On October 1, 2025, Nothing launched Essential, an innovative AI-driven platform enabling users to create customized mini-apps through natural language prompts. This initiative marks a significant leap toward an AI-native operating system, dubbed Essential OS, designed for personalization. Backed by $200 million in Series C funding, Essential currently features Essential Apps—AI-generated widgets—and Playground, a community hub for sharing and remixing these tools. Users can build apps like meeting briefs by simply typing requests, instantly generating functional widgets for easy access. Essentially, it enables a “vibe coding” approach, challenging traditional app development norms. While currently limited to Nothing’s Phone 3 and 2 series, Essential’s Playground fosters a collaborative space for app development, mirroring an open-source model. The potential for broader features signals a shift in how mobile operating systems may evolve, tailoring apps to individual needs, as noted by industry experts observing these advancements in AI integration.
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