Microsoft has announced a significant shift in its approach to AI-powered features across Windows and Edge, with a plan to end standalone Cortana support by the end of 2023. The move aligns with broader goals to integrate advanced artificial intelligence into everyday workflows, offering users new productivity capabilities while gradually phasing out Cortana across mobile platforms and Windows. The company initially withdrew Cortana support for Android and iOS in 2021, ending many mobile reminders and to-do list functions. The current strategy mirrors that transition for the Windows ecosystem.
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The information comes from a statement published on Microsoft’s support blog. The post notes that certain Windows experiences, including Cortana, will undergo changes through 2023. Cortana first appeared in 2014 as a voice assistant for Windows mobile devices, with capabilities like file searches, task lists, reminders, and alarm settings. A year later, Cortana arrived on computers with the Windows 10 update, expanding its reach to desktop users.
For users who relied on Cortana during their work, Microsoft outlined a path to a seamless transition toward the new AI-powered options introduced in Windows and Edge. Rather than launching Cortana with a dedicated icon and voice commands, users can now utilize built-in productivity tools that do not require the Cortana interface. Windows 11 includes a voice access feature that allows control of the computer and text input through speech, enabling actions such as opening apps, navigating the web, and composing emails, all with advanced voice recognition and offline capabilities.
The announcement also highlights new AI-powered options: Bing, now enhanced with artificial intelligence, enables users to pose complex questions in Bing Chat and receive answers sourced from trusted online information. Microsoft 365 Copilot builds on AI to transform natural language into powerful productivity actions within Microsoft 365 apps like calendars, emails, and documents, assisting with creation, editing, and sharing tasks.
In addition, Windows Copilot is described as an embedded AI assistant that works alongside Bing Chat and first-party as well as third-party plugins to help turn ideas into tangible results within everyday workflows. This marks a shift toward integrating AI assistance directly into the operating system, making AI features accessible across a broad range of tasks. Windows Copilot was slated to arrive as a Windows 11 preview and was designed to launch from the desktop taskbar, opening a side panel for conversational input. The feature supports a variety of functions, including summarization, content explanation, and access to capabilities powered by Bing and ChatGPT, all aimed at enhancing daily productivity.