Rabbits Hopping into CES 2024
Rabbits made a surprise appearance at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas last week. A new device called the R1 from a company named Rabbit Inc. was one of the most talked about products introduced at the show.
What is the Rabbit R1?
The Rabbit R1 is a small handheld gadget, about the size of a walkie talkie, with a 2.88-inch touchscreen display. It runs on Rabbit OS, a custom operating system powered by the company’s Large Action Model AI. This allows the device to understand natural language commands and complete digital tasks through apps and services.
For example, you can ask the R1 to order a pizza, book an Uber ride, or buy movie tickets just by speaking. The R1 learns how to interact with apps by watching how humans perform tasks and then mimics those actions. It can connect to services like Spotify, YouTube, Uber, and more.
Cute Design
The R1 has a cute, minimalist design with rounded edges and rabbit ears on top. The orange and white color scheme and friendly rabbit avatar displayed on the screen give it a playful personality.
Teenage Engineering, known for its quirky electronic instruments, collaborated with Rabbit on the R1’s industrial design.
Strong Early Demand
Rabbit made waves at CES by selling out an initial run of 10,000 R1 units almost immediately after announcing the device. This demonstrates strong early demand for this type of AI-powered pocket companion.
The R1 costs $199, which makes it accessible compared to many cutting-edge electronics unveiled at CES every year. Rabbit has opened pre-orders for additional production runs slated for March and May.
The Future of AI Companions
The Rabbit R1 provides a glimpse into the future where AI assistants evolve from disembodied voices to cute robot friends. While it may not replace smartphones, the R1 pioneers a new product category that could catch on as the technology improves.
We could soon see small, affordable AI devices for the home, car, office and beyond that simplify our digital lives with a bit of personality. The rabbits are leading the charge.
What are your thoughts about this new technology?
How do you feel about the Rabbit R1? Do you think it has the potential to be as transformative as the iPod or iPhone were in their time? Could this be the beginning of a new era in personal technology? Share your thoughts, predictions, and whether you see a Rabbit R1 in your future.
