Rabbit: This startup is building an AI device that will replace the iPhone

This startup is building an AI device that will replace the iPhone.

They just raised a $28.7M venture round led by Khosla Ventures and Synergis Capital.

They also just sold 100,000 units of their flagship product the ‘r1’.

So what’s the company and how does this AI device work?

Rabbit is an AI hardware startup founded by Jesse Lyu.

Jesse is super impressive having previously founded ‘Raven Tech’, a Y combinator and Microsoft backed startup that created an AI voice assistant app called Flow. 

The startup raised over $30M before being acquired by Baidu for an undisclosed amount.

Rabbit is building the simplest “computer companion” that's so intuitive you don’t need to learn how to use it.

Our mobile devices have existed for years but there’s one small problem with them: They’re too complicated.

There’s a different app for every functionality. You can't buy groceries, check the weather and order an Uber on the same app.

This has made the smartphone the best device to kill time instead of saving it because of it’s focus on entertainment. Rabbit plans to change that.

They do this through breaking away from an app-based Operating system (what's used by smartphones today). They use natural language models instead.

Rabbit created the “Large Action Model” (LAM), a model which understands a human's intention and acts on it. For example, you can connect your account on Uber and book a ride with human language.

Rabbit created their own ‘rabbit OS’, which has an LAM packed into it. They’ve paired this with their own device: the Rabbit r1.

The Rabbit r1 is a “pocket companion” thats equipped with everything you need to interact with you and perceive your surroundings - made in collaboration with Teenage Engineering. Its equipped with:

• Touch screen

• Push-to-talk button

• Analog scroll wheel

• A usb-c and sim card slot

• Microphone and Speakers

• 360° rotational camera

• Bluetooth and wi-fi

To use it you simply push the push-to-talk button and speak as if you’re talking to a friend. You can also just shake it for a keyboard to pop up if you want to type.

It also comes with a real-time built in translator and note-taker to remove communication barriers.

The rabbit OS makes this device 10x faster than other AI voice assistants.

Rabbit just raised a $28.7M venture round led by Khosla Ventures and Synergis Capital, bringing their total raised to $64M+.

The rabbit r1 is super affordable at $199, making it cheaper than most AI voice assistants and smartphones. You can pre-order the rabbit r1 now here:

https://www.rabbit.tech/rabbit-r1

Last month, Rabbit announced that they’ve already sold 100,000 units at pre-order. Shipping will start on March 31st.