Android’s New Feature Proves Rabbit R1 Was Ahead of Its Time
▼ Summary
– AI gadgets like the Rabbit R1 initially generated hype but failed due to issues with price, redundancy, and utility, though they inspired the current agentic AI trend.
– Google is developing AI agents, including Gemini in Chrome and the experimental Project Astra, which can control Android apps through screen recording and accessibility inputs.
– Project Astra’s demo revealed potential but also limitations, such as slow performance and vulnerability to interruptions, as it relied on hacked-together APIs not designed for this purpose.
– Google is creating a new framework called Computer Control, using the Virtual Device Manager to enable automated app control in the background without disrupting user interaction.
– The Computer Control framework is highly restricted, requiring special permissions and user approval, and it allows trusted apps to automate tasks while users can supervise via a mirrored display.
The recent buzz around AI-powered gadgets like the Rabbit R1 has paved the way for a new era of automated assistance on mobile devices. While earlier standalone devices struggled with practicality, their core concept of hands-free task management is now gaining serious traction. Google’s latest experimental framework, known as Computer Control, promises to bring true agentic AI directly to Android, enabling apps to be controlled automatically in the background without constant user input.
This development builds on the Virtual Device Manager (VDM), a system service introduced in Android 13. VDM allows the creation of virtual displays separate from the main screen, where apps can run and be controlled remotely. It already supports features like app streaming to Chromebooks and connected cameras on Pixel devices. Now, Google is extending this infrastructure to let trusted applications automate tasks securely and efficiently.
Under the Computer Control framework, each automation session uses a dedicated virtual display to host the target app. Client applications must define the display’s properties, such as name, dimensions, and pixel density, and can keep it active even when the phone is locked. They also set an output surface, enabling the capture and streaming of display content for analysis. A key innovation is the ability to mirror the automation display onto a separate interactive screen. This allows users to monitor and even manually intervene in the automated process without disrupting it, since input events are intelligently mapped between displays.
Access to Computer Control is strictly regulated to ensure security and privacy. Only applications signed with an allowlisted digital certificate can obtain the ACCESSCOMPUTERCONTROL permission. Users must explicitly approve each session, choosing between one-time or ongoing access. Once authorized, the framework can restrict the automating app to a single target application, preventing unauthorized access to other sensitive data or apps on the device.
Several questions remain about how exactly automation will be implemented. The term “Computer Control” could imply that a remote server or PC analyzes the screen and sends commands, similar to the Rabbit R1’s cloud-based approach. Alternatively, an on-device AI like Gemini Nano might handle everything locally, which would enhance privacy but demand more from the device’s memory and battery. The current code structure suggests a hybrid or remote-assisted model is likely.
This framework marks a significant step toward making Android a platform for advanced, reliable AI agents. By building automation directly into the operating system, Google addresses earlier limitations seen in third-party tools and prototype demos. The dual-display design not only prevents configuration conflicts but also gives users oversight, an important feature since AI agents won’t always perform flawlessly.
While Google has not officially announced a launch date, code findings point to a possible release with Android 17. As development continues, this standardized approach could unlock new levels of productivity and accessibility, letting your phone handle complex sequences of actions while you focus on other tasks.
(Source: Android Authority)
