Microsoft to Discontinue Cortana from Windows
Microsoft has announced that it will be discontinuing Cortana, its voice assistant, from Windows by the end of this year. In a blog post, the company states that while the Cortana app for Windows will be shut down, language support will continue to exist. Microsoft plans to replace Cortana with new AI tools like Copilot, which is intended to partially take over the functions of Cortana. This decision brings an end to Microsoft’s efforts to offer a voice assistant comparable to competitors such as Alexa from Amazon, Siri from Apple, and the Google Assistant.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT to Integrate Artificial Intelligence
Microsoft is now relying on the integration of artificial intelligence from OpenAI’s ChatGPT to replace Cortana. The company has already invested a significant amount of money in ChatGPT. The Cortana app for mobile operating systems like iOS and Android was discontinued in 2021, but the productivity assistant will still be available in the mobile versions of Outlook and Teams, as well as in Teams displays and Teams rooms.
New Functions to Replace Cortana
With the discontinuation of Cortana, Microsoft plans to introduce new functions to replace its features. Under Windows 11, users will be able to use the built-in voice control for certain tasks and dictations on their PC via voice command. For questions, users can use the renewed Bing search engine, which is now using artificial intelligence via ChatGPT to give answers as precisely as possible, instead of just presenting web links.
Additionally, a new function called Copilot will take over the tasks of an ‘intelligent’ assistant. Copilot will be expandable using plug-ins and improve the Chrome-based Edge browser.
Cortana’s History
Cortana was first introduced in 2014 and was available on the long-defunct Windows Phone mobile operating system. Later, it was also available on Windows 10 as well as Android. After a brief partnership with Amazon, where the two companies linked their voice assistants, Microsoft scrapped the project in 2019 and announced a phased adoption of Cortana, which included the discontinuation of the app for iOS and Android in 2021.
In conclusion, Microsoft is finally saying goodbye to its voice assistant Cortana, and instead, it aims to introduce new functions that will replace its features. The company is now relying on OpenAI’s ChatGPT to integrate artificial intelligence and improve the user experience. The discontinuation of Cortana could be an opportunity for Microsoft to come up with better and more advanced voice assistants in the future.
