During the R1 launch event in New York City, Lyu showcased a demonstration where the R1 was able to manipulate a printed spreadsheet on paper. He requested the R1 to switch two columns and then send the altered document to his email. I attempted to do the same with an auto-inspection report I had, but the R1 informed me that it did not have my email address on file. After inquiring with the company, I learned that the R1 did not currently support documents other than spreadsheets, which was disappointing. Despite this limitation, I printed a spreadsheet, instructed the R1 to swap columns, and sent it to my email. While it successfully swapped the columns, it failed to include several other columns present on the paper.
I also tested the R1’s ability to analyze a book, asking it to provide a synopsis of Kazuo Ishiguro’s “Klara and the Sun.” The R1 only described the cover and speculated that it was likely a work of fiction. I was frustrated that it couldn’t provide a synopsis despite being able to read the title. I also found it inconvenient that the Rabbithole application would log me out after a period of inactivity, requiring me to log in again to access my notes.
The R1 offers voice recording capabilities, displaying a charming tape recorder animation while in use. However, the recording quality was subpar and muffled. On a positive note, the R1 could summarize the recording content and allow for downloading of the audio file.
Language translation functions were efficient, similar to the Humane Ai Pin, facilitating seamless communication in different languages. The R1 automatically adjusted the translation language based on the conversation, making it easy to communicate with individuals speaking different languages.
Despite its impressive features, many have questioned the necessity of the R1 when smartphones can perform similar tasks effectively. David Widder, a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell Tech, suggested that the desire to innovate independently from major tech companies like Apple and Google was a driving factor behind the creation of the R1. Nevertheless, the R1 still has room for improvement and may not be worth purchasing at its current stage. While Rabbit has outlined plans for future enhancements, such as a Teach Mode for personalized training, it may be wiser to wait until the device is more refined and feature-rich before making a purchase.
Overall, the R1 did not entirely meet expectations, leading me to question its practicality as a standalone device. As a smartphone reviewer, I found it cumbersome to carry both my phone and the R1, especially when I could perform the same tasks on my smartphone with comparable or superior results. Until the R1 offers more unique and essential functions, it may remain as nothing more than an aesthetically pleasing but ultimately unnecessary accessory in my collection of AI-powered devices.
