After challenging Google’s Android with Cyanogen, its co-founder takes aim at Windows for AI era

Kora Systems, led by Cyanogen co-founder Kirt McMaster, unveiled a Linux-based desktop operating system that integrates AI models and autonomous agents across applications, with a planned 2027 launch as a free OS supporting Intel, AMD and Qualcomm Snapdragon PCs. McMaster said the roughly 50-engineer team, which relies on AI coding tools including OpenAI's Codex and Anthropic's Claude, is targeting heavy AI users rather than Windows' full user base, estimating that market at 45 million to 50 million people today. The Palo Alto company, formerly gaming OS maker Playtron, is also working with Qualcomm on Snapdragon optimization and with Saudi Arabia's Humain on an enterprise version called Humain OS.