Innate immune receptor that senses cytoplasmic viral nucleic acids and activates a downstream signaling cascade leading to the production of type I interferons and pro-inflammatory cytokines (PubMed:15208624, PubMed:15708988, PubMed:16125763, PubMed:16127453, PubMed:16153868, PubMed:17190814, PubMed:18636086, PubMed:19122199, PubMed:19211564, PubMed:24366338, PubMed:28469175, PubMed:29117565, PubMed:31006531, PubMed:34935440, PubMed:35263596, PubMed:36793726). Forms a ribonucleoprotein complex with viral RNAs on which it homooligomerizes to form filaments (PubMed:15208624, PubMed:15708988). The homooligomerization allows the recruitment of RNF135 an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase that activates and amplifies the RIG-I- mediated antiviral signaling in an RNA length-dependent manner through ubiquitination-dependent and -independent mechanisms (PubMed:28469175, PubMed:31006531). Upon activation, associates with mitochondria antiviral signaling protein (MAVS/IPS1) that activates the IKK-related kinases TBK1 and IKBKE which in turn phosphorylate the interferon regulatory factors IRF3 and IRF7, activating transcription of antiviral immunological genes including the IFN-alpha and IFN-beta interferons (PubMed:28469175, PubMed:31006531). Ligands include 5'- triphosphorylated ssRNAs and dsRNAs but also short dsRNAs (<1 kb in length) (PubMed:15208624, PubMed:15708988, PubMed:19576794, PubMed:19609254, PubMed:21742966). In addition to the 5'-triphosphate moiety, blunt-end base pairing at the 5'-end of the RNA is very essential (PubMed:15208624, PubMed:15708988, PubMed:19576794, PubMed:19609254, PubMed:21742966). Overhangs at the non- triphosphorylated end of the dsRNA RNA have no major impact on its activity (PubMed:15208624, PubMed:15708988, PubMed:19576794, PubMed:19609254, PubMed:21742966). A 3'overhang at the 5'triphosphate end decreases and any 5'overhang at the 5' triphosphate end abolishes its activity (PubMed:15208624, PubMed:15708988, PubMed:19576794, PubMed:19609254, PubMed:21742966). Detects both positive and negative strand RNA viruses including members of the families Paramyxoviridae: Human respiratory syncytial virus and measles virus (MeV), Rhabdoviridae: vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), Orthomyxoviridae: influenza A and B virus, Flaviviridae: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), dengue virus (DENV) and west Nile virus (WNV) (PubMed:21616437, PubMed:21884169). It also detects rotaviruses and reoviruses (PubMed:21616437, PubMed:21884169). Detects and binds to SARS-CoV-2 RNAs which is inhibited by m6A RNA modifications (Ref.74). Also involved in antiviral signaling in response to viruses containing a dsDNA genome such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (PubMed:19631370). Detects dsRNA produced from non-self dsDNA by RNA polymerase III, such as Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNAs (EBERs). May play important roles in granulocyte production and differentiation, bacterial phagocytosis and in the regulation of cell migration. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:15208624, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15708988, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16125763, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16127453, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16153868, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17190814, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18636086, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19122199, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19211564, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19576794, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19609254, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19631370, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21742966, ECO:0000269|PubMed:24366338, ECO:0000269|PubMed:28469175, ECO:0000269|PubMed:29117565, ECO:0000269|PubMed:31006531, ECO:0000269|PubMed:34935440, ECO:0000269|PubMed:35263596, ECO:0000269|PubMed:36793726, ECO:0000269|Ref.74, ECO:0000303|PubMed:21616437, ECO:0000303|PubMed:21884169}. This is the function of RIGI (RNA sensor RIG-I, ENSG00000107201).