The AI hardware landscape just witnessed one of the most dramatic product transformations in recent tech history. Rabbit Inc., the California-based startup behind the controversial Rabbit R1 AI companion device, has released rabbitOS 2, a complete operating system overhaul that fundamentally reimagines what this orange pocket-sized gadget can do. After months of criticism following its initial launch, the company has delivered what many believed was impossible: a second chance that actually works.
When the Rabbit R1 first launched at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, it captured imaginations with its promise of app-free AI interaction and groundbreaking Large Action Model technology. But reality didn't match the hype. The device shipped with limited functionality, sluggish performance, and an interface that left early adopters frustrated. Tech reviewers across Silicon Valley and beyond weren't kind, with many questioning whether the $199 device offered anything a smartphone couldn't already do better.
Rabbit R1 / OS 2
Vibe code tools, games, or other experiences for r1 by talking to your device. use intern tasks to create your own or browse the gallery below for free.
But Rabbit didn't give up. Through more than 30 over-the-air updates over 16 months, the team systematically addressed every major complaint. And now, with rabbitOS 2, they've completely rebuilt the experience from the ground up.
If you're interested in other productivity-focused products utilizing AI, we recommend exploring our other articles on AI productivity.
The Complete Interface Transformation
The most immediately noticeable change in rabbitOS 2 is its entirely new visual language. Gone is the confusing original interface, replaced by what Rabbit calls a card-based design system inspired by a deck of playing cards. Each major function of the R1 now lives on its own colorful card that users can swipe through on the touchscreen or navigate using the device's signature scroll wheel.
This isn't just aesthetic window dressing. The card system fundamentally changes how users understand and access the R1's capabilities. Like flipping through a Rolodex, each card represents a distinct function: Magic Gallery for photos, Meeting Recorder for audio transcription, Rabbit Intern for complex AI tasks, and now Creations for building custom experiences.
The touchscreen has been transformed from a secondary display into a fully functional interface with gesture controls. Users in San Francisco, New York, and tech hubs across the United States have reported that the new interface feels more intuitive and responsive. Quick Settings now appear with familiar swipe gestures, offering instant access to volume, brightness, and camera functions, much like iOS or Android.
Jesse Lyu, Rabbit's founder and CEO based in Santa Monica, California, acknowledged the gap between vision and execution at launch. His candid admission during the rabbitOS 2 announcement resonated with the tech community: the company realized there was a significant disconnect between user expectations and what they initially delivered, so they made the decision to completely revamp everything.
Creations: The Revolutionary Vibe-Coding Feature
The headline feature of rabbitOS 2 is something Rabbit calls creations, and it represents a genuinely novel approach to software development. Powered by rabbit intern, the company's general-purpose AI agent released earlier in 2025, creations allows users to build custom tools, games, and experiences directly on their R1 through natural conversation.
Here's how it works: you describe what you want to create to your R1. Maybe it's a simple game, a productivity timer, a specialized calculator, or a custom information dashboard. The AI agent processes your description and, within minutes, generates a working creation that appears on your device ready to use. No coding knowledge required. No development environment. Just conversation.
This concept, which Rabbit describes as vibe-coding, democratizes software creation in a way that hasn't been seen before on a consumer device. Tech enthusiasts in London, Berlin, Sydney, and Singapore have begun exploring the possibilities, with early creations ranging from simple utilities to surprisingly complex applications.
introducing rabbitOS 2 + creations
Users can visit rabbit.tech/creations to browse a growing library of community-made creations and install them for free. The company envisions this evolving into a new form of app store, one where software is generated through natural language rather than traditional development.
According to Rabbit, the R1 is now the first device ever that empowers users to generate their own interface, voice profiles, and tools simply by talking. Combined with the existing magic interface and magic voice features, this completes Rabbit's vision of a truly conversational computing platform.
Enhanced AI Capabilities and User-Requested Features
Beyond the interface redesign and creations, rabbitOS 2 brings substantial improvements to core functionality based on direct user feedback from the R1 community.
Conversations with the device are now visible on screen in real-time, showing the flow of dialogue and AI responses. The system supports multi-modal interactions, meaning users can combine voice commands, text input, and camera images within the same query. This makes the R1 significantly more versatile for complex requests.
The rabbit intern agent, which serves as the R1's primary AI workforce, has expanded capabilities. It can now generate images directly on the device, handle web-based tasks more reliably, and supports follow-up interactions through the rabbithole web portal. Rabbithole, Rabbit's companion web interface where users can review their R1 activity, has been enhanced to show complete conversation transcripts, translation records, and creation development history.
Meeting recordings represent another major improvement. The R1 can now store recordings locally and work completely offline, a crucial feature for professionals in New York, San Francisco, and other business centers who use the device in meetings. Users can play back audio recordings directly on the R1 and access AI-generated summaries of their conversations.
Translation features have been upgraded with full transcript support. When using the R1's real-time translation capabilities, complete conversation transcripts now sync to your rabbithole journal, making it easier to reference important details from multilingual conversations.
Photo management received attention too. Users can now bulk export both magic camera processed photos and original images through rabbithole, addressing one of the most frequent feature requests from the photography-focused segment of the R1 community.
The Hardware Foundation
While rabbitOS 2 is entirely a software update, it's worth understanding the hardware it transforms. The Rabbit R1 was designed in collaboration with Teenage Engineering, the renowned Swedish design collective known for creating iconic, minimalist consumer electronics.
The device measures just 3 inches by 3 inches and weighs 115 grams, making it genuinely pocket-sized. Its most distinctive feature is its bright orange color, though the design philosophy emphasizes both form and function. The 2.88-inch touchscreen serves as the primary interface, complemented by an analog scroll wheel that provides tactile feedback for navigation.
An 8-megapixel rotating camera allows the R1 to capture photos and analyze the visual world. The camera's 360-degree rotation enables users to point it at anything in their environment for AI analysis, translation, or creative interpretation through the magic camera feature.
Inside, the R1 runs on a MediaTek processor with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. While these specs seem modest compared to flagship smartphones sold in California or Texas, they're adequate for the device's focused AI-centric tasks. The 1,000mAh battery initially struggled with longevity, but multiple software updates through 2024 and 2025 have dramatically improved battery management. Current users report getting through a full day with moderate use.
The device supports both WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, includes GPS for location-based services, and features dual microphones for voice interaction. Importantly, there's no subscription fee for basic functionality, a significant differentiator from some competing AI devices in the market.
The Journey from Launch to Redemption
To understand the significance of rabbitOS 2, you need to understand where the R1 started. When it launched in early 2024, the device generated enormous buzz. Pre-orders sold out multiple times, with batches shipping from March through July. The promise of a Large Action Model that could actually perform tasks, not just answer questions, captured the imagination of tech communities from Silicon Valley to Singapore.
But the reality at launch was harsh. The device felt incomplete, with many promised features missing or not working as advertised. Battery life was abysmal, with early units dying in as little as four hours. The interface was confusing, the response times were slow, and many users couldn't figure out what the device was actually good for. Major tech reviewers in New York and Los Angeles published scathing reviews. One prominent YouTube reviewer called it barely reviewable.
The backlash was intense. Comparisons to the similarly troubled Humane AI Pin were inevitable. Some accused Rabbit of shipping essentially an Android app in a custom hardware shell. Others questioned whether the company's previous involvement with cryptocurrency projects indicated questionable business practices.
But unlike many hardware startups that face criticism and retreat, Rabbit kept pushing forward. The company committed to a relentless update schedule, shipping fixes and features consistently. They listened to their community, a dedicated group of early adopters who saw potential beneath the problems. The Rabbit R1 subreddit became a hub for feature requests, bug reports, and creative uses that helped guide development.
By late 2024 and early 2025, the device had quietly become significantly better. Battery life improved dramatically. New features appeared regularly. The Large Action Model, while still imperfect, became more capable of handling complex requests. But the core interface remained problematic.
rabbitOS 2 represents the culmination of this journey. It's not just an update; it's a complete reimagining based on 16 months of real-world feedback from users across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and beyond.
How rabbitOS 2 Changes the Value Proposition
At launch, the Rabbit R1's value proposition was unclear. Yes, it was only $199, but so what? Your smartphone could do most of what it claimed to do, often better and faster. The device felt like a solution in search of a problem.
rabbitOS 2 fundamentally changes this calculation. The card-based interface makes the R1's capabilities immediately clear and accessible. The creations feature provides a genuinely novel capability: the ability to vibe-code custom software through conversation. This isn't something your iPhone or Android device can do, at least not in this form.
For tech enthusiasts in Cambridge, Montreal, or Melbourne who love to tinker and experiment, the R1 has become a platform for creative exploration. The ability to describe a tool and have AI generate it in minutes opens up possibilities that didn't exist before. It's not about replacing your smartphone; it's about having a dedicated AI companion that does things differently.
For professionals who need focused AI assistance without smartphone distractions, the R1 offers a voice-first experience optimized for quick queries, translations, and task execution. The meeting recording features have found fans in business districts across San Francisco, Chicago, and Toronto.
For language learners and international travelers, the enhanced translation capabilities combined with transcript generation make the R1 genuinely useful for navigating multilingual environments.
The device still has limitations. Battery life, while improved, remains a concern for heavy users. The Large Action Model, despite significant progress, doesn't always execute complex tasks reliably. The R1 complements rather than replaces your primary device. But at $199 with no subscription fees, it no longer needs to replace your smartphone to justify its existence.
The Competitive Landscape in 2025
The AI hardware space has become increasingly crowded throughout 2024 and 2025. OpenAI has hinted at developing AI-powered devices. Samsung showcased Galaxy XR concepts. Numerous startups from California to London are attempting to create the definitive AI companion.
In this context, Rabbit has found a unique position. While others chase the replacement smartphone concept, Rabbit has embraced being a companion device. The focus on vibe-coding and user-generated experiences through creations differentiates the R1 from voice-first competitors.
The comparison to the Humane AI Pin remains relevant, but the trajectories have diverged. Where Humane struggled to iterate and improve, Rabbit has shown remarkable commitment to evolution. The 30+ updates over 16 months demonstrate a company willing to adapt based on reality, not just their original vision.
Compared to using AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, or Google Assistant on smartphones, the R1 offers a more focused, distraction-free experience. You're not tempted by notifications, apps, or infinite scrolling. You ask, it answers or acts, and you move on. For some users, particularly in productivity-focused tech communities in Austin, Seattle, and Boston, this simplicity has value.
The Technology Behind the Transformation
rabbitOS 2 runs on a heavily customized version of Android 13, though Rabbit emphasizes that it's far from a standard Android implementation. The Large Action Model at the heart of the system represents a different approach to AI than traditional Large Language Models.
Where LLMs like GPT or Claude focus on understanding and generating text, LAMs are designed to understand user interfaces and perform actions. The system can theoretically interact with websites and applications the way a human would, clicking buttons, filling forms, and navigating menus. While this capability remains imperfect, it's improved substantially since launch.
The rabbit intern agent that powers creations represents the latest evolution of this technology. It can generate functional code based on natural language descriptions, debug issues through conversation, and deploy working applications directly to the R1. This is powered by partnerships with leading AI companies, including integration with Perplexity AI for search capabilities.
The cloud architecture that supports rabbitOS 2 gives each user a dedicated, isolated environment for their LAM interactions. According to Rabbit's privacy documentation, login credentials for connected services are stored securely and the company doesn't track user activity beyond what's necessary for functionality. This privacy-conscious approach has resonated with security-aware users in the tech community.
Real-World Reception and Community Response
The response to rabbitOS 2 from early adopters has been dramatically different from the launch reception. Tech forums from Reddit to specialized AI communities have noted the transformation. Users who had relegated their R1 devices to desk drawers are pulling them out again.
The vibe-coding aspect of creations has particularly captured imaginations. Community members are sharing their generated apps, creating tutorials, and experimenting with the boundaries of what's possible. The Rabbit R1 subreddit, once filled with complaints and frustration, now features creative projects and problem-solving discussions.
Professional reviewers who gave harsh assessments at launch have begun revisiting the device. Several have acknowledged that rabbitOS 2 delivers something much closer to the original promise. While still noting limitations, the consensus has shifted from this doesn't work to this is interesting and useful for specific use cases.
The device has found particular traction among specific user groups. Language enthusiasts appreciate the translation capabilities. Tech tinkerers love the creations platform. Productivity-focused professionals value the meeting recording and AI summarization features. Content creators use the magic camera for quick creative shots.
Availability and Pricing Strategy
Rabbit is leveraging the rabbitOS 2 launch to attract new users while satisfying existing owners. The R1 remains priced at $199, with no subscription fees required for core functionality. This positions it as an accessible entry point into dedicated AI hardware, particularly for users in the United States, Canada, and other supported markets.
To celebrate the rabbitOS 2 launch, Rabbit offered free global shipping on all new orders through the end of September 2025. The device is available directly from rabbit.tech, as well as through major retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for customers in the United States. International availability has expanded, with retail presence in select locations across the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Singapore.
For existing R1 owners, rabbitOS 2 is a free update that rolls out automatically. This commitment to supporting early adopters, even those who purchased during the troubled launch period, has helped rebuild trust with the community.
What This Means for the Future of AI Devices
The Rabbit R1's transformation through rabbitOS 2 tells us something important about the future of AI hardware. First, it demonstrates that software truly is the soul of these devices. The same hardware that disappointed at launch became compelling with the right software foundation.
Second, it shows that the market for AI devices may not be about replacement but augmentation. The R1 doesn't need to replace your iPhone or Samsung Galaxy. It offers a complementary experience, a focused tool for specific interactions where voice-first, distraction-free AI assistance adds value.
Third, the vibe-coding concept suggests a future where software creation becomes radically more accessible. If AI can generate working applications from conversational descriptions, the barrier between users and developers begins to dissolve. This democratization of software creation could have far-reaching implications beyond the R1.
Fourth, the iterative improvement model matters. Rabbit's willingness to ship, listen, adapt, and rebuild demonstrates a product development approach that may be necessary for AI hardware to succeed. The technology is evolving too rapidly for any company to get everything right at launch.
The Broader Context: AI Hardware in America and Beyond
The development of rabbitOS 2 and the R1's evolution reflects broader trends in AI development across the United States and internationally. Silicon Valley remains the epicenter of AI innovation, with companies from San Francisco to Mountain View pushing the boundaries of what's possible. But AI development has become increasingly distributed, with significant research and product development happening in Seattle, Boston, New York, and tech hubs across Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Singapore.
The Large Action Model approach that Rabbit pioneered has influenced thinking at larger tech companies. The concept of AI that can actually perform tasks, not just answer questions, has become a focal point for AI research at institutions like MIT, Stanford, and leading AI labs across California and Massachusetts.
The device's journey also reflects changing attitudes toward AI gadgets. The initial hype cycle around standalone AI devices has given way to more measured expectations. Products need to prove their value through real-world utility, not just impressive demos. rabbitOS 2 represents Rabbit's successful navigation of this shift.
Technical Deep Dive: How Creations Actually Works
For developers and tech enthusiasts wondering how the creations feature actually functions, the system relies on several sophisticated components working together. The rabbit intern agent uses advanced natural language processing to understand user descriptions of desired functionality. It then generates code, typically in Python or JavaScript, that implements the described features.
The generated code runs within a sandboxed environment on the R1, providing security while allowing flexibility. The system can access certain device APIs for display, input, and basic functionality, but maintains isolation to prevent malicious or buggy creations from affecting core device operation.
When users describe a creation, rabbit intern engages in a conversational refinement process. It asks clarifying questions, presents options, and iterates based on feedback. This conversational debugging represents a novel approach to software development, one that could scale beyond the R1 to other development contexts.
The creations library that's emerging on rabbit.tech provides a fascinating glimpse into collective intelligence. Users share their generated applications, others remix and improve them, and the community collectively pushes the boundaries of what's possible. This social aspect transforms creation from an individual activity into a collaborative exploration.
Privacy and Security Considerations
As with any AI device that connects to external services, privacy and security remain important considerations for the R1. Rabbit has emphasized its privacy-conscious approach, stating that the company doesn't store user credentials and doesn't track activity beyond what's necessary for functionality.
Each user receives a dedicated, isolated cloud environment for their Large Action Model interactions. This architecture prevents cross-contamination between users and provides a layer of security for sensitive operations. However, users still need to trust Rabbit's infrastructure and practices, a concern that security-conscious users in the tech community continue to monitor.
The creations feature introduces additional security considerations. User-generated code, even when sandboxed, represents potential attack vectors. Rabbit has implemented code review processes for creations that enter the public library, but the security model will need to evolve as the ecosystem grows.
For users in enterprise environments or handling sensitive information, these security considerations remain relevant. The R1 is best suited for personal use and general tasks rather than handling classified or highly confidential information.
Who Should Buy the Rabbit R1 in 2025
With rabbitOS 2, the Rabbit R1 has finally found its audience. It's not for everyone, but for specific user types, it offers genuine value.
Tech enthusiasts and early adopters who love experimenting with new technology will find the creations platform endlessly engaging. The ability to vibe-code applications and explore the boundaries of conversational software development provides hours of creative exploration.
Professionals seeking a focused AI assistant without smartphone distractions can benefit from the R1's voice-first design and productivity features. Meeting transcription, quick queries, and task automation work well for users in business environments across San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and other major cities.
Language learners and international travelers will appreciate the enhanced translation capabilities with transcript generation. The device's compact size makes it ideal for quick translations without pulling out a smartphone.
Content creators looking for creative tools will find value in the magic camera feature, which transforms ordinary photos into artistic interpretations using AI. Combined with the ability to create custom image generation tools through creations, it's a playground for visual experimentation.
However, the R1 still isn't for mainstream users who want a polished, fully-featured replacement for their smartphone. It remains a companion device, a specialized tool for specific use cases. Users expecting the reliability and ecosystem of an iPhone or high-end Android device will likely be disappointed.
The Rabbit R2 Question
With rabbitOS 2 successfully rehabilitating the R1, attention naturally turns to what comes next. Rabbit has teased that a follow-up device is in development, potentially arriving in 2026. The company's improved reputation and proven ability to iterate based on feedback make a Rabbit R2 significantly more credible than it would have been a year ago.
What might an R2 look like? Based on community feedback and current limitations, improvements might include better battery life, a larger or higher-resolution display, enhanced processing power, and potentially cellular connectivity built-in rather than requiring a separate SIM card.
But perhaps more importantly, an R2 would benefit from everything Rabbit learned through the R1's journey. The company now understands what users actually want from an AI companion device. They've proven they can deliver substantive software improvements. An R2 built on this foundation could be genuinely compelling from day one.
Lessons for the AI Hardware Industry
The Rabbit R1's transformation offers valuable lessons for the broader AI hardware industry. First, managing expectations at launch is crucial. Overpromising and underdelivering creates negative momentum that's difficult to overcome, even with substantive improvements.
Second, commitment to iteration matters more than getting everything right initially. The AI landscape evolves too rapidly for any product to be perfect at launch. Companies need to ship, learn, and improve continuously. Rabbit's 30+ updates demonstrate this approach in action.
Third, finding your niche is more valuable than trying to be everything to everyone. The R1 stopped trying to replace smartphones and instead embraced being a focused AI companion. This clarity of purpose makes the value proposition clearer.
Fourth, community matters. The dedicated R1 user community provided valuable feedback, creative ideas, and word-of-mouth promotion. Nurturing this community proved essential to the device's recovery.
Fifth, novel capabilities, like vibe-coding through creations, can differentiate products in crowded markets. Giving users tools to create and customize their experience builds engagement and loyalty.
The Verdict: Has Rabbit Delivered?
So has Rabbit Inc., this California startup that stumbled so publicly at launch, finally delivered on their original vision? The answer is nuanced but ultimately positive.
rabbitOS 2 doesn't make the R1 perfect. Battery life remains a limitation. The Large Action Model still doesn't always execute complex tasks reliably. The device complements rather than replaces your smartphone. These limitations are real and worth acknowledging.
But rabbitOS 2 does deliver on the core promise: a genuinely different way to interact with AI technology. The card-based interface makes the device approachable and understandable. The creations feature provides novel functionality that's genuinely exciting to explore. The accumulated improvements across meeting recording, translation, photo management, and core AI capabilities make the R1 substantially more useful than at launch.
For $199 with no subscription fees, the Rabbit R1 with rabbitOS 2 represents interesting value for the right user. It's not mass-market ready, but it doesn't need to be. It's carved out a niche as a tinkerer's device, a focused AI companion, and a platform for creative exploration.
The transformation from launch disaster to genuinely interesting product is remarkable. It demonstrates that with commitment, community engagement, and willingness to fundamentally rebuild when necessary, hardware companies can recover from difficult launches.
Looking Forward: The AI Companion Future
The success of rabbitOS 2 suggests that the future of AI companions might look different from initial predictions. Rather than devices that replace smartphones, we may see an ecosystem of specialized AI gadgets that complement our primary devices. Each focused on specific use cases where their unique form factor, interface, or capabilities provide genuine advantages.
The Rabbit R1 with rabbitOS 2 represents one successful implementation of this vision. A voice-first, distraction-free device for quick AI interactions. A platform for conversational software creation. A tool for language translation and meeting transcription. These focused capabilities don't replace general-purpose computing but augment it.
As AI technology continues advancing rapidly throughout 2025 and beyond, devices like the R1 will evolve with it. The Large Action Model will become more capable. The creations ecosystem will expand. New use cases will emerge that we haven't imagined yet.
For Rabbit Inc., the journey from CES 2024 hype through launch disappointment to rabbitOS 2 redemption has been dramatic. But they've emerged stronger, with a clearer vision, a dedicated community, and a product that finally delivers meaningful value. That's a remarkable achievement in the fast-moving, often unforgiving world of AI hardware.
Whether you're in San Francisco exploring the latest AI trends, in London following consumer tech innovation, in Singapore tracking AI adoption, or anywhere else in the global tech community, the Rabbit R1's transformation is worth watching. It tells us something important about resilience, iteration, and the future of how we'll interact with AI technology.
The rabbit hole, as it turns out, goes deeper than anyone initially expected. And with rabbitOS 2, it's finally worth jumping in.
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