Carl Pei says Nothing is building an AI native device, and it’s not a phone

Smartphones might still be the centrepiece of modern life, but Carl Pei thinks the age of the slab is nearing its limit. The Nothing co-founder and CEO has confirmed that his London-based startup is working on its first AI-native device, set to launch in 2026. And here’s the twist; it won’t be a phone.

On September 16, Nothing raised $200 million (approx. Rs 1,700 crores) in Series C funding, bumping its valuation to $1.3 billion (approx. Rs 1.14 lakh crores). Hours later, Pei went on X to sketch out what he sees as the next evolution of personal tech. “From building the only new smartphone company of the last decade, to creating an AI-native platform where hardware and software converge”, he wrote.

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His vision is ambitious, he says his company is aiming to build, “A billion different operating systems for a billion different people”.

Not your next smartphone

In a community post, Pei admitted that the smartphone will remain the mass-market default for years to come. But he hinted that our daily carry will soon include “an additional device that will be just as important”. He stopped short of revealing the design, only describing it as something that appears “at the moment of need” and uses intelligence to turn understanding into action.

That vagueness has already sparked speculation. Could it be a smart pin, a discreet wearable that taps AI for real-time assistance? A set of glasses that overlay contextual prompts on your world? Or perhaps a pocket-sized companion that replaces swipes and taps with predictive conversations?

Whatever form it takes, the idea is quite clear, this won’t just be a screen you unlock, it’s a product designed to feel present, ambient, and personal.

OS without limits

The bigger play might be Nothing OS itself. Currently a minimalist Android skin, Pei has hinted at expanding it across a much wider canvas including smart glasses, humanoid robots, EV dashboards, and “whatever comes next”.

Unlike one-size-fits-all operating systems, Pei envisions OS variations that shape-shift to individual needs, making technology less about uniform interfaces and more about customised experiences.

India is at the heart of this strategy. CMF, Nothing’s affordable sub-brand, has moved its global headquarters here, and a flagship Nothing store is set to open soon. That expansion suggests Nothing sees India not just as a market but as a proving ground for its AI-native ambitions.

With the 2026 launch window now circled, the real question is whether Nothing can actually deliver a device that makes AI feel indispensable. Pei seems convinced. For the rest of us, it could mark the first time consumer tech moves past the glass rectangle, and into something stranger, smarter, and maybe even more human.