Nothing, the UK-based tech startup founded by Carl Pei, is considering developing its own mobile operating system as an alternative to Google’s Android. Currently, Nothing’s smartphones run on Android with its custom Nothing OS interface. Pei revealed in an interview at TechCrunch Disrupt that the company is exploring the possibility of creating its own OS to further establish itself in the mobile industry and potentially offer a new revenue stream.
While Pei emphasized that artificial intelligence (AI) could be part of the new OS, he clarified it wouldn’t dominate the software’s focus. Instead, the aim would be to enhance user experience, leveraging available device data for improvements.
Nothing’s move would place it alongside Huawei, which replaced Android on some devices with HarmonyOS to offer an alternative mobile platform. However, a key challenge would be building an app marketplace comparable to Google’s Play Store or Apple’s App Store, as the availability of popular apps is crucial for success. Pei noted that although funding specifics weren’t confirmed, Nothing may pursue this OS even without external funding.
Nothing has announced that its current Android-based Nothing OS 3.0 will continue to receive updates, including Android 15.
