Kora Systems unveils Linux-based AI OS, launching 2027

Kora Systems is not starting from scratch. The Palo Alto-based company, previously known as Playtron, had spent nearly three years developing a Linux-based gaming operating system called GameOS before rebranding in July 2025 to focus on AI. That shift allowed Kora to build on its existing Linux foundation, replacing GameOS's Fedora Silverblue base with Linux and Nix. The decision to pivot came as companies including Perplexity and OpenAI were moving into AI-powered web browsers, but McMaster believed browsers would not give AI agents enough access to a computer for complex tasks, making an operating system a better starting point. Kora's team of about 50 engineers relies on AI coding tools including OpenAI's Codex and Anthropic's Claude, which McMaster says have accelerated development by at least fivefold, with most gains over the past six months. None of Kora's engineers worked at Cyanogen; instead, the company recruited heavily from the Linux gaming community. Kora is also working with Qualcomm's engineers to optimize for Snapdragon-powered PCs, and with Saudi Arabia's AI company Humain on an enterprise version called Humain OS, expected to run on Snapdragon-powered laptops in 2027. Investors include Samsung Next, Square Enix, Alumni Ventures, Polychain, VanEck, and Circle, all of which previously backed Playtron.