Nothing's new earbuds put ChatGPT a squeeze away

While hardware startups like Humane and Rabbit are busy shipping standalone AI gadgets that struggle with basic phone tasks, Nothing is taking a far more practical route: putting ChatGPT right into your ears.

The London-based tech brand announced two new sets of wireless earbuds: the flagship Nothing Ear and the budget-friendly Nothing Ear (a). The headline feature this time around is deep, system-level ChatGPT integration.

Pinch to prompt

The naming scheme drops the numbers. The Nothing Ear updates the Ear (2), while the Nothing Ear (a) serves as the spiritual successor to the Ear Stick.

Here is how the AI hook works. If you have the official ChatGPT app installed on a paired Nothing smartphone, a simple pinch on the earbud stem instantly summons the AI chatbot. It feels just like triggering Siri or Google Assistant, but routes your voice directly to OpenAI.

Nothing is also weaving this deeper into Nothing OS. The phone update introduces system-level shortcuts to ChatGPT, including quick screenshot sharing and Nothing-styled home screen widgets. The pinch-to-chat feature, however, remains exclusive to the new earbuds.

Upgraded drivers and a splash of yellow

Beyond AI, the core audio hardware gets a solid refresh.

The Nothing Ear features a redesigned driver system that promises better audio quality. The new layout also freed up interior space for a bigger battery, boosting battery life by up to 25% compared to the Ear (2). It also includes a smart active noise-canceling setup that adapts in real time to ambient sounds and ear-canal leakage.

The cheaper Nothing Ear (a) also gains improved active noise canceling. Visually, it breaks away from Nothing's signature monochrome aesthetic with a striking bright yellow colorway.

Both models go up for preorder today and begin shipping April 22. The Nothing Ear retails for $149, while the Ear (a) costs just $99.

Why it matters

Nothing just highlighted the absurdity of dedicated AI pins and pocket boxes.

Instead of asking people to spend $700 on a pin with a laser projector or carry an underpowered secondary brick, Nothing realized that true wireless earbuds are already the ideal wearable AI interface. We already wear them all day, we are already used to pinching the stem, and the smartphone in our pocket already has the computing power and cellular connection.

It is a clever, friction-free way to productize voice AI without reinventing consumer behavior.

The main catch is the walled garden. The ChatGPT shortcut strictly requires both the new earbuds and a Nothing handset running Nothing OS. If you use an iPhone or a Galaxy, you are out of luck for the AI shortcut.

Even so, at $99 and $149, Nothing delivered solid everyday earbuds first and an AI shortcut second. That pragmatic approach makes a lot more sense than selling promises of an AI post-smartphone world.