Microsoft is showing off a radical new vision for mobile computing with Project Solara. It's an Android-based operating system designed not for apps, but for AI agents. The company is clear that this is still just a concept-none of it works yet-but it's committed to spending money on it as part of its massive AI expansion.
Microsoft has demonstrated two concept devices. The Desk Concept is a smart display with a touchscreen, microphones, and a camera. It tells you what your AI agents are doing, can act as a secondary monitor, or become a standalone Windows PC via cloud computing. The Badge Concept is a work lanyard with a touchscreen, 5G, a camera, and a fingerprint scanner. It provides biometric access to your agents, allowing you to tap and command your personal robot. It could also record meetings and use its camera to take action on the environment.
Neither device is for sale. Microsoft's next step is to demo these agent-first devices with partners including AccuWeather, Best Buy, CVS Health, Levi's, and Target. This is a bold pivot for a company that has repeatedly failed in mobile. Now, with its OpenAI deal sputtering, Microsoft is betting on a future where agents replace apps.