Aluminium OS: Google's Android-Powered Future for Personal Computers

Further insight into Google's long-anticipated initiative to merge key functionalities of Android and ChromeOS into a unified operating system has emerged from a product manager job advertisement for a project dubbed "Aluminium OS". The listing specifically characterizes this new OS as having "Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the core".

The job posting, which was two months old but only recently noticed before being removed, was initially brought to light by Android Authority. It provides the first known designation, likely a codename, for Google's upcoming operating system as "Aluminium OS," also referenced by the initialism "ALOS." The description explicitly states that Aluminium is "Android-based," with Google planning to target a broad spectrum of hardware, from entry-level and mass market devices to premium offerings.

Initially, it appears ChromeOS will not be phased out completely. The job description indicates that the team will oversee "a portfolio of ChromeOS and Aluminium Operating System" devices, spanning diverse form factors such as laptops, detachables, tablets, and "boxes," across different price segments. However, the advertisement also outlines a requirement to devise a strategy for Google to "transit Google from ChromeOS to Aluminium," implying a long-term goal to gradually supersede ChromeOS with this new Android-centric solution.

The nomenclature itself is notable, particularly its use of the British English spelling ending in "-ium." This could potentially be a subtle acknowledgment of Chromium, the open-source foundation upon which ChromeOS is built.

Google's consideration of an Android variant for personal computers dates back over a decade, with discussions becoming more pronounced in recent years. Last year, Android Authority reported on the development of these new plans, a sentiment echoed by Android head Sameer Samat, who later confirmed the company's intention to "combin[e] Chrome OS and Android into a single platform," with a projected release next year.