Google is bringing Android to personal computers, codenamed ‘Aluminium OS,’ to unify its desktop computing efforts and challenge Windows and macOS dominance.
One year ago, Android Authority reported Google’s plan to use Android as its unified desktop OS. A Google executive confirmed a merger between ChromeOS and Android. At Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit in September, Google officially announced its collaboration with Qualcomm to develop a new platform converging mobile and desktop computing, leveraging AI advancements.
While Google intends to bring Android to PCs, details regarding the future of ChromeOS, device compatibility, and interface remain unspecified. Job listings and bug reports offer insights into the project.
A recent job listing for a ‘Senior Product Manager, Android, Laptop and Tablets’ explicitly mentions working on a “new Aluminium, Android-based, operating system.” This confirms Aluminium as the codename for the unified platform. The name likely references Android as the project’s foundation, mirroring Chromium’s “-ium” suffix.
Aluminium OS is “built with artificial intelligence (AI) at the core,” suggesting deep integration with Gemini, Google’s AI chatbot and large language model. Rick Osterloh, Google’s SVP of Devices and Services, stated at the Snapdragon Summit that the company aims to leverage its AI stack, including Gemini models and the Assistant, into the PC domain. Gemini currently powers on-device AI features on premium smartphones requiring significant CPU, GPU, and NPU resources.
The Senior Product Manager role involves “driving the roadmap and curating a portfolio of ChromeOS and Aluminium Operating System (ALOS) Commercial devices across all form factors (e.g. laptops, detachables, tablets, and boxes) and tiers (e.g., Chromebook, Chromebook Plus, AL Entry, AL Mass Premium, and AL Premium).” This indicates Android will extend beyond laptops to include detachables, tablets, and mini-PCs. The tiered structure, encompassing ‘AL Entry,’ ‘AL Mass Premium,’ and ‘AL Premium,’ confirms Google’s aim to compete across the entire PC spectrum, not just budget hardware.
The project is expected to launch in 2026. The initial public release will likely be based on Android 17.
