It is official: Microsoft thinks Cortana is no longer needed on Windows, so it is kicking it out. According to a recent support note from the company, it will end the support for the digital assistant in late 2023. No specific date was mentioned, but this clearly indicates the tech giant’s push for its more advanced AI creations, like the upcoming Windows Copilot.
Despite this, the company stressed that the change would only cover Cortana on Windows, which means it will remain accessible on Outlook mobile, Teams mobile, Microsoft Teams display, and Microsoft Teams rooms.
Alongside the announcement, Microsoft promoted other Cortana alternatives for Windows users, including the ChatGPT-powered Bing and Edge. It also recommended its new Microsoft 365 Copilot, which gives Microsoft 365 applications and services assistant features and capabilities.
On the other hand, given voice capability is one of Cortana’s main highlights, Microsoft said that Windows users could resort to integrated voice access in Windows 11, which works even when the machine is offline. This allows users to use voice commands to perform different PC-related tasks, from switching between apps to writing emails and more.
Lastly, the software titan teased that Windows users will soon be able to use the promising Windows Copilot. Microsoft said that “Windows Copilot provides centralized AI assistance,” so users can use it to make commands for their PC settings and even answer complex queries using the power of Bing.
Microsoft launched Cortana in 2014 in the hopes of beating Apple Siri. However, the performance of the digital assistant is frequently disappointing. Months ago, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella even seemingly admitted the failure of Cortanta and other assistants, which he called “all dumb as a rock.” It is unknown, however, why the company has decided to keep the assistant available on its other platforms and apps, though it seems certain other “Copilot” features will arrive to them soon.
