After securing $10 million in funding for its Series A round, rabbit inc., an AI startup focused on revolutionizing the human-machine interface, is poised to launch its first AI hardware aimed at replacing traditional app-based operating systems. The latest investment, led by existing investor Khosla Ventures, brings rabbit’s total funding to $30 million to support the development of its proprietary foundation model called Large Action Model (LAM) and the upcoming device powered by LAM.
With the additional funds, rabbit plans to expand its team and accelerate the development of its standalone hardware known as r1, which will run on rabbit OS, an operating system built on the LAM foundation model. rabbit OS is designed to offer a significantly improved way for humans to interact with technology and accomplish tasks more efficiently than ever before. The r1 device and rabbit OS are set to be officially unveiled on January 9, 2024, during an online launch event coinciding with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2024) in Las Vegas.
Jesse Lyu, Founder and CEO of rabbit, expressed his excitement about creating more intuitive tools for users, stating, The current app-based operating system has always been disjointed and cumbersome. The Large Action Model is the missing piece that will bring about a vastly improved way for humans to interact with technology and get things done faster than ever before.
Differentiating itself from Large Language Model-based programs like ChatGPT, rabbit’s LAM not only understands but also acts upon human intentions. It can accomplish various tasks without the need for custom integrations, such as Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). LAM is focusing on empowering consumer applications, allowing users to complete tasks like ticket booking and grocery ordering seamlessly, just as humans would do.
Lyu explained the concept further, stating, Our operating system, rabbit OS, powered by LAM, understands your intentions, automatically conducts research, operates various computer apps through interfaces, compiles and presents information, and ultimately accomplishes tasks for you.
To fully utilize the capabilities of LAM, rabbit has developed a groundbreaking mobile device called r1, which operates on rabbit OS. This unique device eliminates the need for users to navigate multiple apps, as the LAM-powered AI takes over the app operations seamlessly. The industrial design of r1 is a collaboration between rabbit and renowned Swedish company Teenage Engineering, known for its innovative synthesizers and audio equipment.
Furthermore, rabbit OS streamlines the user experience by performing tasks without requiring users to create new accounts or pay for additional subscriptions, providing a safe and secure means of accomplishing more.
Alexander Liao, rabbit’s CTO and former Carnegie Mellon researcher specializing in machine learning, highlighted the groundbreaking nature of LAM, stating, Our technologies have enabled us to intelligently analyze information and take actions across multiple isolated apps in response to a natural language request, a feat that is rarely possible in existing operating systems.
Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, expressed his enthusiasm for rabbit’s vision, predicting a future in which billions of AI agents work on behalf of humans. He said, The rabbit team is bringing powerful new consumer experiences for every human to have an agent in their pocket.
Based in Los Angeles, rabbit was founded by a group of accomplished Kaggle Grandmasters, former Google engineers, and experienced entrepreneurs well-versed in AI hardware development and high-performance computing clusters. Jesse Lyu, rabbit’s CEO, previously founded Raven Tech, a conversational AI operating system startup that was acquired by Baidu.
To learn more about rabbit and its revolutionary Large Action Model (LAM), visit their website or follow their official account on social media platform X. The virtual launch event for the rabbit r1 device will occur on January 9, 2024. Interested parties can register for the event at rabbit’s website.
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