What even is an OS now?
Thomas Ptacek is leaving Fly.io to build a new AI-native phone, arguing that AI-generated custom micro-applications will replace traditional fixed-function software.
summary is enough Provocative post on AI-native operating systems, though the more substantive technical debates and pushback reside in the comments.
summary
Thomas Ptacek argues that AI is eliminating the boundary between users and programmers, enabling people to dynamically generate single-use micro-applications rather than relying on prefabricated software from strangers. Because traditional operating systems are built to isolate untrusted third-party apps, he contends a complete reimagining of the mobile platform is necessary. Consequently, he is leaving Fly.io to build a new type of phone designed around this fluid, AI-driven paradigm. The community heavily debates the security implications, whether users actually want to code, and if autonomous agents will bypass apps entirely.
key points
- Traditional operating systems exist primarily to isolate fixed-function software created by professional developers.
- AI lowers the barrier to software creation, allowing users to generate idiosyncratic micro-applications for hyper-niche personal problems.
- Skeptics argue that users prefer robust system-provided databases and unified assistants rather than managing a sprawl of AI-generated apps.
- Security, trust, and liability requirements for services like banking and healthcare will still demand strict OS-level isolation.
who should read it
Mobile platform engineers, systems developers, and startup founders tracking the impact of AI on software architecture.
discussion skeptical
consensus
Skepticism dominates the discussion regarding whether average users actually want to generate their own apps, citing historical precedents like BASIC where most people remained non-technical consumers.
pushback
A strong minority view suggests the future is not a sprawl of personalized apps at all, but a single autonomous AI assistant that executes tasks directly without intermediate app creation.
In my opinion, this post misses the forest for the trees. Yes, the model of an OS running various off-the-shelf apps for various tasks will soon become obsolete. But it's not the idea of the OS that's outdated - it's the idea of apps. Why would you ever want to ask an AI to make an app for you to complete some task, if you can instead ask the AI to complete the task directly? The future isn't a bunch of extremely personalized apps - the future is a single AI assistant doing all the work.
It shifts the perspective from building personalized apps to questioning why users would need apps at all instead of a unifying agent.
Generated by an LLM from the article and thread. Check the sources before relying on it.