Kora Systems has introduced a desktop OS designed for AI-centric workflows, planned for a free release in 2027 supporting Intel, AMD, and Snapdragon hardware.
Co-founded by Cyanogen veteran Kirt McMaster, the OS integrates AI assistants to operate across apps and maintain task context.
The system is designed so that digital assistants and artificial intelligence models can work in different applications, open files and remember what was done in previous tasks.
Kora isn’t trying to convince all Windows users to switch. It’s targeting people who use AI frequently and are willing to pay for powerful models and services. Its co-founder, Kirt McMaster, estimates that 45 to 50 million people are responsible for a large portion of AI usage and revenue today. He predicts that market will exceed 200 million users by 2033.
Kora is entering a market dominated by Windows. According to StatCounter's web traffic data, Windows had about 77% of the global desktop operating system market in October. Apple's OS X had about 10%.
How will Kora work?
Digital assistants will be able to operate in separate spaces, with limited access to files and other computer resources.
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Kora wants to support models and services from different providers. However, its own AI system, Cortex, and Kora’s work environment will remain closed. The company has not committed to making its own software available in a way that allows others to review and modify it.
Cortex will run AI tasks on the computer when possible. For tasks that require more computing power, it will use models over the internet. Kora plans to generate revenue from subscriptions that will include access to AI models and digital assistants.
The company has been working with Qualcomm engineers for almost a year to adapt the system to computers with Snapdragon chips, including the Snapdragon X2 Elite.
From Playtron to Kora
The company was previously known as Playtron, which developed an operating system for games. In July 2025, it was renamed Kora and turned its attention to artificial intelligence. The new effort builds on nearly three years of work on GameOS, its previous gaming system.
Kora has about 50 engineers and uses artificial intelligence tools to develop software, such as OpenAI’s Codex and Anthropic’s Claude. According to McMaster, these tools have accelerated development at least fivefold. Most of this improvement has occurred in the past six months.
The company is also planning AI tools for creating, publishing, and playing games within the operating system. Its plans also include support for Android apps.
It is also working with Saudi AI company Humain on Humain OS, an enterprise version expected to run on Snapdragon laptops in 2027. Kora plans to announce partnerships with computer manufacturers later. McMaster did not name companies or give a specific timeline.
Kora’s investors include Samsung Next, Square Enix, Alumni Ventures, Polychain, VanEck and Circle, which also invested in Playtron. McMaster said Kora has secured additional funding since its shift to artificial intelligence and has enough money to operate for several years. He did not disclose the total amount of funding or the company’s valuation.
McMaster was a co-founder of Cyanogen, which shut down its Android operating system business nearly a decade ago after years of unsuccessfully trying to limit Google's dominance. He said his experience showed him how dangerous it is to depend on the company you're trying to compete with. Cyanogen was still heavily reliant on Google's services.
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