Carl Pei Envisions an AI-First Future
Carl Pei, CEO and co-founder of Nothing, has boldly predicted a future where smartphones are powered by artificial intelligence (AI) agents rather than apps. This vision from the head of the consumer electronics brand known for its unique smartphones and accessories, suggests a disruptive shift that could change the way we use technology.
Apps are Going Away
“When it comes to AI in software, I think people should understand that apps are going away,” said Pei during an interview at the SXSW conference in Austin. He suggests that startups and founders whose apps conform to the core value should brace themselves for inevitable disruption.
AI-First Device: The Vision and Steps
Nothing’s vision of an AI-first device played a crucial role in securing its $200 million Series C funding round last year. The idea is to create a smartphone that utilizes AI and personalization technology with such precision that users don’t feel the need to double-check its output.
Initial Steps Towards the AI-First Device
Pei explains that the first step towards this AI-first device is currently being tested by some companies. It involves AI features executing commands on behalf of users, like booking flights or hotels. However, Pei finds this aspect “super boring.”
Learning User’s Intentions
What Pei finds more interesting is the next step—when AI starts learning a user’s long-term intentions. For instance, if a user intends to lead a healthier lifestyle, the device can offer suggestions and nudges to help them achieve their goals.
Suggestions by the System
“I think it will become even more powerful when it starts showing suggestions for you. You don’t have to come up with an idea manually…if the system knows us so well, it will come up with things we don’t even know we wanted,” Pei explained, likening this concept to ChatGPT’s save feature.
The AI-First Smartphone
Pei envisions the AI-first smartphone as a device that accomplishes tasks for you without requiring commands. He criticized the current use of smartphones as old-fashioned, comparing it to the use of Palm Pilots and PDAs before the iPhone. The future, according to Pei, should be more about the device understanding user intent and taking actions accordingly, with the assistance of AI.
Interface Designed for AI
For Pei, the future also involves a device interface designed for use by the AI agent, rather than humans. He believes that even though apps won’t disappear in the near future, the focus should be on designing interfaces that AI agents can use easily, rather than mimicking human touch.
“This is not the future. The future is not for the agent to use a human interface. You have to create an interface that the agent can use. I think that’s the more future-proof way to do it,” Pei concluded.
These innovative insights from Carl Pei suggest a future where AI takes center stage in our interactions with technology. It remains to be seen how Nothing and other tech companies will navigate this potential shift from app-based to AI-first devices.
Source: Here
