Forget OS and apps, for Microsoft there will be only AI agents: here is Project Solara

Microsoft is betting big on the next major paradigm shift in the world of computing. After the experience with Windows Phone, Redmond does not want to be caught unprepared. The company presented its vision for the future at Build 2026, in the era of artificial intelligence: Project Solara, a platform agent-first that will exist liminally between devices and the cloud, always ready to assist the user. A turning point, according to CEO Satya Nadella, that shifts the focus from OSs and apps to AI agents.

Solara is more than just a vision; Microsoft is already working on it. At its core is a new operating system, lightweight and secure, called Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP). It is not Windows but a fork of Android (AOSP), although not licensed from Google. MDEP is designed to be "invisible," an environment for an Agent Shell capable of dynamically loading and customizing multiple cloud-based agents. It won’t run traditional apps but will host artificial intelligences that interact with services and tasks on behalf of the user through an adaptive access layer.

Project Solara: a new OS, new form factors, no apps

"To enable this new era, we are introducing a 'chip-to-cloud' platform, code-named Project Solara, designed from the ground up for 'agent-first' experiences and for the new form factors of devices that it enables," stated Steven Bathiche, technical fellow at Microsoft. Solara aims to meet business requirements in terms of manageability, security, and privacy while ensuring critical user experiences.

The key to success lies in the "agent-first" model that does not require a large catalog of apps, a downfall of previous Microsoft attempts. Flexibility is guaranteed by a 'just-in-time' UI framework. This means that the interface adapts dynamically to the device, screen size, content, and mode of interaction (visual, voice, touch, or multimodal), without developers having to redesign every element for each new form factor.

The devices are still conceptual, but hardware prototypes are already in use by hundreds of Microsoft employees. Among these, a "Badge Concept Device", similar to a small handheld smartphone with a touchscreen, and a "Desk Concept Device", reminiscent of an 8-inch smart speaker like Alexa. These will serve as reference designs for the ecosystem. Qualcomm and MediaTek are already working on the silicon that will power these agentic devices.

Project Solara is based on three pillars:

1. It is already ready for businesses (security and privacy with Intune, Entra ID, Hello for Business, physical privacy controls).
2. It integrates an "agent-driven" interaction model with just-in-time UI.
3. It can flexibly add custom agents.

The system is designed to allow multiple specialized agents to operate simultaneously, with a dispatcher and a task manager for automatic management.

Project Solara is currently in the early stages of design and concept. Microsoft will launch a private pilot program with some partners in the "coming months." However, for a tangible consumer product based on Solara, it will likely take "at least a few years." Microsoft is already encouraging developers to think beyond current screens and form factors, envisioning a future where AI will represent the actual interface.