The Rabbit R1 wearable AI assistant has found its way into the hands of its early adopters, and its public reception carries with it an air of relief from fans of this new category of hardware.
The emerging category of artificial intelligence-powered personal assistants has few entrants, the most notable being the much-criticized Humane AI Pin, which was attacked for its slow performance and lack of real-world utility. In contrast, the R1 seems to have found a good reception.
The Rabbit R1 debuted at CES 2024, offering a unique combination of modest hardware and an innovative software approach that merges Large Language Models (LLMs) and a new technology called Large Action Models that can manipulate other applications. and, in theory, give artificial intelligence more practical skills.
The company organized a live unboxing to showcase its flagship product.
The device was presented as a gateway to a computing future that goes beyond touch-based and app-based interactions, a vision that would require quick responses to succeed. Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy said that “[el] Rabbit R1 is really fast. About 1.5 to 2 seconds for most responses,” the team noted.
Hilsenteger described the device as “really fun to experiment with” and said he was impressed with its appearance, designed by Swedish electronics firm Teenage Engineering.
“What the hardware represents is an opportunity to get people excited about a new input method that is no longer touch-based or app-based,” he said.
Longtime tech critic Justine “iJustine” Ezarik is also a fan of the device.
“Overall, I am impressed with this device and think the R1 is truly a standout product,” she said in her review. “It combines solid hardware with intelligent adaptive software and is truly designed with the user in mind.”
Ezarik expressed delight at the device’s vision capabilities and its ability to perform some tasks like ordering an Uber or a pizza from a local restaurant.
Similarly, Mark Spoonauer, global editor-in-chief of Tom’s Guide, suggested that the device could simplify tasks like calling an Uber, making it more accessible for those who struggle with complicated graphical interfaces.
“Another potential market is seniors,” he said in an interview with Techsploder. “For example, if my mom needs an Uber to go somewhere, it would be much easier to just talk to a device and tell it to come pick me up and take me to ‘X’ without having to go through multiple screens in an app.”
The full review of Tom’s Guide will be published next week.
Engadget reviewer Cherlynn Low said she was skeptical about AI devices, but found the Rabbit R1 to be more accessible and fun than the Humane AI pin.
“The Rabbit has already managed to make me feel like Alice entering Wonderland,” he said, while noting that much of its appeal comes from its seamless integration with third-party apps, something the Humane AI Pin lacks at launch. .
Matt Smith, another Engadget reviewer, highlighted the affordability of the Rabbit R1 compared to the AI Humane pin. The former costs less than a third of the latter and does not require a monthly subscription fee.
Kyle Kucharski, Editor at ZDNet, reaffirmed this idea, saying that the R1 may be more attractive simply because of its affordability.
“The Rabbit, however, is uniquely positioned with its modest $200 price tag and lack of any kind of subscription fee, something that could make adoption much easier,” Kucharski wrote.
David Pierce of The Verge described the Rabbit R1 as a “silly and fun” device, also contrasting it with the AI Humane pin, which he compared to a “carefully sculpted metal gem.” Pierce agreed with Rabbit’s proposition that the R1 is in a new category of device.
“So far, it looks like this device is trying to be less of a smartphone killer and more of the beginning of a useful companion,” Pierce said, but noted that the R1 “can’t send emails or do spreadsheets, although [el fundador y CEO de Rabbit, Jesse] Lyu has been demonstrating both for months.”
Riley Brown, a tech reviewer on Instagram and TikTok, was able to accomplish those tasks in his review.
Matt Wolfe, who specializes in reviews of AI products and services on YouTube, focused on the Rabbit R1 Large Action Model.
“What really makes the R1 exciting is the teaching mode: it turns the device into a wearable AI agent,” Wolfe said. “You use a computer to show R1 how to perform a task.” [y] “Once the Rabbit learns it, it can complete that same task again in the future with just a voice command.”
Marques Brownlee, whose critical review of the Humane AI Pin was widely credited with damaging the company, https://twitter.com/MKBHD/status/1783157842607755642 in his hand, and his followers are clearly eager to hear his opinions weeks after he criticized the competition.
For his part, Rabbit CEO Lyu said he’s not nervous about the wave of reviews ahead. Last week, he uploaded a comparison video in which the R1 was faster than the Humane AI pin in all the tasks it was asked to perform.
Even Lyu took a dig at the Humane AI pin at a recent conference.
“We’re sure to encounter a lot of bugs and problems, but we’re all here to fix them as quickly as possible,” he said earlier this week. “But I don’t think MKBHD is saying this is the worst device we’ve reviewed so far.”
Edited by Ryan Ozawa.
