After introducing a string of AI-powered assistants for its merchandise, Microsoft has now introduced that it’s going to quickly finish assist for the Home windows standalone Cortana app.
Cortana gives voice-based help and a variety of duties, equivalent to setting reminders, creating calendar occasions, offering climate updates, and looking out the online.
Initially launched as a part of the Home windows Telephone working system, Cortana has since expanded to different platforms, together with Home windows 10, Android, and iOS. It is now deeply built-in into Microsoft’s ecosystem and was designed to work intently with different Microsoft merchandise.
In response to a support document printed on Wednesday and noticed by Windows Central, the private productiveness assistant will probably be retired in late 2023, 8 years after its inclusion in Home windows 10 in 2015.
“Beginning in late 2023, we’ll now not assist Cortana in Home windows as a standalone app. Nevertheless, you possibly can nonetheless entry highly effective productiveness options in Home windows and Edge, which have elevated AI capabilities,” Microsoft stated.
“This transformation solely impacts Cortana in Home windows, and your productiveness assistant, Cortana, will proceed to be out there in Outlook cell, Groups cell, Microsoft Groups show, and Microsoft Groups rooms.”
Home windows Copilot enters the stage
The announcement comes after Redmond dropped support for the Cortana cell app two years in the past, beginning March 31, 2021.
Cortana’s spot as a Home windows digital assistant has already been crammed by the AI-powered Windows Copilot unveiled final week in the course of the Construct convention.
Panos Panay, Redmond’s Chief Product Officer for Home windows and Units, revealed that Home windows Copilot is about to enter the preview section for Home windows 11 beginning in June.
Microsoft is suggesting a few of its different not too long ago launched merchandise—that substitute Cortana and construct on prime of its capabilities—together with Voice access in Windows 11 to manage your PC together with your voice, the brand new AI-powered Bing search engine, and the Microsoft 365 Copilot AI productiveness device.
“We’re excited to maintain innovating and utilizing AI that will help you work smarter and quicker. We hope you take pleasure in the brand new methods to make use of AI to save lots of time and deal with what issues most to you,” Microsoft stated.
