The Rabbit R1 & Humane AI Pin Teardowns - Worst Devices Ever?

iFixit
1 May 202404:44

TLDRIn this iFixit HQ video, they dissect two poorly reviewed yet intriguing AI devices: the Rabbit R1 and the Humane AI Pin. The Rabbit R1, an AI assistant designed to complement smartphones, features a unique design with a large motor and gears, but has a small battery that limits its utility. The Humane AI Pin, resembling a Star Trek communicator, is an AI device aimed to replace smartphones, with a sleek design and more compact technology inside. Both devices have batteries that are difficult to replace due to being glued under panels, which is problematic considering the high number of charging cycles they would likely endure. The video questions the necessity of these devices as apps, suggesting that restrictions in app stores might have influenced their physical form.

Takeaways

  • 📱 The Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin are poorly reviewed devices, yet they are interesting from a design perspective and as a potential glimpse into future AI usage.
  • 🤖 Rabbit R1 is a Large Action Model (LAM) designed to complement smartphones, while the Humane AI Pin is a Large Language Model (LLM) intended to replace smartphones.
  • 🔍 The Rabbit R1 has a rear-entry design with no visible screws, and its interior features a large motor and gears, giving it a steampunk aesthetic.
  • 🔋 The Rabbit R1 has a slim battery of 3.85 Wh, which is insufficient for its intended use as an AI companion.
  • 🧱 The mainboard of the Rabbit R1 houses the processing power but does not contain the LAM, which resides in the cloud.
  • 🔧 The Humane AI Pin's design is reminiscent of a Star Trek communicator, with a sleek and small form factor.
  • 📡 The Humane AI Pin contains more technology in a smaller package than the Rabbit R1, including a battery pack with a capacity of under 1.1 Wh.
  • 🔩 Both devices have batteries that are difficult to remove due to being hidden behind glued-down panels, which is problematic considering the expected high usage cycles.
  • 💬 The Humane AI Pin leaves behind fun messages during the teardown, but fails to make the internal battery easily replaceable.
  • 🔥 The external battery pack of the Humane AI Pin measures a mere 1.79 Wh, and its removal requires some effort and the use of alcohol to loosen the adhesive.
  • 💭 The devices are compared to unnecessary meetings, suggesting that they should ideally be apps instead, possibly due to restrictions in app stores rather than technical limitations.

Q & A

  • What are the two devices being reviewed in the script?

    -The two devices being reviewed are the Rabbit R1, an LAM (Large Action Model) designed to complement a smartphone, and the Humane AI Pin, an LLM (Large Language Model) designed to replace a smartphone.

  • What is the main design philosophy behind the Rabbit R1?

    -The Rabbit R1 is designed to be an AI assistant with a chunky screen that has a lot of character, resembling a steampunk gadget with its oversized motor and gears.

  • How is the Humane AI Pin different in design from the Rabbit R1?

    -The Humane AI Pin is sleek and small, designed to be reminiscent of a Star Trek communicator, and it is an AI device intended to replace a smartphone.

  • What is the issue with the battery of the Rabbit R1?

    -The battery of the Rabbit R1 is glued to the backplate and has a slim capacity of 3.85 Wh, which is not sufficient for the device to be useful as an AI companion.

  • What is the mainboard's role in both the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin?

    -The mainboard in both devices houses the processing power to run the device, but it does not contain the Large Action Model or Large Language Model itself, which resides in the cloud.

  • How does the Rabbit R1's camera and motor assembly come out?

    -The camera and motor assembly in the Rabbit R1 is held in place by screws, which, once removed, allow for the assembly to be taken out.

  • What is the capacity of the internal battery pack in the Humane AI Pin?

    -The internal battery pack in the Humane AI Pin has a capacity of just under 1.1 Wh.

  • How is the external battery pack of the Humane AI Pin removed?

    -The external battery pack is accessed by prying away the top of the device, which reveals the connector to the wireless coil and two rows of magnets. After removing four screws and using alcohol to loosen the adhesive, the battery and the bottom plate can be removed.

  • What is perplexing about the battery design in both devices?

    -The batteries in both devices are difficult to reach, being hidden behind thoroughly glued-down panels. Considering that lithium-based batteries are generally good for about 400 cycles and these devices would likely go through many cycles in a short time, the difficulty in accessing the batteries for replacement is perplexing.

  • What is the critique regarding the necessity of these devices as physical entities rather than apps?

    -The critique is that both the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin seem to serve functions that could potentially be fulfilled by an app on a smartphone. The physical form of these devices may be unnecessary, and the reason they aren't apps could be due to restrictions in the Apple and Android app stores.

  • What is the purpose of the haptic motor in the Rabbit R1?

    -The haptic motor in the Rabbit R1 is glued against the front half of the case and is likely used to provide tactile feedback to the user.

  • How does the Rabbit R1's rotary encoder, or input wheel, come out?

    -The rotary encoder, or input wheel, on the Rabbit R1 is attached to a single metal shaft that slides out. Once the shaft is removed, the input wheel can be popped out with gentle persuasion.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Introduction to Poorly Reviewed AI Gadgets

The video begins with an introduction to two gadgets that have received poor reviews, the Rabbit R1 and the Humane AI Pin. Despite their reviews, the presenter expresses interest in their design and potential as indicators of future AI usage. The Rabbit R1 is described as a Large Action Model (LAM) AI assistant designed to work alongside smartphones, while the Humane AI Pin is a Large Language Model (LLM) device intended to replace smartphones. The presenter ponders which device is worth the investment and sets out to explore their hardware and repairability, starting with the Rabbit R1.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Rabbit R1

The Rabbit R1 is a Large Action Model (LAM) device designed to act as an AI assistant that complements a smartphone. It is characterized by its chunky screen and is reminiscent of a steampunk gadget with its oversized motor and gears. In the video, the Rabbit R1 is discussed in terms of its design, functionality, and the challenges it faces due to its battery size and the fact that its processing power is cloud-based.

💡Humane AI Pin

The Humane AI Pin is a Large Language Model (LLM) device intended to replace a smartphone. It is sleek, small, and designed to resemble a Star Trek communicator. The device is noted for its compact size and the high density of technology it contains, despite being smaller than the Rabbit R1. The video explores the device's internal components, its repairability, and the challenges associated with its internal battery.

💡AI Assistant

An AI assistant is an artificial intelligence system that performs tasks or services for users, often in the form of voice-activated digital assistants. In the context of the video, the Rabbit R1 is an example of an AI assistant designed to work alongside a smartphone, while the Humane AI Pin aims to replace the need for a smartphone entirely by incorporating AI capabilities.

💡Large Action Model (LAM)

A Large Action Model (LAM) is a term used in the video to describe the Rabbit R1, indicating that it is a device with significant physical presence and interactive capabilities. The LAM is designed to enhance the user experience by providing a more tangible interface for AI functionalities.

💡Large Language Model (LLM)

A Large Language Model (LLM) refers to a type of AI that is capable of understanding and generating human-like text based on vast amounts of data. The Humane AI Pin is described as an LLM, suggesting that it has advanced language processing capabilities and is designed to interact with users primarily through language.

💡Repairability

Repairability is the ease with which a device can be disassembled and repaired. The video discusses the repairability of both the Rabbit R1 and the Humane AI Pin, noting the challenges posed by glued-down panels and the difficulty in accessing and replacing the batteries in both devices.

💡Battery

The battery is a crucial component of electronic devices, providing power to operate. In the video, the batteries of both the Rabbit R1 and the Humane AI Pin are discussed as being difficult to access and replace, which is a significant concern for the repairability and longevity of the devices.

💡Star Trek Communicator

The Star Trek Communicator is a fictional device from the Star Trek universe used for communication over large distances. The Humane AI Pin is described as being reminiscent of a Star Trek Communicator, indicating its sleek design and futuristic appeal.

💡Mainboard

The mainboard, also known as the motherboard, is the primary printed circuit board in electronic devices that serves as the central hub for connecting all other components. In the video, the mainboard of both devices is mentioned as housing the processing power but not the AI models themselves, which are cloud-based.

💡Cloud

The cloud refers to remote servers on the internet used for data storage and processing. In the context of the video, the Large Action Model and Large Language Model of the devices operate in the cloud, meaning that the heavy data processing and AI functionalities are not stored on the device itself but accessed via the internet.

💡Cycles

In the context of batteries, a cycle is defined as a full charge and discharge of the battery's capacity. The video discusses the lifespan of lithium-based batteries, which is typically around 400 cycles, and the implications this has for the frequent charging and discharging that users of these devices are likely to experience.

Highlights

The Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin are two of the most poorly reviewed gadgets but offer insights into future AI usage.

The Rabbit R1 is an LAM designed to complement your smartphone with an AI assistant.

The Humane AI Pin is an LLM aiming to replace your smartphone with a sleek, small design.

The Rabbit R1 has a unique steampunk-like interior with oversized motor and gears.

The Rabbit R1's battery is small at 3.85 Wh, suggesting it needs a larger battery for practical use.

The camera and motor assembly of the Rabbit R1 are easily accessible for repair.

The haptic motor in the Rabbit R1 is glued to the case, indicating a potential repair challenge.

The mainboard of the Rabbit R1 houses processing power but the LAM operates in the cloud.

The Humane AI Pin resembles an Apple watch and packs more technology in a smaller form factor.

The internal battery pack of the Humane AI Pin has a capacity of just under 1.1 Wh.

The Humane AI Pin's mainboard, like the Rabbit R1, runs the hardware but the LLM is cloud-based.

The external battery pack of the Humane AI Pin measures 1.79 Wh and is difficult to remove.

Both devices have batteries that are hard to remove, hidden behind glued-down panels.

Lithium-based batteries last about 400 cycles, and these devices may see many cycles in a short time.

The difficulty in accessing the batteries for replacement is a significant design flaw.

Humane AI Pin left messages during the teardown but failed to make the battery easily replaceable.

The devices are compared to unnecessary meetings, suggesting they should ideally be apps.

The reason they are not apps might be due to restrictions in Apple and Android app stores.

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