Debut R1 Rabbit AI Assistant technology seems to have come full circle. 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 phone was basic. And that belief is coming true, as Lyu says Rabbit’s pocket AI gadget has sold out of its initial 10,000 units.
It’s tough to answer the question of what Rabbit R1 is and what it does. It’s not a smartphone (well, not really) and it’s not just an Alexa-style voice assistant (although it kind of is). So ahead of the next round of pre-orders in the spring, we’ve taken a closer look at what exactly the Rabbit R1 does, how it works, and whether it can replace our smartphones.
What is Rabbit R1 AI Assistant?
Unveiled at CES 2024, the Rabbit R1 is a $200 portable AI assistant with a 2.88-inch touchscreen. A device that was designed together with Teen engineering, resembles a walkie-talkie with its square design and striking orange color, which gives it a retro character. It includes features such as camera, control wheel, speakers and microphones. Additionally, it has 4GB of memory, 128GB of storage and runs on a 2.3GHz MediaTek processor.
It is surprisingly airy and only half the size of the iPhone 15. However, unlike the iPhone 15, the Rabbit R1 has no apps; instead, you can connect to the apps on your phone. Running on the Rabbit operating system, R1 runs on the Vast Action Model (LAM), an artificial intelligence model that can navigate application interfaces to perform tasks. It responds to voice commands and can do things like book rides, manage homework, and respond to queries.
While this isn’t much different from what we already do with our smartphones, the goal is to provide a more focused and less intrusive digital experience, according to Lyu. What’s more frigid is that with a dedicated training mode, you can teach the R1 to interact with specific commands, and the R1 will continue to do so in the future.
This is all thanks to the LAM R1, which has been designed to be customizable, allowing it to learn and interact with recent applications. This feature means that the device’s capabilities can be extended beyond pre-installed applications, adapting to various user interfaces and functionalities. This training aspect enhances the usability of R1, making it a versatile tool for a range of tasks and interactions.
How – notes The Verge in practice with the device, it is unclear how this will work in practice, as the only working model that exists at the moment is the one Lyu has. Despite its ability to adapt to what it can work with, ultimately the R1 is still a lauded Google Assistant. But lovely and orange.
Why is it so popular and how to get it?
You can’t for now. As mentioned earlier, Rabbit announced that its initial order is 10,000 pieces sold. There was even a second batch scheduled for March, which is now also sold out.
Part of its quick and sudden popularity is that, in theory, R1 is expected to fundamentally change the way humans interact with technology. One of the recurring topics at CES 2024 was the Internet of Things (IoT), with many companies focusing on integration with existing operating systems such as iOS and Android. Every startup and enormous company wants your phone to be connected to a range of technology in your home, so the R1’s nostalgic simplicity immediately caught attention.
Just look at this tweet calling Lyu’s announcement “the iPhone moment in the age of artificial intelligence.”
The tweet may have been deleted
You can also save $200 knowing that the tech wizards at X (formerly Twitter) have already rebuilt Rabbit AI into your smartphone.
The tweet may have been deleted
See what I mean when I say things come full circle?
