Revamped Windows 11 Update Takes a Bold Step: Bid Farewell to Cortana!

Highlights

Microsoft's latest Windows 11 update is eliminating support for Cortana, the virtual assistant app, as the company aims to phase it out.

Cortana, initially introduced as a competitor to Siri back in 2014, has been experiencing a gradual decline in support. In recent years, it has been phased out from Xbox One and mobile devices.

As a replacement for Cortana, the Windows 11 update introduces a fresh voice-command program and an innovative app called Windows Copilot. This app leverages AI technology to provide assistance to users.

The latest update for Windows 11 is eliminating support for Cortana, as Microsoft aims to phase out its virtual assistant app. Cortana was introduced in 2014 on Windows Phone as a rival to Apple's Siri. Like Siri, Cortana is a virtual assistant program that utilizes Microsoft's exclusive Bing search engine to assist users with finding information and completing tasks such as setting reminders. Interestingly, Cortana derives its name from the holographic companion of the Master Chief in the Halo games, who plays a similar role in aiding the weary space soldier in their mission to save the universe.

Nevertheless, just as Cortana was gradually phased out in later Halo games and replaced by the Weapon, Microsoft has been reducing support for its own Cortana in recent years. Although Cortana was initially integrated into the Xbox One's dashboard, it was removed via a console update in 2019, about a year before the release of the Xbox Series X/S. Similarly, the Cortana apps for Android and iOS-compatible devices were discontinued in March 2021.

Now Cortana is being phased out of Windows 11. The most recent update for Windows 11 eliminates the dedicated Cortana app from the system, as stated in a post on the official Microsoft support website and reported by IGN. Furthermore, in the upcoming months, Cortana will also be removed from Teams mobile, Microsoft Teams display, and Microsoft Teams Rooms. However, support for the program will still remain in Outlook mobile.

The latest Windows 11 update introduces a new voice-command program in place of Cortana. With advanced speech recognition technology, users can now effortlessly switch between apps, browse the web, and manage emails by speaking. Furthermore, Microsoft is introducing its new Windows Copilot program which utilizes AI to provide assistance in Bing Chat and third-party plug-ins. Windows Copilot was released as a preview in June, following its announcement a month earlier.

While this Windows update adds numerous new features, it also signifies the end of an era as Cortana, the previous virtual assistant program, is being phased out. Just as the fictional Cortana AI became synonymous with the Halo franchise, Microsoft's Cortana has been a staple for Windows users over the past eight years. However, Microsoft is now moving forward with the Windows Copilot app, integrating Cortana across various platforms, including the latest Windows 11.

Source: Microsoft (via IGN)