At the Snapdragon Summit 2025, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon and Google’s Senior Vice President of Platforms & Devices, Rick Osterloh, discussed their collaborative efforts to extend Android’s reach into desktop computing. This initiative aims to unify the user experience across various devices by integrating Android into personal computing systems.
Background and Strategic Vision
In 2024, Google announced plans to base ChromeOS on Android, signaling a move towards a unified platform. This strategy involves merging ChromeOS and Android into a single system, with the ChromeOS experience built upon Android’s underlying technology. This integration is designed to streamline engineering efforts, accelerate AI innovation, and enhance device interoperability.
Unified Technical Foundation
Osterloh emphasized the goal of providing rich computing experiences across all categories, including automotive, extended reality (XR), and smartphones. Historically, Google’s PC and smartphone systems have been distinct. The current project seeks to combine these into a common technical foundation for PCs and desktop computing systems. This approach leverages advancements in AI, such as the Gemini models and Google Assistant, and integrates applications and the developer community into the PC domain.
Qualcomm’s Enthusiasm and Role
Qualcomm’s involvement brings a new operating system to its PC-class chips. Traditionally, only a limited number of Chromebooks have utilized Qualcomm CPUs, and none currently employ the Oryon CPUs. Amon expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating that it delivers on the vision of convergence between mobile and PC platforms.
Implications for the Future
This collaboration suggests that while ChromeOS and Chromebooks will continue to exist, a new desktop offering centered around Android is forthcoming. The specifics of this initiative, including potential device formats like convertibles, remain to be seen. Android 16’s desktop experience currently focuses on tablets and phone-to-external display connections, indicating a broader expansion into desktop computing.
Conclusion
The partnership between Google and Qualcomm represents a significant step towards a unified computing experience across devices. By integrating Android into desktop environments, this initiative aims to enhance user experience, streamline development, and foster innovation in personal computing.
