Can AI Replace Your Smartphone? Testing the Humane AI Pin & Rabbit R1

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Smartphones have been our digital lifelines for over a decade. But what if the future isn't about bigger screens or faster chips — what if it's about ditching the phone entirely? Enter two ambitious contenders: the Humane AI Pin and Rabbit R1. Both promise a radical rethinking of how we interact with technology, using voice, AI, and minimal interfaces. But can they really replace your smartphone?

Meet the Contenders

📌 Humane AI Pin

Humane’s AI Pin is a screenless wearable assistant designed to clip onto your clothing. It uses voice commands, a built-in projector, gesture control, and a blend of AI models to do what your smartphone does — but without ever needing to take out a device. Humane wants you to "live in the moment" while your AI handles tasks in the background.

🐇 Rabbit R1

Rabbit R1, on the other hand, looks more like a tiny retro gadget with a physical scroll wheel and small touchscreen. It runs on a proprietary “Large Action Model” (LAM), an AI that learns how apps work through demonstration, letting it handle everything from booking a ride to editing a playlist — without needing those apps installed.

Features Face-Off

FeatureHumane AI PinRabbit R1
InterfaceVoice, gestures, laser projectionTouchscreen, scroll wheel, voice
AI ModelOpenAI GPT, custom integrationsCustom LAM (Large Action Model)
Input MethodVoice-first, gestureVoice + tactile interface
App CompatibilityNo apps — AI connects servicesNo apps — AI replicates app tasks
ConnectivityeSIM, always-on cloud-based assistantWi-Fi, mobile hotspot tethering
Camera13MP with computer vision8MP with object recognition
Battery LifeAll-day use (claimed)1–2 days depending on usage

What Works (And What Doesn’t)

✅ What They Do Well

  • Quick Tasks: Need to send a text, check the weather, or make a call? Both devices can handle it instantly via voice.

  • AI-Powered Actions: Rabbit R1 shines when you ask it to book travel or navigate a UI-heavy service — it mimics your app behavior without ever opening an app.

  • Minimal Distractions: With no notifications popping up every second, you genuinely spend less time staring at screens.

❌ What’s Still Awkward

  • No Browsing or Social Media: If your life revolves around scrolling Instagram, TikTok, or Reddit, these aren’t replacements yet.

  • Voice Isn't Always Ideal: Loud environments or privacy concerns make voice commands clunky or unusable.

  • Learning Curve: You’ll need to unlearn habits, especially if you’re used to multitasking between apps or managing multiple ongoing conversations.

Real-World Testing: A Day Without My Smartphone

To put these devices to the test, I ditched my phone for a day and used the AI Pin in the morning and Rabbit R1 in the evening.

  • Morning with Humane AI Pin: I asked it to summarize emails, give me directions (projected onto my palm), and even translate a quick phrase. Cool? Absolutely. But it struggled with follow-up questions or when I spoke too quickly.

  • Evening with Rabbit R1: I used it to order food, play music, and ask it to send a calendar invite — all without touching any apps. The scroll wheel felt nostalgic, and voice recognition was impressively accurate.

Verdict? For light use, they’re functional. For heavy lifting (editing videos, banking, social networking), it’s not quite ready to cut the smartphone cord.

The Verdict: Hype or the Future?

The Humane AI Pin and Rabbit R1 show a compelling glimpse into a post-smartphone future. They emphasize context-aware assistance, minimal design, and personalized AI experiences. But as of now, they’re great companions, not complete replacements.

Still, this is just the beginning. Much like how smartphones started off clunky before transforming our lives, these AI devices may well be the seeds of something bigger — a future where your AI knows you better than your apps do.

TL;DR

  • Humane AI Pin and Rabbit R1 are early stabs at replacing smartphones with AI-powered wearables.

  • They handle basic tasks well and reduce screen time.

  • Not ideal yet for browsing, social media, or app-heavy tasks.

  • They’re not replacements yet, but they just might be the prototypes of our post-smartphone future.

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