More than a decade ago, Jason Citron took the Disrupt stage to pitch his early-stage company in the Startup Battlefield competition at TechCrunch Disrupt as a scrappy founder pitching his vision. Today, he's built Discord into one of the most successful consumer platforms of its era - valued in the billions and redefining how communities connect, game, and share online.
At the heart of Nothing's plans is AI. Pei said the company is "building the foundations for the future" on a focused "AI OS" to deliver a "hyper-personalized experience." However, it's unclear if Nothing's operating system ambitions are built on top of Android like Nothing OS. We've reached out for clarification. This "AI-native platform" will run hardware in widespread use today like smartphones, headphones, and smart watches, Pei said,
We've heard various reports about it having planned two more generations at least, but then we also heard those were canceled. Now, the company itself has finally acknowledged the situation and confirmed that it's given up on tablets "until it figures out a meaningful future for the category", according to a Bloomberg report, which goes on to say that "at least for the foreseeable future, Google doesn't imagine a scenario where users are carrying much more than their phone".
It makes sense because these users are easier to source for research and quick to adopt new features. However, many teams miss out on an important opportunity by developing for so-called "niche" or "edge" users. These users, whether they're first-time digital users (FTDUs), persons with low literacy, older adults, people with disabilities, or those in low-connectivity situations, constitute a sizable proportion of the global population. In many markets, they even make up the majority.
The artificial intelligence boom is creating billion-dollar brands almost overnight. From workplace productivity to AI-generated art, there's a tool for just about everything. But while many companies chase the mass market, a growing number are focusing on a different strategy: going small. These are the "niche AI" products - built for highly specific audiences and purposes. Some carve out profitable, loyal user bases. Others burn bright and fade quickly.
