What happened
Nothing will release its first AI device in December, according to a post on X by chief executive Carl Pei, The Verge reported. The announcement arrives slightly more than a year after Pei first laid out plans for AI-native hardware alongside an AI operating system. He offered few specifics about the product, though he made clear it will not include a screen.
Pei described the device as a tool, but one designed with the personality and attention to detail he associates with the brand. He also said the product could not have been delivered as an app. The image attached to his post showed the NOTHING(R) wordmark in the upper left corner, positioned over an indistinct black shape with a rounded corner.
Pei also took aim at the broader race for AI hardware, saying the industry is searching for its iPhone moment through pendants, pins, glasses and companions meant to bring AI into everyday life for everyone. In his view, trying to find the iPhone of AI at this stage leads nowhere.
Context
Nothing would join a growing field of screenless AI gadgets that includes the Humane AI pin, the Friend and AI-powered stuffed animals, while OpenAI is reportedly developing an AI smart speaker with Jony Ive. Recent rumors claimed Nothing plans two pairs of AI smart glasses, one of them without cameras, and is recasting itself as an AI-first company focused on accessories.
The briefing
The week in tech, in one email.
The dispatches worth your time, every week. Unsubscribe anytime.