Google is merging ChromeOS and Android into a single platform

The big picture: ChromeOS and Android have traditionally served two distinct customer bases, but that is about to change and sooner than many expect. The big "OS merger" in Mountain View is underway, though we still lack critical details about what will come out of this potentially messy process.

In a recent interview, Sameer Samat, President of the Android Ecosystem, revealed that ChromeOS and Android are officially merging into a single platform. In truth, Google has been gradually blending the two operating environments for years. Stating that the merger is finally happening simply confirms what many in the industry have long suspected and speculated about.

Interestingly, this announcement came during a wide-ranging conversation about the future of Android, Gemini, and related topics. During the interview, Samat noticed TechRadar Editor Lance Ulanoff using a MacBook Pro and asked what apps he was using to manage Apple devices, among other tasks.

"I ...