In a recent interaction with Bloomberg, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expressed his admiration for the Rabbit R1 AI assistant, which was unveiled at CES 2024 in Las Vegas. Nadella compared the launch presentation of Rabbit R1 to Steve Jobs' iconic unveiling of the original iPhone in 2007.

Nadella commended the demo of the Rabbit R1 OS and device, stating that it was one of the most impressive presentations he had witnessed since the launch of the iPhone. He emphasized the importance of an agent-centric operating system interface and the potential breakthrough it could bring in terms of natural interaction and reducing cognitive load for users.

Rabbit R1, created by Santa Monica-based startup Rabbit, is an AI-powered device equipped with a 2.88-inch touchscreen display and powered by a MediaTek processor. Unlike other AI-based offerings that rely on large language models like OpenAI's GPT or Google's Gemini, Rabbit R1 is built on a "Large Action Model." This unique approach allows the device to understand and mimic users' intentions and behaviors within specific apps accurately and efficiently.

The vision behind Rabbit R1 is to address the frustration caused by the numerous apps with complex user experience designs that rarely communicate with each other. Rabbit founder and CEO, Jesse Lyu, stated that the goal is to create an intuitive app-free experience through the power of AI.

The Rabbit R1 AI assistant offers a wide range of functionalities, including playing music, ordering groceries, and sending messages. Its unique capabilities, combined with its user-friendly interface, have garnered attention within the tech community and caught the eye of Satya Nadella.

While it remains to be seen which devices will ultimately gain widespread acceptance, Nadella's endorsement of Rabbit R1 as a potentially groundbreaking innovation underscores the growing interest in natural, seamless interfaces that reduce the cognitive burden on users. The future of AI assistants like Rabbit R1 appears promising, and consumers can look forward to a more intuitive and connected user experience in the years to come.