Nothing CEO Carl Pei Forecasts App Demise, AI Agents to Redefine Smartphone Experience
Carl Pei, the co-founder and CEO of Nothing, has emerged as a pivotal voice shaping the future trajectory of smartphones. At the SXSW 2026 conference, he unveiled a bold vision that has been years in the making, predicting a radical transformation in how we interact with our mobile devices. According to Pei, the era of manually navigating through apps is on the brink of extinction, thanks to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence.
AI Agents to Replace Traditional Apps
In an interview covered by TechCrunch, Pei made a striking declaration: "apps are going to disappear." He elaborated that AI agents will seamlessly take over the functions currently performed by individual applications. This is not merely a speculative forecast but a concrete vision for a new paradigm in smartphone usage. Instead of opening apps, users will simply communicate their needs to the device, and the AI system will execute tasks autonomously in the background.
Pei's remarks are already sending ripples through the tech industry, prompting founders and app developers to reconsider their business strategies. His perspective aligns with a broader industry movement toward AI-first devices and operating systems, signaling a fundamental shift away from the app-centric models that have dominated for decades.
Who is Carl Pei?
Carl Pei is the co-founder and CEO of Nothing, a consumer-tech brand renowned for its distinctive, design-forward smartphones and audio products. Prior to launching Nothing in 2020, he co-founded OnePlus, playing a key role in cultivating it into a beloved brand among Android enthusiasts. Today, Pei leads Nothing as a formidable challenger to industry giants like Apple and Samsung, with a strong emphasis on AI-native devices and user-centric software.
At SXSW 2026, Pei emphasized how AI is fundamentally reshaping the smartphone landscape. "In terms of AI in software, I think people should understand apps are going to disappear," he stated during the interview, as reported by TechCrunch. He issued a stark warning to entrepreneurs: if their business model is entirely reliant on an app, they face inevitable disruption. "If you're a founder or a startup and your app is where the core value lies, that will be disrupted, whether you like it or not," Pei cautioned.
Why Apps Are Poised to 'Disappear'
Pei argues that the current smartphone experience is outdated and cumbersome. Citing reports from TechCrunch and other media outlets, he highlighted how even simple tasks, such as ordering coffee, often require juggling multiple apps—messaging, maps, ride-hailing, and calendar—creating unnecessary complexity. In his view, the future lies in AI agents that act on behalf of users, streamlining interactions and enhancing efficiency.
He advised app-based businesses to adapt by opening their APIs or MCPs, enabling AI agents to interface directly with their services rather than relying on manual, human-like navigation. "If your app represents your core value, you should think differently, by opening up your API or MCP so that AI agents can use it directly," Pei explained, urging a proactive approach to the impending technological shift.
From One-App Phones to AI-Native Devices
Pei has long championed the idea of smartphones evolving toward a single, all-encompassing application—essentially, the operating system itself. In a previous interview with Wired, he predicted, "there will only be one app on your phone, and that's the operating system." This system would possess deep user understanding, anticipate needs, and handle tasks agentically, eliminating the need for multiple standalone apps.
During the same SXSW session, Pei discussed the enduring relevance of smartphones, noting they will likely persist for at least the next five years. However, he foresees them coexisting with new categories of AI-native devices, expanding the technological ecosystem. This evolution underscores a bigger role for AI, not only in software but also in hardware innovation, with Pei positioning Nothing at the forefront of this transformative wave.
