Microsoft’s former digital assistant for productivity
Cortana by Microsoft Corporation was once a central feature of Windows, designed as a cloud-based personal assistant to streamline tasks through voice and text commands. Named after the AI companion from the Halo series, Cortana aimed to make productivity seamless by integrating with Microsoft 365 services and offering hands-free interaction across devices.
Cortana supported reminders, calendar events, emails, and quick calculations, providing a convenient way to stay organized. It connected with Outlook for scheduling, worked with Skype for calls and messages, and leveraged Bing for web searches. Within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, Cortana also helped manage emails and meetings, making it especially useful for business users. Accessibility features, such as voice activation with “Hey Cortana,” further expanded its reach by enabling hands-free use for individuals with mobility challenges.
Productivity features and integrations
Changing role and retirement
While Cortana offered genuine utility, its limitations became more apparent over time. Privacy concerns around data collection raised questions for some users, and competition from assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant overshadowed its adoption. Microsoft gradually reduced Cortana’s role, removing Skype integration and phasing out consumer features. By 2023, Cortana was fully retired as a standalone app in Windows, with its functionality largely replaced by Microsoft 365 Copilot and Windows Copilot.
Final thoughts
Cortana represented Microsoft’s ambitious step into digital assistance, blending productivity with voice-driven technology. At its peak, it offered practical scheduling, communication, and search tools within the Microsoft ecosystem. Today, it stands more as a predecessor to Microsoft’s modern AI-driven tools rather than an active option for users.
Pros
- Strong integration with Microsoft 365 apps
- Hands-free voice activation
- Useful for reminders, scheduling, and quick tasks
- Accessibility benefits for hands-free interaction
Cons
- Phased-out features over time
- Privacy concerns with data collection
- Fully retired in 2023 and no longer supported
