Microsoft has decided to discontinue Cortana, the virtual assistant initially launched with Windows 10, on its latest operating system, Windows 11.
The Cortana application, which was Microsoft's answer to Apple's Siri in 2014, gained considerable attention through a series of promotional advertisements designed to highlight its capabilities against its competitor.As announced by Microsoft, this discontinuation comes into effect from August 2023. The move forms part of the technology giant's continued commitment to investing in advanced AI technologies. Microsoft is now urging its user base to shift to Bing Chat and other AI tools. This development is in line with the recent introduction of Microsoft 365 Copilot, a novel AI integration within applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, designed to improve their functionality for both personal and professional purposes. The testing stage for this new AI tool has already begun.
The pathway leading to the termination of Cortana support has been comprehensive. Cortana was initially deactivated in Android and iOS apps back in 2021. Despite this phase-out, Microsoft has not disclosed whether future iterations of Windows will continue to exclude Cortana or if this strategic discontinuation signals an overarching improvement in design.
The history of Cortana goes back to its debut as a holographic AI companion for Master Chief in the Halo franchise in 2001. Over the years, with the progression of technology, her role evolved, even becoming the primary antagonist in titles like Halo 5: Guardians. Outside the gaming realm, Cortana's influence spanned into the Paramount+ series, where actress Natascha McElhone portrayed the character. Cortana is confirmed to make a return in the series' second season, though the exact date remains unspecified.
While Cortana is no longer functioning on Windows 11, it remains operational on Windows 10, which is scheduled to receive updates until October 2025. However, a source closely associated with Microsoft has confirmed to Windows Latest that the company plans to end the application's support on Windows 10 in the coming weeks. Cortana has already been removed from the Microsoft Launcher for Android and other platforms, but it will continue to be available on mobile applications such as Outlook, Teams, and Teams Rooms.
