Microsoft CEO Says AI Agents Will Replace Apps and OS in the Future

Microsoft is making its vision for the future of computing increasingly clear, and according to CEO Satya Nadella, that future revolves around AI agents rather than traditional operating systems and applications.



During Microsoft Build, the company introduced Project Solara, a new chip-to-cloud platform developed in partnership with Qualcomm. The initiative aims to create AI experiences that are more personal, context-aware, and continuously available across devices and services.



Microsoft Sees a Major Platform Shift



While discussing Project Solara with Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon, Nadella described what he believes is the next major change in computing.



According to Nadella, the industry is moving beyond the era where operating systems and apps serve as the primary platform. Instead, Microsoft sees AI agents becoming the central way people interact with technology.



He said, “There’s a real platform shift. We’re moving from building operating systems, devices for apps, to agents.”



The statement highlights Microsoft's growing focus on agent-based AI systems that can understand user needs, perform tasks, and work across multiple services without requiring constant manual input.



Project Solara combines Qualcomm's hardware expertise with Microsoft's software and cloud technologies. The goal is to build a foundation where AI agents can run efficiently across devices while remaining connected to powerful cloud services.



Microsoft and Qualcomm describe Solara as a platform where silicon, software, and cloud infrastructure work together to deliver AI experiences that stay aware of user context and preferences.



Nadella's comments show how Microsoft views the next stage of computing. Rather than opening individual apps to complete tasks, users could increasingly rely on AI agents that handle actions across multiple platforms on their behalf.



The announcement also arrives just ahead of Apple's upcoming developer conference, where the company is expected to introduce new Siri capabilities and additional AI features. As major technology companies invest heavily in AI, the race to define the future of computing is becoming increasingly focused on intelligent agents.