Turns out Rabbit R1 was just an Android app all along

In more than android body, Mishal Rahman managed to do just that Download Rabbit's Launcher APK on Google Pixel 6A. With a little tweaking, he was able to run the application as if it were on Rabbit's own machine. By using the Volume Up key instead of the R1's single hardware button, he was able to create an account and start asking it questions, just as if he were using the $199 R1.

Rahman points out that the app may not offer the same functionality as the R1. As he puts it: “The Rabbit R1's Launcher app is designed to be pre-installed in the firmware and given several distinct system-level permissions – some of which we were only able to grant – so some functionality would likely fail if we tried.” But the fact that the software has been running on a mid-range phone for nearly two years suggests that it has more in common with a regular Android app than not.

Rabbit founder and CEO Jesse Liu disagrees with that characterization. He made a lengthy statement to the edge Which we have quoted in part below – it was Also posted on Rabbit's X account If you want to read it in full.

“rabbit r1 is not an Android app… Rabbit OS and LAM run on the cloud with very detailed AOSP and lower level firmware modifications, so a local illegal APK without the proper OS and cloud endpoints will not be able to reach our service Rabbit OS is customized for r1 and we do not support third party clients.

R1 is not alone; Pin Amnesty International Humanity Seems to be working on the release It is also open source Android software. But it's the R1 in the hot seat now that the first reviews are starting to trickle in — and They're not great, Bob. Rabbit released its first software update earlier today to address some complaints, including a fast-draining battery. Which The issue seems to be better controlled after the update; The R1's idle battery performance has been greatly improved after downloading the update this morning.

But the bigger problem is that the R1 doesn't do enough useful things to justify its existence, you know, Phones Out. It looks like this AI tool might just be an app after all.

Updated April 30 at 11:23 PM ET: Added a statement from Rabbit CEO Jesse Liu.