Nova Launcher is going to use AI to make an assistant that can see all of your information.
Nova Launcher, one of the oldest and most popular Android launchers, might be going through a big change. The code in beta version 8.6.8 says that the app is getting ready to add a new feature called Nova AI. This is an interactive smart assistant that works inside the app itself and doesn't need any other apps to work. The proposal sounds ambitious in theory, but its requirements make me wonder.
Nova AI will need access to almost all of your phone's data in order to work. This includes your text messages, call history, location, contacts, calendar, and app usage. With this access, the assistant will remind you to reply to messages, notify you before meetings, and suggest what to watch at night. This sounds useful in theory, but it's difficult to justify when the app itself is requesting this access.
What exactly will Nova AI do?
This feature will include an interactive chat integrated into the home screen, accessible from the search bar or by swiping left. Examples found in the code include "What's happening near me right now?" or "What am I watching this afternoon?" It will also include a morning summary of the day's events, potential scheduling conflicts, and reminders before meetings, as well as a kind of "inner circle" of contacts that Nova AI technology will actively monitor.
The acquisition of Nova Launcher by Swedish company Instabridge in early 2025 hinted at this type of move: the new owners spoke from the outset about finding a "sustainable business model." This appears to be the solution. A mysterious feature called Nova Mobile, related to phone line management, also appears in the code, but no further details are currently available.
It's worth noting that all of this is based on an analysis of a beta version of the app, so it may change or not make it to the stable version. Interestingly, this information also points to a new monthly or annual subscription called Nova Plus, which will offer further restrictions on AI usage—a topic we'll discuss in more detail here.
Would you be willing to give your app access to your messages and calls in exchange for smart suggestions, or are there limits you would prefer not to cross?
- Application: Nova Launcher