Will Apps Disappear from Smartphones? Nothing CEO Announces a Revolution

Carl Pei, the visionary founder of technology company Nothing, has made a striking prediction: the era of smartphone applications as we know them is coming to an end. Within a few years, he believes our smartphone screens will transform from simple grids of icons into sophisticated interfaces powered by AI agents. These intelligent agents will understand and execute our intentions autonomously, fundamentally changing how we interact with our devices.

The Dawn of an AI-First Smartphone Era

Carl Pei, the visionary founder of technology company Nothing, has made a striking prediction: the era of smartphone applications as we know them is coming to an end. Within a few years, he believes our smartphone screens will transform from simple grids of icons into sophisticated interfaces powered by AI agents. These intelligent agents will understand and execute our intentions autonomously, fundamentally changing how we interact with our devices. When might this significant shift occur?

Carl Pei’s Vision: The End of the App Era?

For several months, Carl Pei has consistently championed one central idea: “apps will disappear.” He argues that the smartphone interface has remained largely unchanged since the advent of the first iPhone. Users still unlock their screens, search for specific icons, and navigate between fullscreen applications. Even a seemingly simple task, such as arranging to meet for coffee, often requires opening multiple apps—a messenger, maps, a ride-sharing service, and a calendar. This “old-school” model, in Pei’s view, increasingly clashes with the advanced state of modern technology, particularly the rapid evolution of generative artificial intelligence (AI).

Nothing CEO Carl Pei says smartphone apps will disappear as AI agents take their place https://t.co/XFNmSecMyG

— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) March 18, 2026

Pei articulated these insights during an interview at the SXSW conference in Austin, Texas, USA. He clearly states that the future of smartphones lies in systems that “know you very well,” comprehend your intentions, and simply execute them, rather than forcing users to juggle various applications. This vision implies not merely new features, but a complete redesign of the user experience—from the lock screen and home screen to the very methods by which we install and “use” digital services.

How Will AI Agents Function?

At the heart of this transformative vision are AI agents: specialized systems capable of integrating multiple services to perform complex tasks “from intent to outcome.” Instead of manually opening a ride-sharing app, a maps app, and a messenger, a user might simply say or type: “Arrange coffee for tomorrow at 9 AM downtown.” The AI agent would then independently check calendars, suggest a suitable location, book a table, add the event to your schedule, and even order a ride if necessary—all without requiring the user to switch between applications.

Currently, similar scenarios can be partially achieved, but they typically involve using several applications and manually confirming each step. Pei highlights that most existing AI agents operate within interfaces primarily designed for human interaction. He believes the future belongs to agents specifically engineered for artificial intelligence. In this model, traditional applications would become a server-side layer, while the user experiences a single, cohesive assistant that intelligently selects and utilizes the best services in the background.

Is Nothing Building the First AI-First Smartphone?

Pei’s vision is not merely a theoretical manifesto; it forms the strategic foundation for Nothing. The company proudly announced that this very narrative helped secure $200 million in Series C funding. Nothing is poised to introduce an “AI-first device”—a smartphone where the AI agent is not an add-on to a conventional launcher, but the primary interface layer. Instead of a classic desktop with icons, users would interact with a system that autonomously manages services, accounts, and the flow of data between them.

Carl Pei during the Nothing Phone (4a) launch. Photo: @getpeid / X.com

Pei proposes AI instead of applications, rather than AI on top of them. In the long run, this suggests the eventual demise of traditional app stores like Google Play. He acknowledges that the transition to an app-less world won’t happen overnight, estimating it could take 7–10 years because users “like using apps.” Another significant factor is that the current app ecosystem is deeply embedded in developers’ business models. An application serves not only as a tool but also as a monetization channel, a source of user data, and a means of controlling the entire user experience.

Only when interfaces natively designed for AI begin to emerge will icons gradually fade from the home screen. At that point, users will focus on articulating their intentions rather than selecting applications. In practice, the “death of apps” will likely be a slow migration toward services managed by AI agents, rather than an abrupt end to everything familiar from app stores.

The Gradual Evolution Towards an Intent-Based Future

The shift towards an AI-first paradigm is a marathon, not a sprint. While Carl Pei’s vision might seem radical, it represents a natural progression in how technology integrates into our daily lives. As AI agents become more sophisticated and context-aware, they promise to simplify our digital interactions, making technology work for us in a more intuitive and seamless way. This evolution emphasizes user intent, promising a future where our devices proactively anticipate and fulfill our needs, rather than requiring us to navigate a maze of applications.

Source: AndroidCentral, TechCrunch, CNET, 9to5Google
Opening photo: Gemini