The AI “answer engine” of Perplexity will provide real-time information to the Rabbit R1

CES 2024 standout, Rabbit, has just unveiled an exciting partnership with Perplexity, a move set to redefine the capabilities of their cutting-edge R1 device. This collaboration aims to seamlessly integrate a “conversational AI-powered answer engine” into the Teenage Engineering-designed R1, a $199 gadget that has already garnered an impressive 50,000 preorders.

What sets the R1 apart is its departure from traditional Language Models (LLMs) that are bound by a fixed knowledge cutoff. Instead, Rabbit and Perplexity are introducing a built-in search engine that promises users “live, up-to-date answers without any knowledge cutoff.”

Aravind Srinivas, co-founder of Perplexity, shared the exciting news during a live Spaces broadcast alongside Rabbit CEO Jesse Lyu. The collaboration not only introduces groundbreaking technology but also offers early adopters a special incentive. A free one-year subscription to Perplexity Pro will be given away with every Rabbit R1 purchase for the first 100,000 units. This subscription, which typically costs $20 per month, provides users with access to the latest Language Models, including the highly anticipated GPT-4.

Rabbit clarified in a post on X that Perplexity will operate discreetly in the background of the R1, collaborating with other leading LLMs whose identities have yet to be disclosed. This integration will be provided at no additional cost or subscription fee. The R1, featuring a 2.88-inch touchscreen, a scrolling navigation wheel, and a rotating camera, is positioned as a compact universal controller capable of a myriad of tasks. Its “Large Action Model” AI enables it to handle everything from messaging and music selection to online ordering.

Perplexity AI, on the other hand, represents a fusion of search capabilities with Language Models such as OpenAI’s GPT-3.5. Positioned to compete with industry giants like Google and Bing, Perplexity AI introduces a novel approach to information retrieval and interaction, setting the stage for a new era of AI-powered solutions.