Rabbit's Redemption: A Tale of AI Innovation and Resilience
The Rise and Fall of the Rabbit R1
In a world where AI gadgets are stealing the show, the Rabbit R1 made a grand entrance at CES 2024, captivating everyone with its adorable design and the promise of being a smartphone's worthy companion. However, the reality soon took a turn, and the R1 faced a swift backlash.
Critics like Devindra Hardawar from Engadget and Marques Brownlee on YouTube were quick to point out the device's shortcomings. With buggy software and a long list of non-functional features, the R1's initial release was far from impressive. Even Rabbit's rival, Humane, couldn't escape the backlash, eventually selling its intellectual property to HP and discontinuing support for its AI Pin.
A Second Chance for Rabbit
Fast forward nearly two years, and Rabbit is still in the game. The company recently released RabbitOS 2, its most significant software update yet, and with it, a plea for redemption.
"We want to ask people for a second chance," said Jesse Lyu, Rabbit's CEO. And it seems the updated software is a step in the right direction.
The original R1 had a touchscreen that didn't live up to expectations. Simple tasks like accessing settings were a struggle. But with RabbitOS 2, the device's interface has been transformed into a colorful, user-friendly experience. The touchscreen now functions smoothly, allowing for intuitive navigation with taps and swipes.
Other improvements, like the ability to transcribe voice memos offline, add to the device's overall usability.
The Marquee Feature: Creations
Creations are the star of the show in this update. Building on the Teach mode introduced last year, Creations allow users to code their own apps for the R1, a process made much smoother than before.
You start by describing the app you envision, and the device asks clarifying questions to understand your needs. Intern, the AI coding agent, has an extensive understanding of R1's hardware, so you don't get bogged down in technicalities. With Lyu's guidance, I created a guitar tuning app, a process that took just five minutes and felt incredibly novel.
I could dictate how the app should look and function, with AI offering helpful suggestions. It was a unique experience, especially with the ability to decide on the app's aesthetics and functionality.
Lyu believes Creations are the missing piece that sets the R1 apart from smartphones. He's particularly excited about the distribution system, which allows users to share their apps through Rabbithole or via QR codes, bypassing the traditional app store model.
The Challenge of Convincing Users
But here's where it gets controversial: Lyu acknowledges that convincing people to carry around two devices is a significant barrier. Users are hesitant to trust AI with certain tasks, especially banking apps, due to strict regulations.
"The biggest barrier is no one wants to carry around two devices. We know that, and there are a lot of things on the phone that users don't trust an AI to handle," Lyu explained. He's hopeful that consumer demand will eventually lead financial institutions to embrace Rabbit and the R1.
The Future of Creations
Lyu is adamant that Creations are the way forward for Rabbit. He sees it as a generational experience, where users can create apps without coding, simply by talking to their R1 and distributing them.
I wonder if this is enough. While the ability to create your own apps is appealing, most users likely just want reliable software without the hassle of development. Software maintenance and ensuring an app works for everyone is a crucial part of the process, and AI, despite improving, still makes mistakes.
Some smartphone experiences, like streaming music from YouTube Music, are harder to replicate with Creations. While Rabbit has shared documentation to help program access to third-party services, I question how long users will stay motivated to code basic apps.
And let's not forget the app store model, which provides developers with a way to earn a living. With Creations, only Rabbit makes money, and there's no infrastructure to charge for them. Creations also consume Intern tasks, which aren't cheap.
The Question on Everyone's Mind
And this is the part most people miss: the age-old question, "Why can't this just be an app?"
Lyu believes Creations are part of the answer. He predicts a "generational shift" starting in 2027, where AI devices will become more prevalent. He hints at OpenAI's plans, which involve acquiring Jony Ive's hardware startup, with ambitions to release their own AI device.
"From what I know about Jony and OpenAI, I don't think they're going to be interested in a second gadget like R1. I think they're going to focus on a phone-like factor. That's a much bigger audience. But by 2027, everyone is going to be making phones," Lyu said.
When asked about Rabbit's future plans, the company remained tight-lipped, stating they are focused on improving their software and pioneering unique features.
The challenge for Rabbit is not just staying ahead of OpenAI but also competing with existing phone manufacturers adding AI features to their devices. Nothing, a smaller player, has already announced Essential Apps, a tool for vibe coding apps for their phones. How long before the big players follow suit?
Rabbit's redemption arc is an intriguing tale of AI innovation and resilience. Will Creations be enough to convince users to give the R1 a second chance? Only time will tell.
