Microsoft MSFT +0.9% launched its digital assistant Cortana on Windows Phone devices last year and it will be integrated in the taskbar of the Windows 10 desktop operating system this fall. Now there is a rumor that Microsoft is preparing to expand Cortana beyond its own products. An advanced version of Cortana — which utilizes technology from an artificial intelligence research project code-named “Einstein” — will be launched on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets later this year
“This kind of technology, which can read and understand email, will play
a central role in the next roll out of Cortana, which we are working on
now for the fall time frame,” said Microsoft Research managing director
Eric Horvitz via Reuters.
“We’re defining the competitive landscape… of who can provide the most
supportive services that make life easier, keep track of things, that
complement human memory in a way that helps us get things done.”
Microsoft has launched several of its programs on competing mobile operating systems under the leadership of Satya Nadella,
who was appointed the chief executive on February 4, 2014. This
strategy ensures that Microsoft’s software stays relevant on mobile
devices. During Nadella’s first public press conference, he announced
iPad versions of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Microsoft Cortana
uses the Bing search engine to pull up user queries and that will
likely be the same case when it arrives on iOS and Android.
Microsoft’s goal for Cortana is to utilize research on machine learning,
speech recognition and search queries to anticipate the needs of its
users. Apple AAPL -0.72% Siri was designed for responding to statements and questions and Google GOOGL -1.48% Now
has predictive information cards based on content that it thinks the
user wants to see. Apple implemented similar functionalities
as Google Now within the Today View of the Notification Center in iOS 7.
Shortly after that, Google built a stripped-down version of Google Now
into the Google app for iOS.
When you
book a flight and receive an e-mail confirmation, Cortana will send you a
notification on your departure and arrival date about the best time to
leave for the airport. It automatically checks the flight status and
tells you what the traffic conditions are while you are driving to the
airport. The individual functionalities built into Cortana are common
with other digital assistants, but combining each one together is what
makes Microsoft’s digital assistant distinguishable from the others.
Cortana is able to report the weather, set up appointment reminders and
write text messages using your voice. Microsoft announced Cortana at
the BUILD conference in April 2014, which was named after the artificial
intelligence character in the video game “Halo.”
Microsoft Cortana / Credit: Microsoft
Microsoft has aired multiple commercials where Cortana makes fun of Siri. Here is one of those commercials: