'We plan to integrate ChromeOS and Android in the future,' says Google executive

While Google develops 'Android' as an OS for smartphones and tablets, it also develops ' ChromeOS ' for PCs. Chromebooks equipped with ChromeOS can use Android apps, but Android devices cannot generally use ChromeOS apps. However, according to what Google's Android chief told the technology media TechRadar, Google plans to integrate ChromeOS and Android.

'I think you see the future first on Android' – Google's Android leader Sameer Samat | TechRadar
https://www.techradar.com/phones/android/i-think-you-see-the-future-first-on-android-googles-android-leader-sameer-samat

Google exec: 'We're going to be combining ChromeOS and Android' | The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/news/706558/google-android-chromeos-combining-sameer-samat

Samir Samat, president of Google's Android Ecosystem, spoke about his vision for Android in an interview with TechRadar. According to interviewer Lance Ulanoff, Ulanoff asked him about the MacBook Pro, Apple Watch, and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 test devices he uses, and why he chose those devices.

When asked why he asked about the device, Samat said, 'We're planning to merge ChromeOS and Android into a single platform, so I'm very interested in how people use their laptops these days and what they're doing.'

Plans to integrate ChromeOS and Android have been rumored for some time. Android Authority, a media outlet that provides Android-related news, reported in November 2024 that 'Google is converting ChromeOS to Android to compete with the iPad' based on a leak obtained from an internal Google source. There are also rumors that Google is developing a high-end notebook PC 'Pixel Laptop' as a new product of the 'Pixel' brand, and Android Authority predicted that the Pixel Laptop may use 'PC version Android' that integrates ChromeOS and Android, rather than ChromeOS, which has been installed as an OS for notebook PCs until now.

Rumor has it that Google is developing a high-end laptop called the Pixel Laptop, with the OS running on a PC version of Android - GIGAZINE

It was also reported that Google will provide smartphone manufacturers with virtualization tools to run ChromeOS on Android from around 2024. Google also announced in June 2024 that 'ChromeOS will soon be developed based on a large part of the Android stack,' revealing its intention to adopt the Android framework and other frameworks as 'part of the foundation of ChromeOS.'

Google is testing a virtual version of Chrome OS on Android devices, which could allow Chromebook apps to be used on Android - GIGAZINE

In an interview with TechRadar, Samat only mentioned the integration of ChromeOS and Android, without revealing any specific timeline or details. On the other hand, while talking about the difficulty of iOS users switching to Android, he said, 'If you make the effort to switch from iOS to Android, I'm sure it's worth the effort,' and emphasized that Google's AI 'Gemini' is better at working with Android than the iPhone, making remarks that were conscious of the competition with Apple.

In addition, Samat also spoke about Android XR , the XR (cross reality) OS he is in charge of. First, Samat explained why Google is entering the XR field, which integrates VR and AR, saying, 'Our mission is to transform computing and make it accessible to people all over the world. There are more than 3 billion Android devices. For some people, this is the first and only computer they have in their lives. This is important, but there is also a high-end aspect to computing. High-end devices push the boundaries of what is possible. In doing so, they open up new possibilities for computing.'

Furthermore, regarding Google's AR smart glasses 'Google Glass,' which will no longer be sold or supported in 2023, Samat said, 'It was clear that Google Glass pushed the limits too early, but it was a learning experience for Google, and Google has never given up on development since then. One of the things I like about working at Google is that it's a place where you can reflect on yourself a lot.' He talked about the results of the project.