rabbitOS 2.3 is rolling out to the R1 with Hermes Agent built in. The feature list is good, but that’s not the real news.
The real news is what Rabbit is doing with this OS. The company is building a multi-agent hardware console. Not a voice assistant. Not a smart display. A device that runs whatever agent you want.
Here’s what shipped and why this update matters more than any single feature on the list.
Hermes Agent on R1
You can talk to Hermes Agent by Nous Research right from the R1. Install the rabbit agent on your computer from the rabbithole nodes page, swipe left on the R1, and you’re connected.
This isn’t a branded voice assistant. This is the full Hermes Agent framework. The same open source agent I covered when it hit v0.17.0 and v0.18.0 now runs on dedicated hardware.
For context, rabbitOS 2.2 shipped with Claude Code on R1 a few weeks ago. Back-to-back major open source agent integrations. That’s a pattern, not a coincidence.
DLAM Goes BYOK
DLAM (Direct Local Application Manipulation), Rabbit’s plug-and-play computer controller, now works with your own API key. Bring your own Anthropic or OpenAI key. Pick your provider and model in the DLAM settings, and usage goes through your account instead of Rabbit’s pool.
It’s still available at no extra charge from Rabbit. The BYOK option just means you control the model and the billing.
OpenClaw Protocol v4
The OpenClaw voice protocol hits v4 with a rebuilt integration through rabbit agent. The big practical change: it now works outside your home network. Earlier versions required OpenClaw to be on your LAN. If you wanted to control a machine remotely, that was a dealbreaker.
OpenClaw v4 also gives a stronger base for future updates through the rabbit agent architecture. Rabbit is steadily turning what started as local-only voice control into a real remote agent protocol.
Creations Gallery 1.5 and Proactive Rabbit
The on-device Creations Gallery gets editor picks, popular creations, QR code support, and intern session shortcuts in a cleaner interface. It’s a quality of life upgrade for people who actually use the R1’s vibe coding tools.
Proactive rabbit is more subtle. Triple tap the rabbit on your home screen, and the R1 greets you with something based on your personality, reminders, journal entries, and magic recorder logs. It can be helpful, personal, or just a little fun depending on the context.
The Strategy Behind 2.3
Here’s what I see when I look at the last three rabbitOS releases:
- 2.1 refined the OS with journal, enhanced magic camera, and deeper personalization
- 2.2 shipped Claude Code with full Anthropic agent capability on device
- 2.3 ships Hermes Agent, OpenClaw v4, and DLAM BYOK
That’s not a random feature list. Rabbit is methodically turning the R1 into a multi-agent hardware console. You get Claude Code from Anthropic’s ecosystem, Hermes Agent from Nous Research, and Rabbit’s own LAM via DLAM. BYOK on DLAM means Rabbit lets you use their controller with someone else’s model.
This is the smartest strategic bet Rabbit has made since launch.
The R1 launched into a storm of skepticism. Early reviews were brutal. Reviewers called it a gimmick, a solution in search of a problem. But Rabbit kept shipping real updates instead of going quiet. rabbitOS 2 was a genuine overhaul. DLAM and OpenClaw gave the device practical computer-control capability. Now Hermes Agent and Claude Code give it access to the two most capable open agent ecosystems available.
The R1 is becoming what it was supposed to be all along. A dedicated agent device that connects you to the AI tools you actually want to use, not just the ones Rabbit built.
What This Means for R1 Owners
If you bought an R1 and have been watching the updates roll in, this is the release where the device starts delivering on its original promise. Hermes Agent on device means you can talk to an agent that can actually do things on your computer. Not just answer questions.
DLAM BYOK means you’re not locked into Rabbit’s model selection. If you prefer Claude over GPT for computer control tasks, you can bring your own key and run DLAM on Anthropic models.
OpenClaw v4 working outside your home network means the remote-use case is finally real.
Bottom Line
rabbitOS 2.3 is the strongest statement Rabbit has made about what the R1 is for. It’s not a voice assistant. It’s not a smartphone replacement. It’s a hardware-native agent console that plugs into the open source AI ecosystem and lets you pick your tools.
That’s a bet I can get behind.
The OTA is rolling out now.
