Key Takeaways:
- California startup Rabbit has introduced a new handheld device powered by AI called Rabbit R1, which intends to replace smartphones
- The standalone gadget makes use of a Large Action Model to interact with apps based on the user’s command and eliminates the need for them to navigate through them individually
- Rabbit R1 is available for pre-order and will start shipping in the US, starting March
AI has been the talk of the town at the CES 2024. From smart home devices to smartphones, and from televisions to cars and computers, every company is looking for a piece of the artificial intelligence pie.
However, California-based tech startup Rabbit Inc. has come up with a new device that aims to replace your smartphone in the long run. The company’s founder Jesse Lyu argues that the operating systems powering modern smartphones are not intuitive enough and that there are far too many apps that don’t interact with each other. His solution to this is the Rabbit R1.
Specifications Of Rabbit R1
Lyu has brought out a standalone hand-held device called the Rabbit R1 that uses a Large Action Model (LAM) to automate simple tasks performed on smartphones. The device, which is the size of a stack of Post-it notes, has a 2.88-inch touchscreen and weighs 115g. It has a rotating camera for capturing photos and videos and a scroll wheel that can be used to navigate around the Rabbit OS or talk to the device’s built-in AI assistant.
The Rabbit R1 is powered by a 2.3GHz MediaTek Helio P35 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. The company claims it to have an “all-day” battery life. Additionally, the device has a USB-C port, Bluetooth, WiFi, and a 4G-enabled sim slot.
Large Action Model
Rabbit R1’s LAM can learn from users’ interactions with apps so that it can replicate their behavior. This can be achieved without guidance from Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). The AI model serves as the core of the Rabbit OS.
The company describes the model as a “universal controller for apps”. It functions just like Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, or Google Assistant, where the OS can control music, order an Uber, shop for groceries, send messages, and make phone calls. It eliminates the need for users to open specific apps or log in to them just to carry out a single task. All they have to do is just ask the system and it delivers.
Rabbit trained its model on how to use existing apps for itself by observing how humans interact with these platforms. Technically, the LAM is shown how a certain app functions.
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The R1 also has a dedicated training mode where users can teach the device how to act. For example, if the user wants the R1 to do grocery shopping, then they first need to record the process of launching their preferred grocery app, select the items they want to buy, and then check out.
What happens is that the next time the user wants to get groceries online, they can just tell the R1 or push the button on the side and it will perform the action based on their previous app activity.
If the user wants to book an Uber from work to home, the R1 will complete the task in a single step rather than following the multiple steps that the user may have to take to book a ride on their own via the Uber app.
Users can also monetize the scripts they create by distributing them on Rabbit’s upcoming store, the Rabbit Hole. The company says the R1 will be trained to work with most popular smartphone apps
R1 Pre-orders Will Start Shipping In Late March
Rabbit R1 is available for pre-order right now in the bright “Luminous Orange” color via the official website. The device costs $200 and does not require customers to sign up for any additional monthly subscription.
Orders from the United States are expected to be shipped out in late March, while international orders will be delivered later in the year. Rabbit has not announced an exact date for when it will be available in retail.
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