Microsoft has announced its plans to discontinue support for the Cortana app on Windows 10 and 11 starting in the fall of 2023. This change is set to impact the way users interact with Windows, as Cortana will no longer function as a standalone app within the Windows ecosystem.
However, Microsoft has been quick to assure users that they will continue to have access to Cortana as a productivity assistant in Microsoft 365 apps including Outlook mobile, Teams mobile, Microsoft Teams display, and Microsoft Teams rooms. The change is only applicable to the Windows operating system where the Cortana app is being retired.
In lieu of Cortana, Microsoft is introducing new tools to cater to the needs of the users. As part of the transition, the company has recommended users engage with different tools for voice-based interactions instead of launching the Cortana app. Microsoft’s recent AI efforts, including the Windows Copilot and Bing Chat AI, are being highlighted as suitable replacements for the Cortana experience.
The news of Cortana’s retirement comes on the heels of the unveiling of the Windows Copilot, a new AI assistant powered by ChatGPT technology. The Windows Copilot is set to launch this fall, around the same time that Cortana will be retired. This smarter AI assistant is touted to handle more complex queries and is expected to perform most, if not all, of the functions that the Cortana app currently offers, and more.