The debut of the Rabbit R1 AI Assistant feels like a full-circle moment in tech. The existence of this palm-sized personal voice assistant stems from Rabbit CEO Jesse Lyu’s desire to return to the days when using a mobile phone was simple. That belief is catching on, and according to Lyu, the initial 10,000 units of Rabbit’s AI pocket device have already sold out.
What the Rabbit R1 is or does is a difficult question to answer. It’s not a smartphone (well, not really), nor is it just a voice assistant like Alexa (although it kind of is). That’s why, ahead of another round of pre-orders in the spring, we took a deep dive into what the Rabbit R1 is for, how it works, and whether it could replace our smartphones.
24 gadgets you can already buy at CES 2024
What is Rabbit R1 Artificial Intelligence Assistant?
Launched at CES 2024, Rabbit R1 is a $200 handheld AI assistant with a 2.88-inch touch screen. Designed in conjunction with Teenage Engineering, the device resembles a walkie-talkie, with a square design and eye-popping orange color that adds to the retro feel. It includes features such as a camera, control wheel, speaker, and microphone. Additionally, it has 4GB of memory, 128GB of storage, and runs on a 2.3GHz MediaTek processor.
It’s surprisingly light and half the size of the iPhone 15. Unlike the iPhone 15, though, the Rabbit R1 doesn’t have an app; instead, you connect to an app on your phone. R1 runs on Rabbit OS, running on the Large Operations Model (LAM), an AI model that can navigate application programming interfaces to perform tasks. It responds to voice commands and can perform activities such as booking rides, managing household chores and answering queries.
While this isn’t too different from what we already do on smartphones, the aim is to provide a more focused, less intrusive digital experience, Lyu said. Also, what’s cool is that through its dedicated training mode, you can teach R1 how to interact with certain commands, and it will continue to do so.
This is all because R1’s LAM is designed to be adaptable, allowing it to learn and interact with new applications. This capability means that the device’s capabilities can be extended beyond pre-installed applications to accommodate a variety of user interfaces and features. This training aspect enhances the R1’s utility, making it a versatile tool for a range of tasks and interactions.
As The Verge noted during a hands-on look at the device, it’s unclear how the device will work in practice, as the only working model that exists right now is the one owned by Lyu. Despite its adaptability, at the end of the day, R1 is still a great Google Assistant. But cute and orange.
Why is it so popular? How do I get it?
As of now, you can’t. As previously announced, Rabbit announced that its initial 10,000 orders have sold out. There was even a second batch planned for March, but that’s now sold out as well.
Part of its meteoric popularity is that, in theory, the R1 was designed to fundamentally change the way humans interact with technology. One of the big recurring themes at CES 2024 is the Internet of Things (IoT), with many companies focusing on integrating with existing operating systems such as iOS or Android. Every startup and big company wants your phone to be connected to a suite of tech devices in your home, so the R1’s nostalgic simplicity is instantly captivating.
Just look at this tweet and you will know that Lyu’s statement is “the iPhone moment in the era of artificial intelligence.”
Tweet may have been deleted
Or you could save $200 because the tech wizards at X (formerly Twitter) have rebuilt Rabbit AI inside your smartphone.
Tweet may have been deleted
See what I mean about things ending well?
theme
artificial intelligence smartphone
