The highly anticipated launch of the Rabbit R1, following the rocky release of the Humane Ai Pin, has left many consumers disappointed as initial reports indicate that the handheld device is currently lacking in features. Unveiled at CES earlier this year, the Rabbit R1 garnered significant attention for its unique proposition as an AI companion and smartphone hybrid.

With a compact 2.88-inch screen, the Rabbit R1 is not intended to compete with the larger displays typically found on smartphones. Its main focus lies in leveraging a "Large Language Model" developed by Rabbit to convert audio requests into actionable tasks. The model aimed to offer a seamless AI experience, with the R1 acting on behalf of users through the Rabbithole online portal for popular apps like Spotify and Uber.

However, it has come to light that at launch, the Rabbit R1 only supports four services: Spotify, Uber, DoorDash, and Midjourney. While this was not explicitly advertised by Rabbit, promotional material featured examples of ordering pizza and hailing rides, creating a sense of optimism among potential buyers.

Furthermore, the Rabbit R1's visual recognition capabilities, which intersect with the Humane Ai Pin, also appear to be limited. Equipped with a small 360-degree rotating camera, the R1 can currently only identify objects in its surroundings without the ability to save photos.

Despite these setbacks, the Rabbit R1 does offer an appealing interface and physical appearance. Early buyers who purchased the device are now starting to receive their units, while those purchasing it now will have to wait until June for delivery.

Looking ahead, Rabbit must address these initial shortcomings and expand upon the R1's limited features in order to solidify its position as a reliable AI companion. While the roadmap ahead may be long, there is potential for the R1 to evolve into a compelling device with the right improvements and additions.

In the meantime, consumers will keenly watch Rabbit's progress, hoping to see significant enhancements in the future iterations of the Rabbit R1.