Windows 10: Leaked Video Reveals Microsoft Project Aion, an Internal Prototype OS Built Around Copilot

Microsoft has developed an internal prototype of a web-based operating system centered around Copilot, where the AI assistant replaces the Start menu, taskbar, and traditional desktop shell, according to a leaked video reported by Windows Central.

The project, called Aion, was built on a codebase named "Win3" and used the Edge browser as its shell. The video first appeared on BetaWiki's Discord server and is thought to be around two years old.

Sources verified the clip's authenticity to Windows Central. Microsoft has not commented on whether Aion was an internal hacking experiment or a product proposal, and the current status of the project is not known.

What The Leaked Aion Video Shows


The Aion prototype features Copilot as the primary interface for the operating system, replacing the traditional Windows overlay. Instead of the familiar Start menu and taskbar, a Copilot-powered shell built with web technologies is used.

Leaked footage shows several notable features, including a multi-modal input box where users can type commands to interact with Copilot. There is also a placeholder for a taskbar and start menu-like functions.

A concept called "Spaces" groups apps and websites together with the help of AI, allowing users to open, close, or recall these Spaces via an interface similar to a Start menu.

Additionally, there are rich plugins enabling Copilot to perform actions such as drafting and sending Outlook emails based on content within a Space.

The system is said to run on a lightweight, web-based Windows codebase, with the Edge browser and Chromium's layout engine powering the Copilot experience.

Since the prototype is based on web technologies, it doesn’t support native Win32 applications directly. When users want to open a Win32 program like Microsoft Word, Aion provides a link to a Windows Cloud PC instance where the program can be used remotely.

This method follows what Microsoft does with Windows 365 Cloud PC, where legacy applications run in a cloud-hosted Windows environment instead of directly on the local device.

Why Microsoft’s Copilot OS Prototype Is Raising Concerns


Project Aion is not a product that is currently available for shipping. The footage leaked earlier is said to be around two years old, and Microsoft has not confirmed whether the project is still actively in development, has been reworked into other initiatives, or if it has been shelved.

Sources from Windows Central describe Aion as an internal experiment, but there is no official information regarding its future plans.

Recently, Microsoft reduced some Copilot integrations across Windows 11 following user feedback about feature bloat. Plans to incorporate Copilot into notifications and settings were quietly canceled, and Microsoft Edge recently removed its AI-powered history search feature after user backlash.

These decisions suggest that Microsoft is taking a more cautious approach to adding Copilot capabilities than what was originally proposed in Aion.

Meanwhile, Copilot continues to expand through what Microsoft calls multiple agentic "personas," and Edge is already gaining agentic browsing features.

This pattern indicates that, even if Aion itself does not see release, some of its design elements are still appearing in Microsoft's products.

The public response to the leaked clip has largely been negative. Reddit users on r/pcmasterrace expressed concerns about a Copilot-powered operating system, highlighting issues such as the potential loss of support for local applications without cloud dependence, privacy concerns related to an AI that can read across Spaces, and reduced user control compared to traditional Windows desktops.

Users also noted that core OS functions would require internet access. Microsoft's terms of use for Copilot specify that users adopt the assistant at their own risk, which has added to skepticism about a Copilot-focused approach to operating system design.

What Project Aion Means For Windows Users


For current users of Windows 10 and Windows 11, Aion has no immediate impact. The prototype isn’t available publicly, and Microsoft has not announced plans to replace the standard Windows shell with a Copilot-based interface.

Users concerned about AI integration in Windows can take several steps. They can review Windows Settings under Privacy and Security to control what data is accessible to Copilot and other AI features.

If the assistant isn’t needed, it can be disabled on Windows 11 through Settings, Personalization, Taskbar. It is also advisable to keep an eye on Insider builds for updates on how Copilot is integrated into the shell.

Additionally, reviewing Microsoft's Copilot terms of use can help users understand its data handling policies. For those who prefer traditional Windows workflows, it is worth noting that Microsoft has continued to add options that address feedback about Copilot placement.

Recent updates include an option to pause Windows Update indefinitely, a movable taskbar, and a dedicated Taskbar Size setting available in Insider builds.

Aion is part of Microsoft's broader effort to develop agentic AI within the operating system. The Windows Central report compares Aion to other Microsoft projects that involve agentic technology, such as the expanding automation features in Edge and more than 80 Copilot products across Microsoft's portfolio.

It remains unclear whether Aion will be released publicly or stay an internal project. Leaked footage shows how far Microsoft was willing to go in redesigning the Windows shell to incorporate AI.

Those interested in Windows’ future can look for changes at the shell level in upcoming Insider builds and official roadmap updates, which may indicate whether any concepts from Aion are being pursued.

Microsoft has not officially acknowledged the Aion project. No release date, plans for revival, or public roadmap have been provided.

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Microsoft, reveal us, the CopilotOS, the Microsoft Copilot's OS

Yo Microsoft, i'm messaging Discord and i messaged this discord comment:

the CopilotOS is succeeded Windows after Windows 11, replacing Windows NT kernel with **Copilot Quantum** kernel, it's come with the next generation of Microsoft Copilot (the rebranded Microsoft AI), Microsoft Checker (the Microsoft's check-able app) and AR 4789/Concept Central-like UI (for that, i'm the progress of gets warn by moderator)

and someone is firstly replied my discord comment, they said:

Btw what on earth is this all about? I tried looking it up and can’t find anything

so i replied the someone where it's exist in, it's in your hq

but someone is secondly replied my discord comment, they said:

Can you send me a link to something about it?

can you reveal us, the CopilotOS? because they act like CopilotOS wanter

 

Microsoft, reveal us, the CopilotOS, the Microsoft Copilot's OS

Hi, Reeao

Welcome to Microsoft Community.





Thank you for your support of Microsoft products! We understand that you would like to inquire about “CopilotOs”, but we are sorry to say that “CopilotOs” is not a product developed by Microsoft, and Microsoft has not released any official news about it, so please refer to the official Microsoft website for all the news.

You can get the latest news about Copilot from Copilot's official website:

Microsoft Copilot | Microsoft AI





Best Regards

Nicholas.Z| Microsoft Community Support Specialist

 

Microsoft 365 Copilot is coming to OneNote

Source: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/...t/ba-p/3788442