Microsoft will drop Cortana in Windows this year

The voice assistant could not compete with AI.

Microsoft will discontinue support for Cortana in Windows at the end of 2023. However, it will still be available for a while in Outlook Mobile, Microsoft Teams Mobile, Teams Display, and Teams Room.

This was not a big surprise. During the Build conference in May, Microsoft announced its new artificial intelligence tool, Microsoft 365 Copilot, which will be integrated into the taskbar. It will perform the same functions as the voice assistant and even more, the company emphasizes. For example, it will rewrite texts, ask clarifying questions, and adjust computer settings.

Microsoft first introduced Cortana in Windows 10 in 2015. With the voice assistant, users could quickly set reminders, open applications, ask about the weather in their city, and more.

But this project, it seems, did not meet expectations. Over the past few years, the company has gradually phased out the digital assistant from its products. With the release of Windows 11, it lost its prominent place on the taskbar. Soon after, it disappeared from Surface headphones and other branded devices. In 2021, support for the Cortana app for iOS and Android was discontinued.

The corporation noted that the project no longer aligns with its artificial intelligence strategy. They recommended users switch to other products that utilize AI.