- In 2022, a hoax called 'EdgeOS' emerged, a web-powered OS built on Edge, which Microsoft might have considered due to browser bloat.
- In 2024, Microsoft reportedly worked on 'Project Aion', a lightweight Windows OS based on Edge and AI agents, with Copilot integrated into the shell and the Start button replaced by a Copilot key.
- The leaked video shows Aion running on Win3, a minimalist Windows codebase without Win32 legacy app support, possibly compatible with AOSP and Windows, similar to Project Solara.
- This aligns with Microsoft's 2023 push for AI and Copilot, with CEO Satya Nadella comparing the Copilot key to the revolutionary Start button.
- However, it remains unconfirmed whether Aion was real or another hoax, akin to EdgeOS, though speculation suggests it may have evolved into Project Solara.
- The leaked content has fueled buzz about an AI-powered, cloud-based Windows 12, partly driven by Microsoft executives like Panos Panay.