Apparently, the introduction of Windows Copilot heralds the end of Cortana on Microsoft’s desktop OS. In a new support document first seen by Windows CentralThe tech giant has announced that it will stop supporting the standalone Cortana app for Windows in late 2023. Microsoft launched Cortana as a voice assistant for Windows mobile devices back in 2014. It was supposed to be the company’s answer to Apple’s Siri, and it was even before Amazon’s Alexa, but it never reached their level of recognition and popularity.
During the year, Microsoft scaled back its plans for the voice assistant until it discontinued Android and iOS apps in 2021. The company even removed it from partner manufacturers’ devices, such as smart speakers. For Windows, in particular, Microsoft changed its status as a baked-in digital assistant and painted it as its own app for computers. That’s the app we say goodbye to at the end of the year.
In its announcement, Microsoft pointed out that users will still have access to “powerful productivity features in Windows and Edge, which add AI capabilities.” It specifically mentions the new Bing which is now powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 technology. Microsoft introduced the Microsoft 365 Copilot tool that can create content within Office apps with text-based prompts in March.
And then in late May, the company revealed at its Build developer conference that it is making AI a deeply integrated part of Windows 11 by placing a Copilot tool in the sidebar of the platform. Users can ask it to perform tasks within the OS, such as changing the computer background, or even editing photos and summarizing documents, without having to launch programs. app or search for particular settings. Chances are, very few people will miss Cortana. Those who use the assistant can switch to using Copilot, which will be available as a preview version for Windows 11 starting this month.
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