Microsoft Retires Cortana: Major AI Transformation Sparks Virtual Assistant Revolution
Microsoft has officially ended support for its voice control engine, Bing, resulting in the retirement of its virtual assistant program, Cortana. This move marks a significant transformation in Microsoft’s digital ecosystem as it aims to incorporate more advanced AI technology across its range of digital goods and services.
The decision to retire Cortana has been anticipated for some time, with Microsoft designating the app as deprecated in June and planning to terminate support by late 2023. While Cortana will still be available in Microsoft Teams, Teams mobile, and Teams displays for now, it will be phased out this autumn, according to Gizmodo.
Although Microsoft Cortana will continue to be accessible in Microsoft Outlook for mobile, its relevance dwindled three years ago when it was removed from smart speakers and stopped working on iOS and Android.
Users attempting to use the Cortana app on Windows 10 and 11 will be notified that it is deprecated as a standalone app, according to The Verge. Microsoft is now promoting its Microsoft 365 and Windows 11 Copilot AI solutions instead of Cortana. However, for those remaining on Windows 10, the Bing in-browser AI will serve as the primary source of search results.
Cortana was first introduced in 2014 and subsequently integrated into Windows 10 and Xbox platforms. It was intended to rival virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. However, when innovation in the virtual assistant field stagnated in 2019, Cortana’s relevance declined. As a result, Microsoft and Amazon decided to allow customers to use Cortana and Alexa interchangeably. The removal of Cortana from the Xbox interface in 2020 further contributed to its decline.
This development takes place amid a rapidly advancing AI-driven technology landscape, with major IT companies such as Apple striving to innovate in the market. During a recent investor call, Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged the company’s research into various AI technologies, including generative AI. There are rumors circulating regarding Apple’s own AI initiatives, potentially competing with developments like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
While Google and Microsoft have already released new AI tools, Apple’s progress in this field has been slower. Despite rumors of Apple developing its generative AI technology, the company is still some distance away from announcing its products.
Apple’s current virtual assistant, Siri, has faced criticism internally for its perceived lack of progress. This has sparked discussions about the need for Apple to reassess its AI strategy and keep pace with market trends.
Microsoft’s retirement of Cortana and the potential reinvention of virtual assistants by industry giants like Apple hint at a significant revolution in AI-driven digital goods and services as the AI landscape continues to transform.
