In a notable move, Microsoft has officially bid farewell to its Cortana app for Windows 11, the latest iteration of its operating system. Cortana, once a digital assistant capable of performing tasks such as setting reminders, launching applications, and providing answers to queries, is no longer operational on Windows 11 devices.
This decision was communicated through a support article, where Microsoft also divulged its intention to terminate Cortana support for other products. By the fall of 2023, Cortana assistance will cease to be available in Teams mobile, Teams Display, and Teams Rooms. However, Microsoft plans to retain Cortana functionality in Outlook mobile.
In the support article, Microsoft stated, “We’re making some changes to Windows and Microsoft 365 that will impact Cortana users. Cortana in Windows as a standalone app is deprecated. Support for Cortana in Teams mobile, Microsoft Teams display, and Microsoft Teams Rooms will end in the fall of 2023. Cortana in Outlook mobile will continue to be available.”
Cortana had its origins in Windows Phone, an endeavor that struggled to compete with the likes of Android and iOS. The digital assistant was later integrated into Windows 10 in 2015, finding a place of prominence in the taskbar. However, with Windows 11’s arrival, Cortana was removed from the taskbar and the initial boot experience, and its standalone app met its end this week.
The discontinuation of Cortana doesn’t come as a surprise, considering its challenges in gaining popularity and market share against formidable competitors such as Alexa and Google Assistant. Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, acknowledged in 2019 that Cortana had lagged behind rival offerings.
Yet, Microsoft isn’t giving up on the concept of digital assistants. A new feature for Windows 11 named Windows Copilot is in the works. Windows Copilot operates as a sidebar, enabling control over Windows settings, answering queries, and more. Powered by Bing Chat, a conversational AI service, Windows Copilot engages in informative conversations with users. This feature is expected to debut in a Windows 11 update this fall, which will also incorporate native RAR and 7-Zip support.
Additionally, Microsoft has introduced the rollout of Windows Copilot preview to the beta channel. Enthusiastic testers can access the preview, showcasing an AI-infused sidebar. This feature, initially unveiled at Build 2023, is aimed at enhancing user experiences.
As Microsoft highlighted in a blog post, “This first preview focuses on our integrated UI experience, with additional functionality coming down the road in future previews.”
To partake in this preview, users should be within the beta channel and possess the specified versions or later of Windows 11 and Microsoft Edge: Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22631.2129 and Microsoft Edge version 115.0.1901.150.
