Rivian Buys Synthetic Data Startup To Boost Its Autonomy Ambitions

Rivian just bought a British startup to help it build the backbones of autonomous driving.

The startup specializes in "high fidelity spatial generation," which are basically lifelike 3D simulations.

Rivian has acquired U.K.-based AI startup Third Dimension to help it accelerate the development of autonomous driving for its electric trucks and SUVs.

The deal could give Rivian a way to turn real-world driving footage into realistic 3D simulations, potentially helping it train and validate self-driving systems faster, TechCrunch reported Thursday.

Third Dimension basically uses AI to turn images and videos into lifelike 3D environments.