Carl Pei, co-founder and CEO of Nothing, envisions a post-iPhone era where devices rely on AI agents instead of apps. Pei stated that apps will become obsolete as AI progresses, which could disrupt startups centered around app value. He spoke at SXSW in Austin, sharing that Nothing’s AI-first device concept secured $200 million in Series C funding. This device aims for significant user-personalized AI assistance, going beyond mundane tasks like bookings, to suggest actions aligned with user intentions—akin to ChatGPT’s memory. Pei criticized current smartphone experiences as outdated, relying on numerous apps for simple tasks. He advocated for AI-driven smartphones that intuitively fulfill user intentions, highlighting a shift towards AI interfaces instead of traditional app navigation. Though apps remain for now, Pei foresees a future where AI operates through specialized interfaces, not mimicking human interaction with apps.
Nothing CEO Carl Pei Predicts Smartphone Apps Will Be Replaced by AI Agents
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