Microsoft was developing entirely web-based OS centered around Copilot and AI
According to Windows Central, the project was called Aion. It appeared in a leaked internal video recorded sometime in 2024. The system was reportedly based on a stripped-down Windows codebase called Win3 and used Microsoft Edge as a core part of the experience.
No local Win32 apps
The prototype shown in the video did not run native Windows apps locally. Instead, it focused on websites and web apps. For desktop software, the concept relied on Windows 365, allowing users to stream a Cloud PC when a traditional Windows app was needed. I mean, if there was an option to turn Aion into a VideoCardz-only operating system, wouldn’t that be interesting?
Microsoft Project Aion, Source: Discord
The shell itself placed Copilot at the center of the interface. The video showed a Copilot-style input box used to find files, open apps and browse the web. It also included a Start menu-like interface and a taskbar with a feature called Spaces, which grouped apps and websites into saved work areas.
An older AI-first experiment
Windows Central reports that Aion may have been experimental and it is unclear whether Microsoft ever planned to ship it. The video was reportedly made in 2024, at a time when Microsoft was pushing Copilot much more aggressively across Windows and other products. We all know how that worked out.
A web-only desktop OS built around AI assistance would likely face a much harder reception today. Copilot features in Windows have already drawn criticism from users who do not want the operating system to move deeper into AI-driven workflows.
Source: Windows Central
