Nothing CEO Predicts App Demise: AI Agents Will Completely Take Over Smartphone Interactions

DeepFlowTech · 2026-03-19T04:53:50+00:00

Nothing co-founder Carlos Pei stated at the SXSW conference that smartphone applications will be replaced by AI agents as the core way users interact with devices. He believes the current usage model is outdated, and future devices should understand user intent, proactively complete tasks, and predict needs, with interface design shifting toward AI agents.

DeepFlowTech

2026-03-19 04:53:50

Abstract generation in progress

Deep Tide TechFlow News, March 19 — According to TechCrunch, Carl Pei, co-founder and CEO of consumer electronics brand Nothing, stated at SXSW that smartphone apps will eventually become obsolete, replaced by AI intelligences that will serve as the primary means for users to interact with devices.

Pei pointed out that the current usage pattern of smartphones remains fundamentally unchanged from 20 years ago — the lock screen, home screen, and app store framework have persisted since the iPhone era. Completing a simple task still requires switching between multiple apps. For example, he cited “meeting a friend for coffee,” which often involves opening messages, maps, ride-hailing, and calendar apps.

In his vision, future AI-first devices should deeply understand user intent and proactively complete tasks without requiring step-by-step user input. Furthermore, devices will be able to anticipate user needs and offer suggestions proactively. “When the system knows you well enough, it will suggest things you haven’t even thought of.”

Pei also emphasized that future interface design should be oriented toward AI intelligences rather than human operation logic. “Letting AI use human interfaces is not the future; the true future is creating dedicated interfaces for AI.” Previously, Nothing raised $200 million in Series C funding based on its AI-first device vision.

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