Startup Rabbit debuts the R1, a $199 handheld AI device meant to be a virtual assistant to complete tasks without a smartphone, shipping in late March 2024

The startup has developed a virtual assistant that learns whatever digital errands you teach it. The interface is extra cute …

Wired 2024-01-10 Julian Chokkattu

Context & Ripple Effects

Rabbit positioned the R1 as a dedicated interface for digital errands rather than another phone app. Initial demand was tangible: the company sold 10,000 units in its first day, creating an early installed base ahead of shipment.

The product’s capability stack quickly widened beyond Rabbit’s own software, with Perplexity powering query responses and a bundled Pro offer for early buyers. Later hands-on coverage found basic questions workable but described the Rabbithole app as unfinished, making execution—not novelty—the central test.

First-order effects

Rabbit gains early customer demand and a deadline to turn its task-completion pitch into a reliable shipped experience.
Buyers are asked to try a separate AI device for errands and questions that would otherwise happen on a smartphone.

Second-order effects

The Perplexity arrangement makes the R1’s perceived value partly dependent on a third-party AI service, while giving Perplexity a hardware distribution channel and early users.
The gap between the promised assistant and the unfinished companion experience raises the support, iteration, and retention burden on Rabbit after launch.

Third-order effects

If dedicated AI devices continue to rely on external models and services, differentiation will shift from the hardware itself toward dependable workflow integrations and user trust.
The R1 is an early test of whether an assistant can become a distinct computing surface rather than a feature inside the smartphone; later product quality will determine whether that category endures.

The trend: Consumer AI is moving from chat interfaces toward agent-like assistants designed to carry out tasks across services, with hardware makers testing whether a dedicated surface improves adoption.

Discussion

@reckless1280 Nilay Patel on threads
I love this thing - like an AI-powered robotic process automation toy for consumers designed by Teenage Engineering
@rabbit_hmi @rabbit_hmi on x
Introducing r1. Watch the keynote. Order now: https://rabbit.tech/ #CES2024 [video]
@dangrover Dan Grover on x
My only criticism of rabbit r1 is its keynote pitch commits what I'll call “the OpenDoc fallacy” of purporting that apps don't interoperate for lack of a sufficiently clever sw abstraction to replace “app”, not bc of impedance mismatch of biz models of apps and platforms.
@mahyarm8 Mahyar McDonald on x
@levelsio Restrictions that iOS & Android put on their use cases. Something like rabbit would probably need root access on an android (non starter for most non-technical people) and is just not available on iOS for example.
@nickfloats Nick St. Pierre on x
This is actually insane A new type of device, a pocket companion. They're not trying to replace your phone It's AI enabled hardware that understands interfaces & can complete tasks for you You can even teach it through screenshare & it's only $199 🥵 [video]
@jsngr Jordan Singer on x
couldn't this have been an app? i already have the one piece of hardware i take everywhere with me i still don't quite see it yet but i'd love to be proven wrong
@rabbit_hmi @rabbit_hmi on x
$199, no subscription: https://rabbit.tech/ #CES2024 [video]
@8teapi @8teapi on x
This guy... Apple's innovators dilemma comes every closer... At this point you can almost taste the perfect device in the memesphere.. A universal do agent that plugs in directly to APIs served by travel providers, banks, etc. Skipping the consumer facing UI.
@jetscott Scott Stein on x
@rabovitz My assumption is that this is a hardware device made to show off the power of their AI services. Then it gets acquired or integrated into something else. Seems like a good demo for what a layer on top of phones should be
@doganuraldesign Dogan Ural on x
This is it. This is the iPhone moment for the AI Era. Rabbit r1 [video]
@ostynhyss @ostynhyss on x
the rabbit r1 is absolutely stunning and yes I bought one [image]
@raywongy Ray Wong on x
The @rabbit_hmi R1 might be the best thing announced at #CES2024 so far. Designed by Teenage Engineering and it has a screen unlike another AI device. $199 is also nuts. [image]
@holdenmatt Matt Holden on x
Bold. I've been skeptical of some of the standalone hardware devices (hard to compete with the smartphone already in my pocket). But this looks pretty sweet. Action-based model on existing UIs (a la Adept) + Teenage Engineering hardware device + nice price point. Tempting...
@maxkordek Max Kordek on x
The Rabbit R1 does a lot of things right. In comparison to the AI Pin by Humane it focuses on techies rather than the mainstream, which is important in the early cycle of a new product category. It prevents privacy concerns by being in your pocket. It has no unnecessary features.…
@ianzelbo Ian Zelbo on x
2024 is becoming the real year for AI hardware. Rabbit r1 looks really unique! [video]
@scobleizer Robert Scoble on x
@rabovitz Because Apple will not willingly kill the app ecosystem but particularly its customers are not ready for freaky AI so won't be allowed to have access to sensors or other resources.
@levelsio @levelsio on x
This looks nice but Can someone explain me why all these AI apps have to be on a new standalone AI device? Why won't this just become an iPhone app? Or integrated into iOS etc? What's the USP of an AI hardware device vs a smartphone w/ an AI app?
@edzitron Ed Zitron on x
Can't wait for people to start accidentally sending their entire office slack the word “peñus” when trying to order an Uber home because they trusted chatGPT
@ctjlewis Lewis on x
can't watch these without being distracted by how obviously people are imitating Steve Jobs
@linusekenstam Linus on x
Rabbit is here 🐇 Bullish on this category. [video]
@gfodor @gfodor on x
Rabbit figured out the same thing I did recently about how AI agents will need to work. Congratulations to them, this is the future of computing. (Not Humane) [image]
@stevemoser Steve Moser on x
The Rabbit r1 hardware definitely gets points for being unique. But the hardware seems like a head fake when it is really about the software they are calling LAM (Large Action Model). It feels like the r1 hardware exists because: 1) They really wanted to make hardware and partner…
@simonw Simon Willison on x
@rabbit_hmi Does the agent require confirmation for everything it does, or can it occasionally take actions without confirmation? it looked like it could send an email without approval there If it can ever act without confirmation, do you have mitigations in place against prompt …
@peer_rich @peer_rich on x
me first: great... another AI companion 😴 me after seeing its built by teenage engineering 🤯 [image]
@rabovitz Rony Abovitz on x
The rabbit thingy looks cool-ish - but why can't a phone with an app do something very similar, if not better??
@amasad Amjad Masad on x
This presentation has a lot of good ideas that independently can be valuable. It's just hard to imagine wanting to carry around another device.
@nickadobos Nick Dobos on x
I wasn't sure about this at first glance. But 2 minutes in an and I'm fucking sold He's saying the right things!! App based operating systems at serious risk of being replaced
@scottbelsky Scott Belsky on x
damn impressive and cohesive story here. some questions remain, but partnering with @teenageengin33r was a smart move

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