Positioned as an alternative to smartphones, the Rabbit R1 gadget offers access to an AI assistant via a single-button press. Yet, the user may find the experience limited to an Android app. So, why opt for a $200 device when a simple app could suffice?
Android expert Michel Rahman managed to extract the Rabbit R1 assistant app, which primarily controls the phone’s home screen. Interacting with the Rabbit R1 assistant centers around this application. Rahman’s analysis on Android Authority suggests that all the device’s functions are contained within this single app.
The Rabbit app was seamlessly installed on the Pixel 6a phone, a mid-range Android device launched around two years ago. In a video demonstration, Rahman queries the app, which promptly responds after connecting to Rabbit’s cloud service.
Unlike high-end smartphones, the Rabbit R1 device does not rely on advanced AI technologies locally. It features a basic MediaTek processor, necessitating cloud-based processing for adequate speed.
The Rabbit R1 gadget appears to operate using a customized Android system. Rahman confirms that the app on the R1 integrates smoothly with the OS, granting elevated permissions that standard phone apps lack. This access is key to the device’s seamless functioning.
Disputing the Android Authority report, Rabbit’s founder and CEO Jesse Leo asserts that the R1 is not just an app but a cloud-based service. Leo claims the R1 features substantial modifications to Android and core system software, ensuring app installations cannot access Rabbit’s cloud service as per Rahman’s original report.
