In a voyage with the Rabbit R1, Moyens I/O’s Section Editor Joe Maring found it to be a supposedly simpler counterpart to his phone, only to discover that the R1 frequently redirects him to his phone for even the most basic tasks. The issue here, as Maring points out, isn’t a sluggish interface or lack of features, but rather the device’s limited impact on a user’s daily life.
At a basic level, the R1 falls short, as a budget Android phone equipped with apps can effortlessly handle similar tasks — whether it be AI-related chores like summarizing emails or placing food orders. “This device could have easily existed as an AI app,” laments Maring, a sentiment echoed across online forums discussing the R1. Strikingly, the R1 itself inadvertently emphasizes this point.
Revelations about the R1’s Android link came to light when Android expert Mishal Rahman successfully loaded the R1’s software onto a Google Pixel 6a using an APK launcher. An APK essentially comprises the code that forms an Android app, while a launcher dictates the appearance and functionality of a phone’s home screen and app drawer. In the case of the R1, the situation gets muddled.
As detailed in an Android Authority article by Rahman, the Rabbit R1 operates using a launcher based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), a fact not explicitly mentioned in Rabbit’s research overview. It was only after Rahman’s findings came to light that Rabbit acknowledged the R1’s software is built upon AOSP, the foundational framework of Android itself. Put simply, the R1’s software amounts to little more than an Android app.
Rabbit has adamantly emphasized that the R1’s AI functions on Rabbit OS, underpinned by a Large Action Model (LAM) designed to interpret touch and voice inputs to generate responses. This process unfolds in the cloud, akin to the operation of AI tools like ChatGPT that process text inputs remotely before issuing a reply. Jesse Lyu, Rabbit’s CEO, corroborated the cloud-based nature of Rabbit OS and LAM, asserting that the system operates with customized AOSP and firmware tweaks.
An intriguing development unfolded when Rahman encountered a block while utilizing the APK package, prompting Rabbit to clamp down on unauthorized access via IP addresses or device identifiers, a move confirmed by CEO Jesse Lyu. The company clarified in an official statement that Rabbit OS and LAM are cloud-operated with roots in AOSP, also acknowledging the prevalence of unauthorized emulators attempting to replicate Rabbit OS.
As security measures tighten, Rabbit has undertaken steps to verify International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers to validate hardware keys, alongside deploying software patches to adjust cloud endpoints. Such measures aim to restrict access to LAM on unauthorized hardware units. The R1 embodies the peculiar dichotomy of running two distinct Android app instances – one governing system updates and the other dictating the launcher interface, all while the core AI-driven functions operate in the cloud.
Despite Rabbit’s assertions of a groundbreaking Rabbit OS, the reality paints a different picture. The device’s capabilities mirror those commonplace in modern apps, offering weather updates, stock checks, and online searches — features easily replicated by existing applications. As the veil lifts on Rabbit OS’s true nature, it appears to be nothing more than a dressed-up Android app in disguise.
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