Starting in the autumn, Microsoft will cease to provide support for the Cortana app. Here’s what you should be aware of:
- Microsoft is discontinuing support for Cortana on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 in the near future.
- The company is highlighting its recent advancements in AI as alternative options to replace the Cortana experience.
- This announcement comes only a week after Microsoft introduced Windows Copilot, a new AI assistant driven by ChatGPT technology.
In an announcement made today, Microsoft revealed its decision to withdraw support for the Cortana app on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 in the upcoming months. This development follows closely on the heels of Microsoft’s introduction of the Windows Copilot, an advanced AI assistant utilizing ChatGPT technology, designed to tackle more intricate inquiries.
Regarding the retirement of Cortana, Microsoft has shared the following information in its support documentation:
“We are making some changes to Windows that will impact users of the Cortana app. Starting in late 2023, we will no longer support Cortana in Windows as a standalone app … This change only impacts Cortana in Windows, and your productivity assistant, Cortana, will continue to be available in Outlook mobile, Teams mobile, Microsoft Teams display, and Microsoft Teams rooms. We know that this change may affect some of the ways you work in Windows, so we want to help you transition smoothly to the new options. Instead of clicking the Cortana icon and launching the app to begin using voice, now you can use voice and satisfy your productivity needs through different tools.”
Microsoft highlights a range of recent AI offerings such as Bing Chat AI and the upcoming Windows Copilot, set to debut in the autumn alongside Cortana’s retirement, as viable alternatives to the Cortana app. According to Microsoft, the Windows Copilot is expected to offer capabilities that surpass those of the Cortana app, while still being able to perform most of its functions.
Importantly, Microsoft clarifies that Cortana will remain as a productivity assistant within Microsoft 365 applications and will continue to operate without any changes. It is specifically the Cortana assistant in the Windows operating system that will be retired later this year.