By Sohaib Shams
Consumer technology brand Nothing plans to release an "AI-first" device next month, chief executive Carl Pei announced in a lengthy post on X. The company, known for its transparent smartphones, aims to focus on productivity uses rather than positioning the product as an immediate "iPhone moment" for artificial intelligence.
Pei critiques industry approach to AI hardware
Pei argued that many companies and commentators are confused about how AI devices will reach the mainstream. He compared the current wave of AI gadgets to the 30-year evolution of mobile devices that preceded the iPhone, suggesting that AI hardware will first succeed in specific productivity tools before a breakthrough consumer device emerges.
Device details remain sparse
The upcoming product will have "no new screen" and "couldn't have been an app," Pei wrote, without revealing its exact form factor. He emphasized that any near-term AI device must be built with the care of a toolmaker and earn user trust, noting that Nothing's end-to-end development and tens of millions of users put it in a rare position to deliver such a product.
Past AI hardware failures cited
Pei's post appeared to reference recent failures such as Humane's AI Pin, which was marketed as a post-iPhone device but led to the company's collapse last year. He warned that the "magical consumer device everyone is searching for" will only arrive after years of quiet work, and that Nothing's new device is intended to be part of that groundwork.
