Rivian has acquired Third Dimension, a UK startup that uses AI to turn real images and video into controllable 3D worlds, TechCrunch and Electrek reported.

Deal terms were not disclosed, TechCrunch said. Electrek also said Rivian did not say what it paid. The 15-person Third Dimension team, most of them based in the UK, will join Rivian's autonomy and AI group led by James Philbin, TechCrunch reported. Philbin said the deal also helps Rivian grow its AI hub in London, according to TechCrunch.

Third Dimension was founded in 2024 by Tolga Kart and Piotr Sokolski, TechCrunch said. Electrek said the founders include a former Tesla Autopilot simulation engineer and a veteran of Wayve's neural simulator team. The company had raised about $7 million in seed funding, TechCrunch reported. Its tools were first built for game engines and later aimed at cars and other uses.

Rivian wants the tools to speed training and testing of advanced driver-assistance features. It also wants help on the self-driving stack for robotaxis it plans to supply to Uber, TechCrunch said. Electrek framed the buy as a way to turn hundreds of thousands of daily driving clips into simulation scenes. Rivian already offers hands-free highway driving software and aims to expand that system on city streets, TechCrunch reported. The price tag stays private for now. The startup's staff will report into Philbin's group as Rivian builds more of that stack in-house. Electrek said the buy follows TechCrunch's first report of the same deal.

What we know: Rivian bought Third Dimension to build driving simulations, and neither outlet reported a price.
What we don't: How soon the tools show up in Rivian's public driver-assistance or robotaxi stack.