Jun 2, 2023 at 11:49 PM RIP Cortana: Microsoft announces retirement of the voice assistant on Windows 10 and Windows 11
In a recent announcement, Microsoft revealed that it will no longer support the Cortana app on Windows 10 and Windows 11 later this year. This decision comes as a result of the deep integration of Copilot into the Windows OS, the new AI assistant powered by OpenAI's technology. As of late 2023, Cortana will no longer be available as a standalone app in Windows.
However, users will still be able to access and utilize Cortana in other Microsoft 365 products. The voice-based assistant will remain functional in Outlook.com mobile (through the Play My Emails feature), Microsoft Teams mobile, display, and rooms (even though personally, I don't think for much longer). Microsoft aims to offer alternative options for voice-based productivity needs through different tools, rather than continuing the Cortana app. And of course, you can always use your reliable website of alternative recommendations that fit your needs😉
The retirement of Cortana in Windows is part of Microsoft's strategy to facilitate a smooth transition to new AI products and services. The company emphasizes the Bing Chat AI and the upcoming Windows Copilot as suitable replacements for the Cortana app. The Windows Copilot, set to launch in the fall alongside Cortana's retirement, will provide enhanced capabilities compared to its predecessor, and they also recommend relying on the Voice Access feature in Windows 11.
This shift in focus towards Microsoft's AI efforts demonstrates the company's new approach to rapidly and extensively integrating this technology across all its products, including the most widely used operating system on the planet. It may not be long before we start seeing new AI-powered features on Xbox as well, but we'll have to wait a few months to find out. It's no secret that since its conception in 2014 for the also defunct Windows Phone, Cortana has never enjoyed the same popularity as other digital assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, and today I don't believe anyone would consider the service as a serious alternative to the others. But undoubtedly, this news marks the end of the service, erasing any possible idea of a comeback at the hands of artificial intelligence. So, I think we can officially say RIP Cortana.
It's been an honor serving with you, John.
- Free • Proprietary
Good.. never used it anyways. Microsoft seems to be on an endless mission to shove unwanted services into their operating system forcing users into the befuddling task of removing it.