Microsoft Project Aion leaked as AI-centric operating system

Leaked internal documents and videos have revealed details about Project Aion, an unreleased AI-centric operating system developed by Microsoft, also referred to as Copilot OS. Unlike traditional Windows, Aion is designed around the Copilot AI agent, lacking a conventional start menu, desktop icons, or a standard taskbar.

The system is built on a lightweight codebase known as Win3 and utilizes a customized Microsoft Edge shell. User interaction is driven primarily by a central Copilot prompt, which supports text and voice commands. The interface features a concept called ‘Spaces’ to organize tasks by goal, such as planning a trip, and uses ‘Context IQ’ to pull information from Microsoft 365, SharePoint, and emails to provide intelligent summaries and assistance.

While the system shows advanced capabilities, such as generating emails in various tones without opening Outlook, reports suggest it may not reach the market. Current Microsoft leadership appears focused on improving Windows 11 rather than pursuing a radical departure from the existing desktop paradigm.