Microsoft announces Project Solara, an Android-based OS for AI gadgets

In short: Microsoft unveiled Project Solara, a new operating system meant for small gadgets that run AI agents, and it is based on Android instead of Windows.

What happened

Microsoft announced “Project Solara” at its Build 2026 conference. It is an operating system, meaning the basic software that makes a device run, like Windows on a PC or iOS on an iPhone. Microsoft says Solara is designed for gadgets built around AI agents, which are AI helpers that can take actions for you instead of just answering questions.

Microsoft showed two concept devices to demonstrate what Solara could power. One is a “desk concept” that looks similar to an Amazon Echo Show, a small screen you might keep on a counter or desk. Microsoft said it can unlock with facial recognition and then give you access to AI agents.

The other is a “badge concept,” a wearable that looks like a work access badge. Microsoft said it has a camera and a fingerprint scanner, and you can press it to wake an AI agent. In its demo, the badge could record a conversation and quickly turn it into text, and the camera could let the AI agent see what the wearer sees.

Microsoft is not planning to sell these two devices. Instead, they are reference designs, meaning examples meant to help other companies build real products. GeekWire reports that companies including AccuWeather, Best Buy, CVS Healthcare, and Target plan to start pilot tests.

Why it matters

Big tech companies are trying to make AI assistants work in more places than your phone or laptop. If Project Solara catches on, you may see more dedicated AI gadgets that behave like a helpful coworker (always there, ready to act) rather than a grid of apps you have to open one by one.

Source: The Verge AI