Rabbit denies claims that its R1 virtual assistant is a glorified Android app

O Rabbit R1a pocket-sized AI virtual assistant device, runs Android internally and is powered by a single app, according to Android Authority. Apparently, the publication managed to install the R1 APK on a Pixel 6a and make it work as if it were the $199 gadget, bobbing the rabbit’s head on the screen and all. If you already have a phone and aren’t overly intrigued by specialized devices or interested in being an early adopter, you probably didn’t see the merit in getting the R1 (or its competitor, the Human AI Pin) in the first place. But this information may make you question the purpose of the device even more. Rabbit CEO Jesse Lyu, however, denied that the company’s product could have been released as just an Android app.

In a statement sent to Android Authority, Lyu said: “rabbit r1 is not an Android application.” He added that the company is aware that there are “unofficial bunny app emulators/sites out there” and is discouraging their use. “We understand the passion people have to try our AI and LAM rather than waiting for their r1 to arrive,” he continued. “That said, to clear up any misunderstandings and set the record straight, Rabbit OS and LAM run in the cloud with very custom AOSP and low-level firmware modifications, so a local bootleg APK without the proper OS and the Cloud endpoints will not be able to access our service. Rabbit OS is customized for r1 and we do not support third-party clients. Using a pirated APK or webclient carries significant risks as they are known to publish pirated applications that steal your data. . users avoid these pirated rabbit OS apps.”

Android Authority admitted that Spotify integration and other features probably wouldn’t work when the R1 was installed on a phone, because it was created to run on the company’s specialized firmware. However, he promised a follow-up story delving deeper into the matter.

The R1 has the ability to book an Uber, find song titles stuck in your brain, or search for recipes that could incorporate ingredients you have in your fridge, among other things a virtual assistant or AI chatbot can do. When Rabbit CEO Jesse Lyu introduced the R1 at CES 2024, he demonstrated how it can be trained to perform a variety of other tasks by teaching it how to generate an image using Midjourney. Cherlynn Low, Deputy Editor at Engadget I found it more fun and affordable than the $700 Humane AI Pin, but she remains skeptical about the usefulness of AI devices in general. It may still be too early to tell whether they have the potential to become a must-have product for your daily life or the high-tech equivalent of disposable kitchenware. We’re already testing the R1 and will publish a review soon to help you decide if the product category is worth giving a try.