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Google is again signaling its ambition to close the gap between smartphones and PCs. At Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit, the company teased plans to merge Android with ChromeOS into a single platform that can run on laptops and desktops.
The momentum grew when Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon revealed he had already seen the software in action. “I’ve seen it; it is incredible,” Amon said during a keynote with Google’s head of platforms and devices, Rick Osterloh. “It delivers on the vision of convergence of mobile and PC. I can’t wait to have one.”
Osterloh explained Google’s broader vision, saying the company is building a “common technical foundation” to unite smartphones, PCs, and desktops. He added that Gemini, Google’s complete Android AI stack, and the entire Android developer ecosystem will extend into the PC space. “This is another way Android can serve everyone across every computing category,” Osterloh said.
The timing of the announcement is notable. Later today, Qualcomm will reveal its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, expected to power these next-generation Android PCs. The partnership between Google and Qualcomm also stretches into other fields, including automotive technology.
This project first came to light in July when Sameer Samat, head of Android, confirmed plans to combine ChromeOS and Android. That announcement followed last year’s effort to rebuild ChromeOS using parts of the Android stack.
A source says, with Google and Qualcomm now speaking openly about convergence, Android-powered PCs appear closer to reality. If Amon’s excitement is any indicator, Google’s entry into desktop computing could become one of its most significant software shifts in years.
