Cortana, Microsoft ‘s digital assistant (Microsoft) , started out as an attempt to compete with the corresponding products of Apple (Apple), Google (Google) and Amazon (Amazon), but the company now seems ready to raise a white flag and admit its defeat. This April, the company will release an update to the Windows 10 operating system as well as its Launcher launcher for Android devices, and instead of adding new features to Cortana, Microsoft will significantly reduce its capabilities.
Among other things, Microsoft intends to remove Cortana voice commands related to control of smart home accessories, music playback , and control of external applications. In addition, the digital assistant cannot be used without first logging into a business or student Office 365 account, so home users who are not connected to their work account will not see Cortana in the operating system at all.
Somewhat surprisingly, while the update removes many voice commands from the service, it actually adds other commands: options for setting alarms, changing different computer settings, running software, and answering various queries through the Bing search engine. The explanation is simple: Microsoft is only targeting Courtena in the business market from now on, and there, in the opinion of the company, there is little value in a digital assistant helping with household chores or entertainment. Cortana, named after a computer game character, is now a professional-only service.
