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

iFixit
1 May 202404:44

TLDRIn this iFixit HQ video, the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin, two poorly reviewed yet intriguing devices, are put through a teardown. The Rabbit R1 is a Large Action Model (LAM) designed to complement smartphones with a unique, characterful screen and a motorized interior, but suffers from a small battery. The Humane AI Pin, resembling a Star Trek communicator, is a Large Language Model (LLM) aiming to replace smartphones, featuring a sleek design with advanced tech inside but also a difficult-to-replace battery. Both devices have batteries that are hard to access, which is problematic considering the high number of charge cycles they will likely go through. The video ponders whether these gadgets should have been apps instead, hinting at potential restrictions in app stores as a reason for their physical form.

Takeaways

  • 📱 The Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin are poorly reviewed but interesting devices, potentially offering a glimpse into the future of daily AI use.
  • 🤖 Rabbit R1 is a Large Action Model (LAM) designed to complement smartphones, while the Humane AI Pin is a Large Language Model (LLM) meant to replace them.
  • 🔍 The Rabbit R1 has a unique design with a chunky screen and character, resembling a steampunk gadget on the inside.
  • 🔋 Both devices have batteries that are difficult to access, which could be problematic given the expected high usage and battery life cycles.
  • 🛠️ The Rabbit R1's battery is glued to the backplate with a capacity of 3.85 Wh, which is insufficient for its intended use.
  • 🔩 The devices' components, including cameras, motors, and speakers, are generally accessible for repair but require careful disassembly.
  • 🔗 The Humane AI Pin has a sleek design, reminiscent of a Star Trek communicator, with a surprising amount of tech packed inside its small form factor.
  • 📡 Both the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin rely on cloud-based processing for their Large Models, not housing them on the device itself.
  • 💬 The Humane AI Pin's teardown revealed fun messages but lacked consideration for easy battery replacement.
  • 🔋 The external battery pack for the Humane AI Pin is small, at 1.79 Wh, and also difficult to remove.
  • ❓ The script questions whether these devices should exist as standalone gadgets or simply be an app, suggesting restrictions in app stores may have influenced their development.

Q & A

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

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

  • What is the Rabbit R1 designed to do?

    -The Rabbit R1 is designed to be an AI assistant that complements your smartphone, featuring a chunky screen with character.

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

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

  • What is the main issue with the Rabbit R1's battery?

    -The main issue with the Rabbit R1's battery is that it 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.

  • How is the internal design of the Rabbit R1 described?

    -The internal design of the Rabbit R1 is described as charming, with an oversized motor and gears that give it a steampunk aesthetic.

  • 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.

  • What is the main challenge with the repairability of both devices?

    -The main challenge with the repairability of both devices is that the batteries are difficult to remove, being hidden behind thoroughly glued-down panels.

  • Why is the difficulty in accessing the battery of these devices considered perplexing?

    -It is perplexing because a lithium-based battery is generally good for about 400 cycles, and with these devices, you would likely go through many cycles in a short amount of time, making easy battery replacement important.

  • What is the comparison made between these AI devices and a common work scenario?

    -The comparison made is that these devices are the AI equivalent of 'this meeting should have been an email,' suggesting that they might be unnecessary or less efficient than a simpler solution like an app.

  • What is the potential reason suggested for why these devices couldn't be an app?

    -The potential reason suggested is that it might have more to do with the restrictions on Apple and Android app stores than anything else.

  • What is the purpose of the press connectors found in both devices?

    -The press connectors are used to secure various components such as the camera and motor assembly, the speaker, and the haptic motor in the Rabbit R1, and the wireless charging coil, speaker and microphone assembly, laser projector, camera, and sensor assembly in the Humane AI Pin.

  • How does the Rabbit R1's mainboard relate to the device's functionality?

    -The mainboard houses the processing power to run the device but does not contain the Large Action Model itself, which lives in the cloud.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Introduction to the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin

The video begins with a discussion of two poorly reviewed yet intriguing gadgets, the Rabbit R1 and the Humane AI Pin. These devices are considered from both a design perspective and their potential to reflect future AI integration. 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 video aims to explore the hardware of these devices and their repairability. The Rabbit R1 is characterized by its chunky screen and steampunk-like interior with oversized motor and gears, while the Humane AI Pin has a sleek design reminiscent of a Star Trek communicator. The video poses the question of whether these devices are worth the investment and if they could have been simply an app on a phone.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Rabbit R1

The Rabbit R1 is a Large Action Model (LAM) designed to be an AI assistant that complements your smartphone. It is characterized by its chunky screen and is reminiscent of a steampunk gadget with its oversized motor and gears. The device is designed to be a new category of device that interacts with users in a more physical and characterful way than a typical smartphone app.

💡Humane AI Pin

The Humane AI Pin is a Large Language Model (LLM) AI device intended to replace your smartphone. It is sleek and small, designed to be reminiscent of a Star Trek communicator. The device is packed with technology and aims to provide a different approach to AI interaction by being a standalone device rather than an app on a smartphone.

💡Large Action Model (LAM)

A Large Action Model (LAM) is a type of device that is designed to have a significant physical presence and interact with users in a more tangible way. In the context of the video, the Rabbit R1 is an example of a LAM, which is meant to enhance the user experience by providing a more interactive and characterful interface than a typical smartphone.

💡Large Language Model (LLM)

A Large Language Model (LLM) refers to an AI system that is designed to process and understand human language at a large scale. The Humane AI Pin utilizes an LLM to function as an AI device capable of replacing the need for a smartphone, indicating a shift towards more advanced and conversational AI interfaces.

💡iFixit

iFixit is a well-known online community that provides free repair guides for electronic devices. In the video, iFixit is the organization conducting the teardown of the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin to analyze their hardware and assess their repairability, which is a common practice to understand the construction and potential longevity of consumer electronics.

💡Repairability

Repairability refers to how easy it is to fix or repair a device. In the context of the video, the repairability of the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin is evaluated by the iFixit team. They look at the accessibility of components, the use of glue or other non-removable fasteners, and the overall design to determine how user-friendly the repair process would be.

💡Battery Capacity

Battery capacity is a measure of the amount of electrical energy that a battery can store. It is typically measured in watt-hours (Wh). In the video, the battery capacities of both the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin are mentioned as being relatively small (3.85 Wh and 1.1 Wh, respectively), which suggests that they may not last long on a single charge and could be a limiting factor for their utility.

💡Screws and Connectors

Screws and connectors are mechanical fasteners and electronic components used in the assembly of electronic devices. The script describes the process of removing screws and connectors to access the internal components of the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin. These are crucial for disassembly and repair, and their design can affect the ease of repairability.

💡Haptic Motor

A haptic motor is a device that produces tactile feedback, allowing users to feel vibrations or other sensations through the device. In the video, the haptic motor in the Rabbit R1 is mentioned as being glued against the front half of the case, indicating its role in providing physical feedback to the user.

💡Rotary Encoder

A rotary encoder is an electronic component that converts the rotation of a shaft or wheel into digital signals. In the context of the Rabbit R1, the rotary encoder is part of the input wheel, allowing users to interact with the device through physical rotation, which is then translated into commands or inputs.

💡Mainboard

The mainboard, also known as the motherboard, is the central printed circuit board (PCB) in electronic devices that houses and connects all other components. In the video, the mainboard of both devices is discussed as containing the processing power necessary for the device's operation, but not the AI models themselves, which are cloud-based.

Highlights

Two poorly reviewed gadgets, the Rabbit R1 and the Humane AI pin, are examined for their design and potential future AI applications.

The Rabbit R1 is an LAM (Large Action Model) designed to complement smartphones with an AI assistant.

The Humane AI Pin is an LLM (Large Language Model), aiming to replace smartphones with a sleek, Star Trek-like design.

The Rabbit R1 features a rear-entry design, with an interior resembling a steampunk gadget.

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

The camera and motor assembly of the Rabbit R1 is found to be easily accessible for repair.

A haptic motor is discovered in the Rabbit R1, glued against the front half of the case.

The Rabbit R1's rotary encoder (input wheel) is revealed to be a single metal shaft.

The mainboard of the Rabbit R1 houses processing power but not the LAM, which resides in the cloud.

The Humane AI Pin's design is reminiscent of an Apple Watch, with a high-tech interior despite its smaller size.

The Humane AI Pin's battery is difficult to remove, lacking a pull tab and requiring a pick for safe removal.

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

Wireless charging coil and its potential to cause overheating is discussed in the teardown.

The mainboard of the Humane AI Pin, like the Rabbit R1, runs the device but not the LLM in the cloud.

The external battery pack of the Humane AI Pin is small at 1.79 Wh and has a complex removal process.

Both devices have batteries that are hard to remove, which is problematic considering their expected high usage.

The devices' design suggests they could have been apps, possibly limited by restrictions in app stores rather than technical limitations.

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