Rabbit CEO teases ‘three-in-one’ AI gadget idea

The AI frenzy we’re at the moment dwelling by will probably be remembered for lots of issues: the explosion of information facilities and attendant rise in electricity prices; generative slop flooding social media; and executives bragging about paying fewer staff, to call a couple of. Possibly probably the most tangible popular culture artifact of this AI period, although, is the standalone AI gadget.

Devices just like the Humane AI Pin and Rabbit R1, each launched final yr, had been designed to attach us on to AI-powered providers with out graphical consumer interfaces getting in the way in which. These first-gen AI baubles had been practically universally panned — however evidently, Rabbit is able to give it one other attempt as early as subsequent yr.

In an interview with Tom’s Guide, when requested a few second-generation standalone AI gadget from Rabbit, CEO Jesse Lyu stated the corporate has “prototypes exploring different form factors,” including that “2026 is gonna be interesting because OpenAI will join the competition,” referring to the AI big’s in-development {hardware} that’s reportedly planned for release in late 2026 or early 2027.

Lyu didn’t go into a lot element, however did point out that Rabbit has its eye on a “three-in-one” kind issue greater than as soon as. The CEO stated he thinks smartphones will probably be really “agentic” throughout the subsequent 18 months, which supplies Rabbit “a good amount of time that we can at least do one generation of device.”

The Rabbit R1 was launched in early 2024. Conceptually, it was an attention-grabbing machine. Controlled primarily by voice with a touchscreen and digicam for added enter, it supplied entry to AI-powered options over a Wi-Fi or LTE sign in a cheap-and-cheerful $199 package deal. In apply, although, the R1 wasn’t succesful or dependable sufficient to go away your smartphone at residence — and contemplating telephones can do every thing the R1 can after which some, carrying each wasn’t a really interesting proposition.

Lyu acknowledged this dynamic within the context of Rabbit’s subsequent machine, telling Tom’s Guide that “No one wants to carry two devices.” He didn’t say how (or even when) Rabbit’s second AI machine may make it attainable to ditch your smartphone, nonetheless.