THE NEWS

🐇 Will this new AI device cure our phone addiction?

Rabbit Inc., a new name in the AI industry, is trying to shake things up. They argue that phones have become more about mindless entertainment and killing time than saving it. Enter their new gadget, the r1.

This device is a bold step away from our app-obsessed phone culture.

Imagine a compact device that's all about conversation. Just press a button and start talking. It can handle everyday tasks like ordering pizza or booking an Uber. Plus, you get facts on pretty much anything.

It's got a screen too – take that, Humane’s AI Pin! So, you can actually see your Uber is confirmed and on its way.

The r1 doesn't stop there. It sends emails, edits documents, and applies logic – anything you would expect Alexa and Siri to do at this point.

One cool feature is that you can point its camera at something and ask a question. E.g., 'What can I cook from the leftovers in my fridge?' And you get a recipe on the screen as an answer.

The demo's highlight was undoubtedly the 'Teach Mode', a feature set to roll out later this year. This mode allows users to teach the AI new tasks it wasn't originally programmed to do. For example, in the demo, they showed the AI learning to use the Midjourney bot for image creation. If this function performs as promised, we're looking at a device that's not just cool but incredibly versatile.

All this for just $199. Remember though, you'll need a SIM and a data plan for full mobility.

So, is this an alternative to our phone?

I'm eagerly awaiting the day when I can switch from my phone to a less distracting alternative that still handles all the essential tasks. However, I'm not convinced that this device is the one.

Calls, messages, taking and storing pictures, and navigation are functions that I really don’t want to live without these days. If the r1 could handle these, I'd seriously think about ditching my phone. Otherwise, it's just another item filling up my pockets.

The r1’s features might outshine Siri and Alexa today, but don’t be surprised if Apple and Google catch up soon, maybe even before the r1 hits the market around Easter.

It's also hard to believe the price. The Rabbit comes with no subscription fee, and using ChatGPT costs money. It's not that hard to rack up a bill higher than the price of the device. How Rabbit plans to stay profitable with those hefty bills down the line is a mystery.

We'll have a better idea once the r1 is out in the wild.

For now, it doesn't seem like a game-changer, but it's a step in an interesting direction.

ONE MORE THING

ChatGPT will learn and adapt to your style

An image started spreading on X about ChatGPT possibly getting a memory boost. OpenAI hasn't given the official word yet, but I'm kinda excited about it. I've been using ChatGPT to grammar-check this newsletter. My usual move is to paste the text and ask it to 'check grammar.' Sometimes, it's spot on, pointing out errors like a pro. But other times, it goes off on its own and totally rewrites stuff, even when I'm like, 'Hey, just show me the mistakes, okay?' If this upgrade is legit, it might just fix this whole flip-flop issue.

Also, there's chatter about something called 'Temporary Chats.' Sounds like these chats will be the equivalent of private browsing windows. ChatGPT won’t remember them.

⌚ If You Have One More Minute

• 🚗 Volkswagen integrates ChatGPT into its vehicles

•  🔊 Meta’s Audiobox AI now lets you create sounds with your own voice

•  💼 Google faces $1.67 billion lawsuit for AI-related patent

• 🎧 McAfee announced an AI-powered Deepfake Audio Detection tool

AI Art of the Day 🎨

The amount of work and images it takes to generate a really good one. Crafting great images is still hard work, even in this AI-boosted world we live in; it's just a different type of hard work than it used to be

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That's all for today, folks!

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