London’s startup scene is buzzing as consumer tech company Nothing secures a whopping $200 million investment.
The new funding pegs Nothing’s valuation at $1.3 billion and signals a dramatic push toward devices deeply integrated with artificial intelligence.
Carl Pei, the company’s founder and chief executive, is placing a bold bet on what he calls an “AI OS,” a fundamental rethink of the software running on gadgets like phones and wearables. He described the current landscape as outdated, saying that a new operating system is needed to create what he terms a “hyper personalized experience.”
Pei insists that Nothing is not just working with familiar tech like smartphones or watches, but is setting the stage for a whole ecosystem of products, from smart glasses to electric vehicles and beyond. He claims this novel platform will power devices we have today and others yet to be imagined.
Raising the Stakes for Artificial Intelligence in Consumer Tech
Despite the excitement, details around how different Nothing’s upcoming operating system will be are still sparse. The company’s existing Nothing OS is based on Android, but it isn’t clear whether the future AI OS will maintain those foundations.
Big tech giants, including Apple, have struggled to spark widespread interest in similar product categories, and competition remains fierce with other innovators entering the race. Jony Ive, known for his time at Apple, is working with OpenAI on a “screen free” device, signaling how crowded and experimental the field is becoming.
Pei is undeterred by these odds. “Owning the last mile distribution point with all its contextual and user knowledge is essential to developing an OS that will help people in their daily lives,” he stated.
Nothing’s decision to invest heavily in artificial intelligence comes after Pei himself previously cautioned against overhyping AI, referring to it as “just a tool” and expressing reluctance to label Nothing’s software as an AI operating system. Now, the narrative has evolved. Pei promises the upcoming software will be “ever present,” learning from users constantly, and serving up a level of personalization that has so far eluded mainstream devices.
In the coming year, Nothing aims to reveal its first suite of products equipped with this intelligent engine. While experts question whether consumers are ready for AI infused devices on a mass scale, Nothing insists that controlling every step of the user journey is the key to this ambition.
