At Android Authority, Mishaal Rahman did it Download Rabbit's Launcher APK on a Google Pixel 6A. With a few small adjustments, he was able to run the app as if it were on Rabbit's own device. Using the volume up button instead of the R1's single hardware button, he was able to set up an account and ask questions as if he were using the $199 R1.
Rahman points out that the app probably doesn't offer all of the R1's features. In his words: “The Rabbit R1's launcher app is said to be pre-installed in the firmware and given several system-level privileged permissions – some of which we were only able to grant – so some of the features would likely fail if we tried.” .” But the fact that the software runs on a mid-range phone from nearly two years ago suggests it has more in common with a plain old Android app than not.
Rabbit founder and CEO Jesse Lyu disagrees with this characterization. He gave a detailed statement on this The edge which we have quoted in part below – that was it also posted on Rabbit's X account if you want to read it completely.
“Rabbit r1 is not an Android app…Rabbit OS and LAM run in the cloud with very tailored AOSP and lower level firmware modifications, so a local bootleg APK cannot run on our service without the correct OS and cloud endpoints access. Rabbit OS is customized for r1 and we do not support third-party clients.”
The R1 is not alone; Human AI pin seems to be running on one version also the open source software of Android. But it's the R1 that's in crisis at the moment as the first reviews leak out – and . Rabbits on display its first software update this morning to address a few complaints, including a rapidly draining battery. The The problem seems to be more under control after the update; My R1's idle battery performance has improved significantly after downloading the update this morning.
But the bigger problem is that the R1 just doesn't do enough useful things to justify its existence if, you know, Telephones exist. It looks like this AI gadget could have just been an app finally.
Update April 30, 11:23 p.m. ET: Added a statement from Rabbit CEO Jesse Lyu.
