Microsoft outlines its vision for “the next computer” with Project Solara, an agentic platform that exists liminally in your pocket and on your desk
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
Microsoft unveiled Project Solara, a vision for the future of computing, at Build 2026. This platform exists between devices and the cloud, offering agentic capabilities and always-available assistance. Microsoft is building a new OS, the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform, on top of AOSP, designed to be invisible and host cloud-based agents. The platform is not for traditional apps, but for AI that interfaces with services and tasks via an adaptive access layer. Microsoft technical fellow Steven Bathiche introduced the chip-to-cloud platform, designed for agent-first experiences and new device form factors. Prototype hardware is being used by hundreds of Microsoft employees.
💡 Why It Matters
- · By focusing on agent-first devices, Microsoft avoids the app catalog issue that plagued Windows Phone.
- · The just-in-time UI framework gives Microsoft flexibility in user interface design, adapting to device, screen size, and interaction mode.