Electric vehicle maker Rivian has acquired Third Dimension, a UK startup founded by veterans of the gaming and autonomous vehicle industries. This acquisition aims to leverage Third Dimension's AI technology, which transforms images and videos into lifelike 3D worlds, to accelerate the development of Rivian's advanced driver assistance features and self-driving systems for the robotaxis it plans to supply to Uber.
Details of the Acquisition
The terms of the deal were not disclosed. The 15-person team at Third Dimension, primarily based in the UK, will join Rivian’s autonomy and AI team, which is led by James Philbin. Philbin noted that this acquisition presents an opportunity to expand Rivian's AI hub in London.
Third Dimension was founded in 2024 by CEO Tolga Kart and Piotr Sokolski. The startup raised $7 million in seed funding from various venture capital firms, including Abstract Ventures, MVP, Soma Capital, and Solari Capital. While the technology was initially designed to enhance video game development, the founders recognized its potential applications in defense and autonomous vehicles. Now, under Rivian, the focus will shift to automated driving.
