Rabbit R1 update boosts battery life

It doesn't make the device do more things yet, though.
By Alex Perry  on 
Rabbit R1 in hand
Now with better battery life, allegedly. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon/Mashable

The Rabbit R1 may not be able to do much of anything useful right now, but at least it should stay alive longer thanks to a new software update.

The pocketable AI-powered handheld assistant device, which made waves at CES earlier this year, was apparently having trouble holding onto battery charges once it got into people's hands in April. According to an X post from the parent company, however, the new update (which downloads as soon as the device is powered on and connected to WiFi) should extend battery life by as much as "5x."

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The other patch notes are fun, too. For instance, the device will now put you in the right time zone based on GPS. Bluetooth connectivity and music playback have both been improved, as well.

This update alone is unlikely to sway any skeptics towards the Rabbit R1, which costs $200 and still can't browse the web or communicate with friends in any meaningful way. But for those who are swept up by the concept of a handheld assistant that handles basic everyday tasks through AI, the R1 just got a little bit better.


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