What to know

  • Nothing’s new offering, Playground, enables prompt-based creation of mini apps (widgets) via text inputs.
  • For now, only widgets are supported; full-screen apps aren’t yet possible.
  • Playground apps live in Essential Apps, which doubles as a minimal app store.
  • This is part of Nothing’s “Essential” AI initiative, seen as an early step toward an AI-native OS.

Nothing has introduced Playground, a tool that allows users to create mini apps in the form of widgets by typing simple prompts. These widgets can then be installed on compatible Nothing devices or shared through Essential Apps, a built-in app hub that functions like a lightweight app store.

Playground works in two ways: users can either generate widgets entirely from prompts or modify existing ones. More advanced users can also fine-tune generated code. For now, the focus is deliberately narrow — only widgets are supported, not full apps with multi-screen interfaces.

The launch aligns with Nothing’s larger push to transition from a hardware-focused company to one with a stronger software identity. CEO Carl Pei has suggested that smartphones evolve too slowly on the software side, and sees Playground as a way to speed up innovation while letting users shape their own tools.

Playground and Essential Apps form part of the “Essential” initiative, which Nothing frames as an early step toward an AI-native operating system. The company’s vision is to make devices adapt to users, rather than requiring users to adapt to rigid software.

Here’s a breakdown of what Playground offers today:

Feature Current support Limitations
Type of apps Widgets only Full apps are not supported yet
Sharing Essential Apps hub Only available on Nothing devices, except Phone 1
Customisation Prompt-based editing, optional code tweaks Dependent on AI accuracy; advanced changes may need coding
Distribution Install locally, share publicly No cross-platform availability at this stage

This rollout is intentionally limited. By starting with widgets, Nothing can test usability and reliability before expanding to more complex apps.

Prompt-based app creation is emerging across the tech world. Research projects like NoCodeGPT and AutoGen Studio show that AI can lower the barrier to entry for non-technical users. Commercial tools are also exploring similar territory, but Nothing’s approach is unique because it ties directly into its hardware ecosystem, giving it tighter integration with device functions and context data.

For everyday users, Playground offers the ability to generate simple, personalized tools on demand. A widget combining calendar events with weather forecasts, for example, can be created with a single prompt.

For developers, it opens new opportunities to provide templates, extend functionality, and build on user-driven demand. At the same time, some traditional lightweight apps may face competition from user-generated widgets.

The success of Playground will depend on whether Nothing can scale from widgets to full apps, maintain quality and security, and grow an active creator community. If it succeeds, Playground could reshape how apps are built and shared on smartphones, blurring the line between users and developers.