Google prepares ‘Aluminium OS’ as it considers bringing Android to traditional PCs

Google

Google is assessing a new direction for its software strategy as it examines how Android could be adapted for desktop-class hardware. Although Android has expanded widely across phones, tablets, TVs, cars and mixed-reality devices, traditional PCs have remained largely untouched. That may soon change. A report from Android Authority highlights a new job listing that hints at Google’s intention to build a desktop operating system powered by Android, referred to internally as Aluminium OS.

The LinkedIn listing seeks a Senior Product Manager for “Android, Laptop and Tablets” and describes Aluminium OS as an Android-centred platform built around artificial intelligence. It signals a fresh attempt to enter a computing category that Google has approached cautiously for years. While ChromeOS has achieved success in education and budget-oriented machines, it has never displaced Windows or macOS in mainstream PC segments. The timing of this discovery aligns with Google’s recent announcement at the Snapdragon Summit, where it revealed a partnership with Qualcomm to bring mobile and desktop computing closer through a unified platform.

AI appears to sit at the heart of Aluminium OS. The report indicates that the system may integrate Google’s Gemini tools, many of which already run on modern Android devices for on-device AI processing. If similar capabilities are extended to desktop hardware, Google could remove the constraints of mobile battery life and memory limits, allowing more powerful AI models to run locally.

The job listing provides further insight into Google’s plans. It mentions shaping a portfolio that includes devices built on ChromeOS and Aluminium OS, spanning laptops, detachables, tablets and compact box-style machines. Product ranges referenced include Chromebook, Chromebook Plus and several Aluminium OS tiers from entry-level to premium. This suggests the company may aim beyond low-cost hardware and target a broader set of PC users, including those looking for higher-end performance.

The mention of both ChromeOS and Aluminium OS in the same portfolio implies that Google expects the two systems to coexist for some time. Over the long term, the company may explore ways to merge components or introduce shared frameworks between them. If Aluminium OS moves forward, it would mark a significant shift in Google’s platform strategy, positioning Android for a much larger role in the PC ecosystem by combining mobile familiarity with desktop-grade performance.