Google is developing a brand-new Aluminium OS
Shortly after officially confirming its plans to merge Android and Chrome OS, Google posted a job listing for a senior product manager for a “new operating system built with Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the core.” The listing reveals the new OS is called Aluminium OS, which is likely its codename.The job listing, reported recently by Android Authority, was published two months ago, but it’s now offline. It describes Aluminium OS as an Android-based software that will end up on various devices.
Continuing a naming tradition
Google is using British spelling for the name of Aluminium, which is likely a nod to Chromium, the open-source base on which Chrome and ChromeOS are built. The company also uses the initialism ALOS, which stands for ALuminium Operating System.According to the job listing, Google will keep ChromeOS running at least for a while. The company’s plan is to develop a portfolio of devices that run on ChromeOS and Aluminium OS, including laptops, detachables, tablets, and boxes. Those devices will be spread across different price points.Eventually, the company will phase out ChromeOS. Part of the tasks the new senior product manager will have is to create a strategy for transitioning “Google from ChromeOS to Aluminium”. That would add ChromeOS to the ever-growing list of discontinued products and services in the infamous Google Graveyard.
Earlier this year, Sameer Samat, head of Android Ecosystem at Google, confirmed that a combination of Android and ChromeOS is launching next year. The company hasn’t announced any specific devices, but they will likely compete with Apple’s MacBook Air and iPad, and many Windows-based laptops.
An interesting moment for a new desktop OS
I won’t be surprised if Google turns into the biggest threat Microsoft’s consumer business has faced in a while. Launching Aluminium OS with Gemini amidst the backlash against Windows Copilot could lead to a shift in the PC market.
