Nothing Introduces Essential AI Suite: A Step Towards AI-Native Smartphones With Personalised Apps and Playground Store

London-based tech brand Nothing, led by Carl Pei, has announced a major leap towards the future of mobile computing. The company has introduced Essential, a suite of AI-powered tools designed to generate personalised applications on demand. Positioned as the “first step towards an AI-native operating system,” Essential allows users to create lightweight apps using natural language commands, making their smartphones more adaptive and user-centric than ever.

What Is Essential?

Essential is Nothing’s take on a “vibe coding” platform, where large language models (LLMs) transform simple text prompts into functioning apps. Instead of traditional coding, users can simply describe the app they want, and the AI suite will generate it. These mini-apps, called Essential apps, can then be pinned to the home screen for everyday use.

Examples of potential apps include:

A tool that automatically compiles receipts from the gallery into finance-ready PDFs.

A personalised mood tracker that syncs with music playlists.

Daily planners, reminders, and widgets crafted on the fly based on user input.

Playground: A Community-Driven App Store

To expand this ecosystem, Nothing is also launching Playground, a new community-driven marketplace. Unlike traditional app stores, Playground focuses on user-generated Essential apps and creative tools. Here, users can:

Share their own AI-generated Essential apps.

Explore community creations such as Glyph Toys, Camera Presets, and EQ profiles.

Download apps directly, with minimal restrictions.

While anyone can download apps, contributing requires applying for creation access through Nothing’s website.

Essential Memory: Smarter Recall for Everyday Use

Building on its existing Essential Space app, Nothing is introducing Essential Memory. This feature uses AI to intelligently recall data such as screenshots, photos, and voice notes. By learning user habits, it can surface forgotten details at the right time — for example, pulling up saved tickets before a trip or resurfacing key notes before a meeting.

Nothing emphasises data security and privacy. Information is stored locally on the device by default, with cloud storage as an optional feature. Transparency remains a priority, especially for cloud-based tasks.

Device Support and Limitations

Currently in alpha testing, Essential apps have some limitations depending on the device:

Nothing Phone 3 (flagship): Supports up to six widgets.

Other models: Limited to two widgets.

This ensures smooth performance while the platform scales. Early adopters can join a waitlist for access.

The Bigger Picture: Towards an AI-Native OS

Carl Pei describes Essential as more than a feature — it’s the foundation of an AI-native operating system. Instead of smartphones being rigid, app-based systems, the future Nothing envisions is one where AI dynamically generates personalised tools for every user.

According to the company, this shift turns foundational AI into hyper-personalised daily experiences, potentially redefining how smartphones function in the AI era.

Conclusion

With Essential, Nothing is making a bold move in positioning itself as a pioneer in AI-first mobile ecosystems. By merging user creativity with AI, and providing a collaborative hub through Playground, the brand is laying the groundwork for the future of personalised smartphones. While still in its early stages, Essential could mark the beginning of a paradigm shift in how operating systems evolve — from app-centric to AI-native and experience-driven.

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