Microsoft is poised to retire its digital voice assistant, Cortana, from its Windows ecosystem. While Cortana will soon bid adieu to Windows 10 and Windows 11, it’s important to note that it will still continue to serve in various capacities across other Microsoft products, including Outlook and Teams mobile.
The process of phasing out Cortana has been underway for some time. Back in June, Microsoft announced its decision to cease support for Cortana on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. However, the company refrained from specifying the exact timeline for this transition. Subsequently, hints emerged pointing towards August as the month of Cortana’s departure, although no precise date was mentioned. It now appears that Microsoft has commenced the official process of discontinuing Cortana’s services.
Observers at XDA Developers have noted a change in the most recent update to the Microsoft Store. Currently accessible only to Insiders in the Dev and Canary channels, the update is expected to gradually roll out to all users, giving them some time to bid farewell to Cortana. Once the update becomes widely available, users opening the Cortana app will be greeted with the message: “Cortana in Windows as a standalone app is deprecated.” This announcement will be accompanied by a “Learn More” button, which directs users to a Microsoft support page detailing the implications of Cortana’s departure and potential replacements.
Despite its imminent departure from Windows 10 and Windows 11, Cortana will maintain a presence in other Microsoft products. It will continue to be functional in Outlook, Teams mobile, Microsoft Teams display, and Microsoft Teams Rooms. However, this extension is likely temporary, subject to Microsoft’s ultimate decision regarding Cortana’s fate.
Cortana’s introduction coincided with the growing popularity of digital voice assistants, offering users the convenience of completing tasks through voice commands. Although Cortana didn’t attain the level of fame enjoyed by Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple’s Siri, it still held recognition. For Windows users, Cortana provided assistance, but Microsoft eventually shifted its focus to tools that could encompass broader functionalities.
This year, Microsoft introduced Copilot, an AI-based assistant set to assume a prominent role in Windows 11. Copilot goes beyond basic tasks, allowing users to ask complex questions akin to querying Bing AI. Expected to debut with Windows 11, version 23H2 in September, Copilot’s emergence aligns with Cortana’s phasing out. The decision to retire Cortana appears strategic, as Copilot gears up to take the reins. While the future inclusion of Cortana in major Windows 11 updates remains uncertain, current signs indicate that Cortana is gradually making its exit, as observed by Insider users.
