March 27, 2025
Tech News
Rivian has announced the launch of a new micromobility company named Also, which aims to develop lightweight electric vehicles such as e-bikes and scooters. With $105 million in Series B funding led by Eclipse Ventures, Rivian’s CEO RJ Scaringe expressed enthusiasm for innovations in this rapidly growing segment of electrified transportation.
The venture stems from Rivian’s stealth micromobility program, which began several years ago in response to rising demand for smaller EVs. Scaringe has frequently emphasized his interest in “multimodal” transport solutions, highlighting Rivian’s broader ambitions beyond its R1S SUV and R1T truck.
Amazon is integrating artificial intelligence into its shopping platform with a new feature called “Interests.” This tool enables users to input personalized prompts that reflect their tastes and preferences, helping deliver more tailored product suggestions.
Powered by large language models (LLMs), the Interests feature offers a conversational search experience, alerting users when new, relevant items become available. It is currently being tested by a select group of U.S. customers, with plans to expand access soon. The feature complements other AI-based services like Amazon’s shopping assistant Rufus.
Tech Explained
Micromobility – This term refers to small, lightweight vehicles designed for short-distance travel, typically encompassing electric bikes and scooters. These vehicles are gaining popularity as sustainable transportation options, supporting urban mobility solutions.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) – AI refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines programmed to think and learn. In the context of Amazon’s new feature, AI helps create a personalized shopping experience by interpreting user queries and suggesting relevant products.
Large Language Model (LLM) – LLMs are advanced AI algorithms designed to understand and generate human-like text based on the data they were trained on. Amazon’s Interests feature leverages LLMs to convert user prompts into actionable search queries, improving product discovery.
