Rivian's recent software update has been a double-edged sword for its owners. While it addresses a significant privacy bug that disabled Highway Assist, it also introduces a host of new features and improvements. The hotfix, released in staged batches, is a refinement release that tackles one of the most disruptive issues owners have been reporting since the software update released in mid-May. The bug, stemming from a cloud-side issue involving precise location, caused privacy settings to toggle on and off, leaving location data frozen and disabling Highway Assist and other Autonomy features. Rivian resolved this issue, restoring Highway Assist and Lane Change on Command, and advising owners to double-check their settings after the update. The hotfix also reduces the minimum speed for assisted-driving features, improving behavior in stop-and-go traffic. The bulk of the changelog covers Rivian's in-car voice assistant, which now searches contacts in a clearer order, recognizes hard-to-spell names, and adds punctuation automatically when dictating texts. The assistant is also more responsive to the 'Hey Rivian' wake word and warns drivers when its cloud connection drops. In navigation, the assistant is now aware of any route previewed on screen and can answer questions about charging or trip details before a drive begins. Climate commands have also been improved, and the assistant now handles vague instructions more sensibly. Profile and security fixes include the navigation app opening by default after a successful PIN entry, fixing garage-door access while a profile is locked, and clearing various interface overlaps. Owner reaction to the hotfix has been broadly positive but qualified. While some praise the quieter chimes, automatic punctuation, and lower speed floor for assisted driving, others note lingering issues with the assistant, such as not pausing music or podcasts while speaking or reading texts, occasional radio delays, and high ringtone volume. Despite these complaints, the hotfix is generally seen as a low-drama refinement, addressing some of the most disruptive issues reported by owners.
