Nothing Launches Playground, An AI Tool That Lets Users Build Simple Applications Through Text Prompts
Nothing on Tuesday launched Playground, an AI tool that lets users build simple applications through text prompts, TechCrunch reports.
The tool deploys creations onto a companion hub called Essential Apps, signaling the smartphone maker’s ambition to infuse consumer software with AI-driven personalization.
At present, Playground is limited to generating lightweight widgets — such as flight trackers, next-meeting briefs, or even virtual pets — either from scratch using natural language or by customizing existing apps on the Essential Apps platform. More technically inclined users can dive into the generated code to fine-tune functions.
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The company said developers will not yet be able to build full-screen apps, noting that the underlying technology is not mature enough to support that level of complexity.
The launch follows Nothing’s $200 million funding round led by Tiger Global earlier this month, with CEO Carl Pei emphasizing that the company’s long-term bet is on building an operating system with AI at its core, alongside AI-centric hardware devices.
In an interview with TechCrunch last week, Pei criticized the industry’s reluctance to reinvent mobile software.
“Something that has always bothered me is why we aren’t improving software? A lot of people look at what big companies like Apple do, and follow that because that is the safer path. I think software iteration is very slow,” he said.
“With breakthroughs in AI, we believe that operating systems will change and become more personal. Our devices have so much context on us, but that is not being leveraged right now,” he added.
Still, Nothing’s current AI footprint is modest. To date, it has launched only one AI-enabled application, Essential Space, which allows users to share screenshots, record voice notes, and transcribe meetings. Most of these functions are already available through existing smartphone operating systems or third-party apps, highlighting the challenge of differentiating in a crowded app ecosystem.
Founded in 2020, Nothing has positioned itself as a design-forward challenger brand in smartphones, but its global market share remains below 1%, according to data from IDC. That leaves it far behind entrenched rivals like Apple, Samsung, Google, Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, and OnePlus.
Pei, however, sees its underdog position as an advantage. He has repeatedly argued that Nothing can build hardware tailored specifically for AI use cases — starting with smartphones and extending to other categories.
“If we can get it right on smartphones, building hardware with specific use cases would be easier,” he has said.
The idea of “vibe coding”, as Nothing calls it, is compelling on paper, but history suggests hurdles ahead. Data from AppFigures shows that similar attempts at text-to-app functionality on smartphones have struggled to gain traction, largely due to security and maintenance concerns. Pei acknowledged the risks, stressing that Nothing must keep its platform safe without stifling creativity.
“We have millions of users on our devices. So whatever we ship should be easy to use and hard to make a mistake on. That is why, for us, maintaining a level of security with these apps will be important,” he said.
For now, Nothing is not charging for Playground or its Essential Apps tools. A premium tier is not in development either, with Pei saying the company is focused on cultivating a community of contributors and highlighting top creators.
The comparative picture shows both the promise and pressure facing Nothing. Apple has so far taken a measured approach, weaving AI tools into iOS incrementally — from personalized Siri updates to rumored generative AI functions in iOS 19. Google, meanwhile, has accelerated its Gemini AI integration across Android, linking AI to search, Gmail, Maps, and now Pixel-exclusive features. Samsung has leaned on partnerships with Google to market “Galaxy AI” across its premium devices, folding in translation, summarization, and productivity tools.
Against this backdrop, Nothing’s Playground stands out for its bold attempt to hand AI-powered app creation directly to users. But it also highlights the gap: Apple and Google can afford to roll out AI cautiously, confident their user bases will adopt new tools gradually, while Nothing must take risks to differentiate itself in a market where it controls less than 1% of global share.
Financial markets may see this divergence as both a risk and a potential opportunity. For investors, Nothing’s $200 million funding round suggests confidence in its ability to carve out a niche. Yet unless Playground evolves into a sticky differentiator, the company could be squeezed by giants who can outspend and out-integrate AI into their ecosystems. For enterprise buyers and developers, the launch may serve as an early test case: can a smaller player move fast enough to shape AI-driven consumer software before the dominant platforms shut the window?
