI division.
• The startup had raised $7 million in seed funding.

Electric vehicle maker Rivian has acquired Third Dimension, a UK startup that uses artificial intelligence to transform images and videos into lifelike 3D worlds. The acquisition is intended to accelerate Rivian's development of advanced driver assistance features and its self-driving system for robotaxis planned for Uber. Third Dimension's 15-person team, primarily based in the UK, will be integrated into Rivian's autonomy and AI division. The startup, founded in 2024 by Tolga Kart and Piotr Sokolski, had previously raised $7 million in seed funding. Its technology, originally built for video game development, is now focused on enhancing automated driving systems by creating valuable simulators from real-world data collected by Rivian's fleet.