Retinoic acid inducible gene-Ⅰ (RIG-Ⅰ) is a caspase recruitment domain (CARD) containing protein that acts as an intracellular RNA receptor and senses virus infection. After binding to double stranded RNA (dsRNA) or 5’-triphosphate single stranded RNA (ssRNA), RIG-Ⅰ transforms into an open conformation, translocates onto mitochondria, and interacts with the downstream adaptor mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) to induce the production of type Ⅰ interferon and inflammatory factors via IRF3/7 and NF-kB pathways, respectively. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that RIG-Ⅰ could function in non-viral systems and participate in a series of biological events, such as inflammation and inflammation related diseases, cell proliferation, apoptosis and even senescence. Here we review recent advances in antiviral study of RIG-Ⅰ as well as the functions of RIG-Ⅰ in other fields.