Rabbit is moving its AI strategy beyond the orange R1 gadget. On September 22, 2026, the company released OS3, a cross-platform agent that can work through a browser, messaging services and connected computers without requiring users to own an R1.
The shift matters because Rabbit originally built its identity around dedicated AI hardware. OS3 instead puts the company’s assistant on devices people already use, while keeping the R1 as an optional voice interface.
OS3 can work across connected computers
Rabbit describes OS3 as an “agentic operating system,” although it is not a replacement for Windows, macOS or Linux. It is better understood as an AI workspace that can plan a task and then use approved files, tools and software on connected machines.
The company’s examples include sorting and renaming files, collecting research into a comparison or presentation, and starting work on a computer while the user is away from it. A task can continue after the browser tab is closed, and OS3 is designed to preserve relevant context between conversations.
Rabbit says the agent can decide which connected computer, file, application or AI model is appropriate for a request. Accounts can connect as many as five devices, according to the company’s launch information reported by The Verge.
You do not need an R1
OS3 can be reached through Rabbit’s web interface, Telegram and a desktop application. The company currently offers desktop version 0.1.0 for Intel and Apple-silicon Macs, Windows x64 PCs and Windows on Arm devices. Reporting from Wired and The Verge also identifies iMessage access and support for local work across Linux computers.
Existing R1 owners can use the handheld as a voice-driven input and output device for OS3. That is now an optional access point rather than the center of the system.
Rabbit founder Jesse Lyu told Wired that the company is no longer manufacturing the R1 and is selling through its remaining inventory. Rabbit has no announced R2. Its next hardware project is instead described as a coding-focused “cyberdeck” that is expected within months, although its specifications, price and firm release date remain unknown.
Users can bring their own AI model
One of OS3’s more unusual features is its bring-your-own-key model. Users can connect a supported AI provider using their own API credentials instead of being locked to one model family.
Rabbit’s launch page lists models and endpoints from Anthropic, OpenAI, OpenRouter, Ollama and Z.ai, along with local models and custom endpoints. The user’s Rabbit memory, skills and connected computers are intended to remain in place when the underlying model changes.
That flexibility also adds complexity. API usage may generate separate charges from the selected model provider, and performance, privacy rules and available capabilities can change depending on which service is connected. Rabbit has not published a simple launch-day price table explaining the total cost of every OS3 configuration.
Local access raises important permission questions
An agent that can operate software and organize files is more capable than a conventional chatbot, but it also needs broader access. Rabbit says OS3 can view a screen and interact with applications through its DLAM system only with the user’s permission.
The company says it does not store, copy, use or sell data from connected computers. However, chats and memories created from those conversations remain on Rabbit’s servers. Any outside AI provider connected through OS3 will process information under its own privacy and retention policies.
Those distinctions are important. A local action does not necessarily mean the entire workflow remains on the device. Users should review which folders, applications and accounts they connect, especially on work computers or systems containing financial, medical or confidential files.
What remains unproven
Rabbit’s launch demonstrations show a broader and more flexible product than the original R1 software, but they do not prove that OS3 will complete long, multi-step tasks reliably in everyday use. The company’s first device received poor reviews after several promoted agent features failed to work consistently.
OS3 also enters a much more competitive market. Major AI companies and independent developers now offer agents that can research, write code, interact with browsers and perform desktop tasks. Rabbit will have to show that its shared memory, multi-computer control and model choice create a practical advantage rather than another layer to configure.
For now, the clearest change is accessibility: people can try Rabbit’s newest agent without buying dedicated hardware. Whether that software-first approach repairs trust in the brand will depend on independent testing, permission controls and how well the agent handles mistakes.
Sources and disclosure
Features, supported model options and desktop-download details were checked against Rabbit’s official OS3 launch page and Rabbit’s OS3 support documentation. Launch context and limitations were cross-checked with reporting from The Verge and Wired.
This article was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed for source accuracy, clarity and originality. Gadget N Widget has not independently tested OS3.