Microsoft unveiled Project Solara at its Build 2026 conference Tuesday. The surprise announcement points to a future where specialized gadgets run AI agents instead of traditional software. No Windows here. The platform builds on a hardened version of Android. Executives positioned it as the foundation for devices that embed intelligence directly into workflows. Steven Bathiche, Microsoft CVP and technical fellow who leads the Applied Sciences Group, described the shift bluntly. “Boundaries are collapsing,” he said. “You don’t necessarily need the traditional app model. You don’t need the traditional way of developing experiences.” Computers keep specializing. They move closer to users. Solara aims to accelerate that trend with purpose-built hardware. The company showed two reference designs. One sits on a desk like an oversized smart display. It unlocks via facial recognition. Speak to it and an agent surfaces priorities for the day.…