The Rabbit R1 and the Humane Ai pin are two AI-focused devices that have garnered a lot of attention from tech enthusiasts. However, the critical reception from influencers and reviewers has been less than favorable. In fact, early access journalists tore apart the Humane Ai pin for its disappointing performance, with YouTuber MKBHD delivering a scathing critique that seemed to seal its fate. Similarly, the Rabbit R1 didn’t fare any better when it was released to members of the press and early adopters.
To understand why these AI gadgets have failed to impress consumers, iFixit decided to take a closer look at their internal components. In a new teardown video, they explored the insides of both devices, starting with the Rabbit R1. iFixit described the internals of the Rabbit R1 as “charming,” particularly highlighting its oversized motor that gives off a steampunk vibe.
During the teardown, iFixit made some notable observations about the Rabbit R1. They discovered that it has a 3.85 watt-hour battery, which reviewers had criticized for its poor battery life. However, after a battery update, the Rabbit R1’s power efficiency has improved. iFixit also pointed out that the scroll wheel is actually a single metal shaft that can easily be removed with tweezers. Additionally, they found that there are no on-device internals that run AI computations; instead, the Rabbit R1 relies on cloud-based processing, which raised questions about whether it could have simply been an app on a phone.
Next, iFixit turned their attention to the Humane Ai pin. They opened it up to reveal the projector that beams green virtual artifacts onto the user’s palm, as well as other sensors that power the AI device. Interestingly, iFixit noted that the internals of the Humane Ai pin bear a resemblance to the Apple Watch, which makes sense considering that Humane’s cofounders are former Apple employees. The backplate of the device also had an interesting inscription that read, “Made with … trust, truth + joy.” Additionally, iFixit discovered that the Humane Ai pin has a 1.1 watt-hour battery and speculated that its reported overheating issues could be related to its wireless-charging capability.
One common issue that iFixit found with both devices was the difficulty in accessing the battery. This posed a problem because lithium-based batteries typically only last for about 400 charge cycles, and users are likely to go through a lot of cycles quickly with these devices. The iFixit host expressed confusion over why Rabbit and Humane made it so challenging to replace the batteries.
In conclusion, iFixit argued that both the Rabbit R1 and the Humane Ai pin would have been better off as apps rather than standalone hardware. They suggested that perhaps Rabbit and Humane chose to go the hardware route to avoid the restrictions imposed by Google and the App Store. Regardless, it is clear that these AI gadgets have failed to deliver on their promises and have left consumers disappointed.