The App-less Future? Nothing CEO Predicts AI Agents Will Replace Smartphone Apps

As artificial intelligence rapidly evolves, the very foundation of how we interact with smartphones could be on the verge of a dramatic shift. Carl Pei, co-founder and CEO of Nothing, believes the era of traditional apps is nearing its end, predicting that AI agents will soon take their place. This vision isn’t just a futuristic thought experiment; it’s a core principle driving Nothing’s development and investment strategy.

The Demise of the App?

“In terms of AI in software, I think people should understand that apps are going to disappear,” Pei stated during an interview at the SXSW conference in Austin as reported by Yahoo Tech. He warned that app-centric business models will inevitably be disrupted, regardless of whether companies embrace the change. This prediction stems from a belief that AI will move beyond simply executing commands to proactively anticipating and fulfilling user needs.

From Command-Based to Intent-Driven

Pei distinguishes between the initial, “super boring” phase of AI features – like booking flights or hotels – and a more sophisticated stage where AI learns long-term user intentions. Imagine an AI that nudges you towards healthier habits or proactively suggests activities based on your preferences. “I think it gets even more powerful when it starts surfacing suggestions for you; you don’t have to manually come up with an idea…when the system knows us so well, it will come up with things that we don’t even [know] we wanted,” Pei explained, drawing a parallel to the memory function in ChatGPT .

A Return to Simplicity?

Pei’s vision represents a significant departure from the current smartphone experience. He critiques the existing user interface as surprisingly similar to older technologies like Palm Pilots and PDAs. “You have lock screens, home screens, apps. You browse different apps. Each app is like a full-screen thing,” he noted. He argues that even simple tasks, like grabbing a coffee, require navigating multiple apps – messaging, maps, ride-sharing, and calendar – creating a cumbersome process.

The Single-App OS

The future, according to Pei, lies in an operating system that anticipates user intentions and executes them seamlessly. “I think the future of smartphones or operating systems should just be: ‘I know you very well, and if I know your intention, I just do it for you,’ instead of having to go through all the apps manually.” This translates to a single, all-encompassing OS designed for the AI agent, rather than a human interface cluttered with individual apps as reported by 9to5Mac.

A Gradual Transition

While Pei foresees a future without apps, he acknowledges that the transition will be gradual. Nothing’s current operating system even allows for the creation of “vibe code” mini-apps. However, the ultimate goal is to enable the AI agent to interact with these functionalities without mimicking human touch-based navigation. “That’s not the future. The future is not the agent using a human interface. You need to create an interface for the agent to use. I think that’s the more future-proof way of doing it,” Pei stated.

Nothing’s AI-First Approach

This vision of an AI-powered future has already attracted significant investment for Nothing. The company secured $200 million in Series C funding last year, partly based on its pitch for an AI-first smartphone with advanced personalization capabilities . Nothing aims to create an AI that is accurate enough to eliminate the need for users to double-check its output.

Beyond Apple: A Critique of Current Innovation

Pei has also expressed skepticism about the current state of innovation at established tech giants like Apple. He believes Apple has lost its creative edge, citing Apple Intelligence as underwhelming. “Apple today is very different from the Apple when I was younger…it’s not much more than some generated emojis,” he commented as reported by AppleInsider. He feels that younger consumers are less captivated by Apple due to its perceived lack of inspiration.

Nothing is specifically targeting Gen Z, believing they are more receptive to new ideas and less attached to established brands according to Business Insider.