Nothing To Launch First AI-Native Devices in 2026

Nothing has announced plans to launch its first “AI-native” devices next year, following a US$200 million (A$310m) Series C funding round.

The funding, led by investment giant Tiger Global, values the London-based company at US$1.3 billion (A$2 billion), making it one of the fastest-growing startups in consumer electronics.

Founded in 2020 by Swedish entrepreneur Carl Pei, who also co-founded Chinese phone maker OnePlus, Nothing has made waves in the smartphone space with its distinctive transparent design and stripped-back user experience.

But with this latest funding, Pei says the company is moving beyond phones into what he calls “the next chapter of consumer technology.”

At the centre of this vision is a new AI-centric operating system, which Pei describes as “hyper-personalised” and radically different from today’s one-size-fits-all platforms.

The system is designed to anticipate user needs, adapt interfaces in real time and use AI agents to execute tasks on a user’s behalf.

The OS will initially power smartphones, smartwatches and audio products, which Nothing already has experience in – before expanding into smart glasses, electric vehicles and even humanoid robots.

“For AI to reach its full potential, consumer hardware must reinvent itself alongside it,” Pei said. “Unlike today’s solutions, a billion different operating systems will be rendered for a billion different people.”

The push into AI-native devices puts Nothing in competition with some of the world’s biggest players, including Apple and a mysterious project from former Apple designer Jony Ive in partnership with OpenAI.

It also follows a series of failed attempts in AI hardware, such as Humane’s AI Pin, raising questions over whether consumers are ready for such products.

Despite its relatively small global share – less than 1% of the smartphone market – Nothing has shipped more than five million devices to date.

Its recently launched Phone (3), while praised for its design, received mixed reviews from users, with many claiming it falls short of the hype and doesn’t live up to its “true flagship” price tag.

Nothing says the new capital will accelerate global distribution and fund the launch of its AI-first device in 2026.