Gizmo, a new mobile app from Atma Sciences, is gaining traction by letting users create and share interactive “mini apps” using AI-generated code, rather than traditional video or static posts. The app, available on iOS and Android, presents these creations in a vertical feed similar to TikTok or Instagram Reels — but instead of watching, users tap, swipe, draw, drag, and otherwise interact with each experience. According to Appfigures, Gizmo has reached roughly 600,000 installs in less than six months, with strong growth in recent months.
Gizmo’s core idea is simple: anyone can create a small interactive experience using natural language prompts, without knowing how to code. Users describe what they want to build, and the app’s AI generates the underlying code and visuals needed to make it work. The resulting “Gizmos” can range from puzzles and quizzes to animated memes or digital toys, and can be liked, commented on, remixed, or shared via unique links.
The app comes from a New York–based startup founded by Rudd Fawcett, Brandon Francis, CEO Josh Siegel, and CTO Daniel Amitay. Atma Sciences raised a $5.49 million seed round last year from First Round Capital and other investors, according to PitchBook. While the founders have not yet done press interviews, the company has positioned Gizmo as an early experiment in combining generative AI with playful, low-friction creativity.
Unlike other “vibe coding” platforms that target productivity or utility-focused micro apps, Gizmo leans into entertainment and experimentation. Its feed is filled with small, self-contained experiences that feel closer to digital toys than software tools. Users can remix existing Gizmos to create their own variations, reinforcing the app’s focus on creativity rather than polished outcomes.
The company says Gizmo uses a mix of AI and human moderation to vet content for safety. During creation, the system also renders each experience visually to ensure it functions smoothly before it appears in the feed. In testing, the creation process is intentionally lightweight: users can quickly iterate by refining prompts until the result feels right, without ever touching code directly.
Early growth data suggests the concept is resonating. Appfigures estimates that about 235,000 downloads came in December alone, representing roughly 39% of Gizmo’s total installs. Growth from October to December was 312%, with December installs up 50% month over month.
For now, Gizmo remains an experiment in how AI-generated code can power interactive media at consumer scale. Rather than asking users to watch or scroll, the app is betting that lightweight, playable experiences — created and remixed through prompts — can carve out a new category alongside short-form video. Whether that approach can sustain long-term engagement remains an open question, but early adoption suggests there’s appetite for something more hands-on than another video feed.
This analysis is based on reporting from TechCrunch.
Image courtesy of Gizmo.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy and quality.
