Rivian R2 update adds lock-screen pet camera and app controls
Rivian's latest software update for R2 models introduces a Pet Cam feature allowing owners to monitor their pets through their phone's lock screen via a livestream or snapshot from the vehicle's interior camera. This addresses pet owners' concerns when they must leave their animals briefly inside the car.
The 2026.36 update also enhances Pet Mode with the ability to enable climate control from the Rivian app and adds confirmation prompts to prevent accidental toggling. Additionally, the R2 will receive the Rivian Assistant AI voice assistant, which was previously available only in R1 models.
- Live pet camera now appears on R2 owners' phone lock screens in latest update.
- Pet Mode gets app control with safety prompts to prevent accidental changes.
- R2 models now include Rivian Assistant AI voice feature.
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Rivian is an electric vehicle manufacturer founded in 2009. The R2 is its compact electric SUV, positioned as the more affordable model compared to Rivian's other main offering.
Pet Mode is a climate control feature that maintains comfortable temperatures inside a vehicle when a pet is left inside temporarily. The feature exists because of growing awareness amongst pet owners and regulators about the risks of leaving animals in cars without adequate air circulation.
As vehicles have become more connected and software-driven, manufacturers have added features addressing specific owner concerns. For pet owners, conveniences that reduce worry when animals are briefly left in a vehicle address a genuine concern.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Pet owners sometimes face situations requiring them to briefly leave animals in vehicles, and Rivian's new monitoring feature addresses this genuine concern about animal welfare. The update includes thoughtful safety measures such as confirmation prompts and integrated climate control, whilst these capabilities remain entirely optional for customers who don't require them.
The case against
Adding cameras that record interior footage and transmit it through connected applications raises significant privacy and data security questions that warrant careful corporate governance. Additionally, features designed to make leaving pets in vehicles more convenient could inadvertently encourage a risky practice; critics question whether the added battery drain and software complexity represent justified value for many users.
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Originally published by Engadget as “Rivian R2 owners can now put a live pet cam on their phone’s lockscreen”.