RABBIT R1: Everything You Need To Know | The Hi-Tech Discussion

Welcome to an exclusive, mid-of-the-week edition of the Hidalgo Tech Discussion.

But why the urgency, you ask? Well, according to some, we might have just witnessed the next iPhone moment: rabbit inc. just launched the R1, a device they claim will shift users from being bound to apps, to having a literal companion that, unlike Siri/Alexa/Echo, can actually perform tasks.

According to rabbit inc. this will push us beyond Large Language Models (LLMs) into a Large Action Model (LAM).

Let's dive in.

The R1 | Your Pocket Companion

In a not-so-original visual language, the same one every other tech companies uses (like Humane) as they try to mimic Apple , Rabbit inc. introduces a a teenage engineering -backed device that looks a new take on the 1998 Game Boy by Nintendo .

The Rabbit R1 can interact with you and perceive your surroundings. It is extremely minimal, featuring a push-to-talk button, a touchscreen, and a scroll wheel. Internally, it counts with microphone, speakers and the Rabbit Eye – a computer-vision powered camera.

Cool, but what does it do?

One-stop shop for all tasks, with no apps needed

It has 10x the response time of other voice-driven AI projects: You just push the aforementioned button, and Rabbit activates with no other command needed. You talk to it as you would to a walkie talkie. If you're not into talking with an AI in public, you can also summon a keyboard on the display.

If we are to trust the demo, the R1 can even browse the internet live at incredible speeds, summoning current information. On top of that, you can log into third-party services like Spotify to enjoy your music.... which brings us to the next critical point rabbit addressed in their launch: Privacy.

The R1 does not store any third-party credentials. They re-direct users to the services' login page.

Among other functions, the R1's third party integration can help you book an Uber – offering remarkable explanations for the choices you have available, as well as suggesting the most convenient choice for you.

End-to-end task completion

According to the demo, Rabbit R1 can plan a trip following indications and sticking to variables such as:

• Destination + Date
• Passengers + Age
• Type of flight + seats
• Type of rental car + needed hotel amenities

Following the requirements, it will require you to confirm each booking. Once that's done, the demo shows R1 suggesting even an itinerary of things to do while on vacation. It can even book event tickets, and increase or reduce the number of activities it picks for your trip.

Communication

This was a shocker for me as a former translator and interpreter: R1 can detect language in the environment and translate in real time.

Likewise, through the computer vision camera, it can scan your environment and provide feedback on what it sees. The use case in the demo is Rabbit getting shown a fridge with ingredients, and coming up with a recipe.

Now, if you show rabbit a document and ask it what to do, R1 will implement the changes you need and will send you an email with a revised version of the document.

Image generation

You can even train R1 to generate images using Midjourney, saving you further time in logins, opening apps, and typing prompts. R1 can watch, learn and repeat.

Do You Really Need This?

As you know I'm a Brand Strategist. My favorite questions to ask my clients about their companies are:

• Okay you provide X, Y, Z services... so what?
• Why should people pick you over competitors?

In a very smart play at the end of their keynote, Rabbit addresses these core questions, that both merge into one: My phone can do all this stuff, why do I need the R1?

This is their answer, word by word:

We didn't build Rabbit R1 to replace your phone. It's just a new generation of devices.

In a nutshell, R1 is a companion device that can take notes, translate, and execute tasks. The benefit for you is time, which I think is one of the strongest selling points of R1 – just like Amazon back in the day, the Rabbit R1 uses the newest technology to save you time and make life easier.

Must Cost A Fortune, Right?

Okay, all cool, but how much does it cost?

In a masterful final sales pitch, when everyone is expecting Rabbit R1 to be as expensive as phones, the speaker shows us the price of all the devices it would take to achieve the exact same things Rabbit R1 does...

... And then reveals the price: $199 USD.

Masterful.

Final Thoughts: It It Worth It?

The Rabbit R1 seems like a way better deal than the over-bloated pricing of the Humane Pin. The device itself seems way more useful and less like those products tech startups build without even considering the audience.

If this would've costed anything above $499, I would've told you is too soon.

However, rabbit inc. seems to understand this, and is launching the product at a price point that will facilitate early adoption and hype – for just $199, I strongly recommend you jump on board and at least test this new generation of devices.

Now, one question remains: Will the R1 stick and thrive like the iPhone did?

Only time will tell. If it's just another AI device that makes ChatGPT faster to access, it'll tank. However, if it truly makes life easier, I am sure it will thrive.