I just watched this interview from TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 with Carl Pei, CEO of Nothing, and it was such an insightful look at his journey and what he envisions for tech’s future. His story is always inspiring to hear - from dropping out of business school to founding OnePlus, and now leading Nothing. He’s very clearly all about making smartphones exciting again, which I’ve definitely felt since being part of the Nothing Community, with a big focus on design and user experience. You can watch the full interview below 🔽

Carl made some interesting points in his interview, especially about the smartphone industry’s need for variety. He thinks most phones are too similar, so Nothing aims to stand out with unique design, software, and user experience—I personally think they definitely are achieving this and it will be really exciting to see how the company develops this ethos for the future 🤩

He’s also very focused on India, seeing it as a future leader in smartphone markets, where Nothing has already had some great success. Some other highlights include Carl sharing his thoughts on AI, robotics, and the need for a flexible OS, showing his commitment to making tech both innovative and accessible.

I’d be interested to hear your views and opinions in the comments below 🔽

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    Really like Carl’s take on AI and, him identifying that as a startup, Nothing can take more risks and “go much faster into the future". We’re entering a 3rd wave of AI (agents) and, I do believe how how we interact with our smartphones will be transformed. Smartphones have a huge amount of unstructured data that Nothing (and others) can utilise to provide more efficient and personalised experiences. This will eventually lead us away from apps to working with companions that take actions across our devices allowing us to achieve more with less actions taken.

    Great watch and, always happy to hear what is going on - I think it was this time last year I saw Carl at Slush in Helsinki, interesting to hear how Nothing has evolved since.

    I really happy with that fact that he leaved oneplus aroud 4 years ago, it’ changed a lot in the phone industry with more attention to the small things in the phone design and bringing more special phones to our world, with Nothing it always interesting to know how will look the next phone, becouse the specs of the all phones are similar.

    The main thing is not to listen to various commentators who ask to add something from this or that brand to the system, because they want some hodgepodge of functions, and developers see the whole picture of ecosystem development, where everything is in harmony, from design to functions, and this is what makes it special.

    Louis ☕️ Carl stop looking up, like if you’re reading the answers inside your brain….

    • hrry replied to this.

        I feel the same way in my college now 😂
        And yeah, I am dealing with it with an arrogant mind.

        JeffreyLopez Ha, it’s something I do too. When you want to answer a question well and process a lot of thoughts about a topic, it helps (for me).

            Now, that’s something I’d love to see on my phone—a unique OS from Nothing, distinct from Android and iOS. Imagine an OS with Linux-level security and its own app store, free from the clutter of Google Play and intrusive ads. If Nothing could develop such an OS and app store, it would be a revolutionary step worth trying.

            This was a fun watch. Thanks for sharing, Lou!

            Carl raises some good points and the analogies of what history has taught him about incumbents etc, was interesting.

            Might we see Nothing rise up to be the next “big thing” in the tech industry? I have no idea. But I am loving everything that they are currently doing and I am very excited for the ride to come! 🔥

            Louis ☕️ I’ve always been a Nothing fan ever since I got the Phone (1), and I still am when I just got the Phone (2a).

            I’d be very interested in Nothing’s own AI when it drops with the Phone (3) and I can’t wait to try it! Maybe if Nothing were to make their own mobile OS, it would be called “Void” or something.

              20 days later

              Nothing’s distinctive characteristic is its software, so it is not a crazy question whether at some point NOS will part ways with android. As I’ve read here a few months back, somebody said Nothing is an OS company what just so happens to also make phones. And maybe a better way to allow for creative liberty could be a separate OS instead of an android skin.

              Merged 1 post from Would NOS ever move away from Android?.