Microsoft, according to a published video from 2024, was internally developing a brand new operating system codenamed Project Aion, also known as Copilot OS. It is a radical AI concept that was drastically different from the Windows 11 system, because it abolished the classic Start menu, desktop icons and the traditional logic of working with applications.
Instead of the familiar Windows interface, Copilot OS used Copilot as the central point of interaction. The system was based on the Microsoft Edge browser and in terms of philosophy it was more reminiscent of ChromeOS than classic Windows. After startup, there were no desktop icons, while the Start menu and Task View button were completely removed from the Taskbar. Their place was taken by the Copilot button.
Copilot OS changes the Windows interface from the ground up
Clicking on Copilot didn’t open a list of apps, but a personalized AI home screen with a greeting, Microsoft 365 information, an option to create new content, and a news preview. In the “My Content” section, there were web applications such as Edge, Teams, Word, Excel and Microsoft To Do.
The biggest change related to the way of working with tasks. Copilot OS did not organize open windows by applications, but by user goals. If the user were to search for a restaurant, a meeting or a document, the system would open different AI windows and dynamically assign icons to them according to the content of the conversation.
The system was deeply connected to the Microsoft 365 environment. Copilot was able to search SharePoint files, email messages, and colleague data to extract relevant information directly from conversations. Since the entire system ran through Edge, the AI was able to analyze the DOM structure of web pages, not just the screen image as with existing Copilot Vision features.
Copilot OS did not support classic Windows programs natively. Win32 applications would be run through the Cloud PC system, where the user would, if necessary, download a remote desktop session with an already open file. However, this radical Microsoft AI operating system has reportedly been canceled or delayed indefinitely. The company, meanwhile, has focused on improving the core Windows 11 experience, instead of completely abandoning the familiar Windows operating model, reports Windows Latest.