A bold claim from the Nothing CEO
Carl Pei, co-founder and CEO of Nothing, says the next major shift in smartphones will be driven by AI agents and a move away from app based experiences. Speaking at SXSW in Austin, Pei argued that the core value of many apps will be disrupted as AI becomes the primary way people get things done on a device.
His view is not that software disappears, but that the concept of users manually navigating apps will gradually fade. In his model, the device should understand what you want and execute it, without requiring you to open multiple tools and tap through screens.
From commands to long-term intent
Pei described an early step already being tested today: AI features that can perform single tasks on demand, like booking flights or hotels. He called that phase unexciting and suggested the more meaningful shift comes when AI begins to learn a user’s long term intentions.
In that next stage, the system does not just respond to prompts. It anticipates goals and offers proactive suggestions. Pei compared this idea to a memory feature that learns what matters to you and surfaces help before you ask, including nudges aligned to outcomes like being healthier.
Why today’s smartphone UX feels stuck
Pei argued that the basic structure of smartphone interaction has barely changed in about two decades. He pointed to familiar elements like lock screens, home screens, full screen apps, and app stores. His frustration is that the underlying tech has advanced quickly, but the workflow for completing everyday tasks still requires too many steps.
He used a simple example: meeting someone for coffee. The intent is straightforward, but execution often means hopping between multiple apps, such as messaging, maps, ride hailing, and calendar, just to coordinate one plan.
An interface built for the agent, not the human
Pei’s longer term vision is a phone where the operating system is built around intent. If the device knows you well enough, it should take action directly, rather than forcing you to translate your intent into app navigation.
That also implies a new kind of interface. Instead of AI agents trying to operate a human designed UI by mimicking taps and menus, Pei argues the OS should expose a more direct interface for agents. In other words, the agent should not be forced to behave like a person using a touchscreen. The system should be designed so the agent can accomplish tasks frictionlessly.
Not tomorrow, but a direction of travel
Pei cautioned that apps are not about to vanish overnight. Nothing still supports an app centric ecosystem and even enables users to build small custom experiences. But his central bet is that the app economy will change shape as AI becomes the layer that orchestrates services on behalf of users.
If that shift happens, the winners may not be the apps that look best on a home screen, but the services that can be reliably accessed and executed through an agent first interface.