Windows’ Cortana departure from Master Chief remains unjustifiable.

Trying to slide in a story as the week wraps up, aiming for inconspicuous notice!

Once hailed as Microsoft’s premier smart assistant on Windows, Cortana, the beloved character from the Halo game series, made its debut on the operating system in 2015. However, as time passed, Cortana’s support dwindled, prompting speculation about Microsoft’s eventual decision to discontinue the assistant.

Indeed, that speculation is now a reality. According to a report from XDA Developers, a support document has emerged on the Windows website, revealing Microsoft’s plan to end support for the Cortana app on Windows later this year. While the assistant will persist in certain productivity apps for now, the overall trajectory is unmistakable.

We’ll be making changes to Windows that will impact users of the Cortana app. Starting in late 2023, we’ll cease support for Cortana as a standalone app within Windows. Nevertheless, you can still leverage robust productivity features in Windows and Edge, both now enhanced with advanced AI capabilities. This means you can continue to receive assistance with tasks, calendar management, and email, albeit through fresh and engaging methods. This adjustment specifically pertains to Cortana within the Windows environment, while the productivity assistant, Cortana, remains available in Outlook mobile, Teams mobile, Microsoft Teams display, and Microsoft Teams rooms.

Today’s announcement doesn’t come as a shock. At Microsoft’s recent Build event, they introduced Windows Copilot, an AI-powered assistant seamlessly integrated into the taskbar, offering support throughout the entire operating system. This development unmistakably signaled that Cortana’s days were numbered, and now the news has been officially confirmed.