Microsoft brings Cortana to iPhone and Android Phones

Microsoft’s new open platform strategy will extend to the company’s digital assistant Cortana says new report.

Cortana is Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s Siri. Cortana can perform tasks like scheduling, reminders (for both people and locations), giving updates on weather, traffic alerts for meetings and bringing the latest news depending on your interest.

Cortana is available so far only on Windows Phones. When Windows 10 arrives in Fall, Cortana will also be available on desktop computers. Reuters reports that Microsoft plans to release Cortana as stand-alone app on the Apple iPhone and on the Android platform. 

“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 Eric Horvitz, managing director of Microsoft Research and a part of the Einstein project, in an Reuters interview. 

The Microsoft Einstein is an AI research project that is supposed to be improving Cortana in the next version. 

“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,” says Eric Horvitz. 

Adding more contextual knowledge to digital assistants can make them more helpful. The question is if they will ever be be good enough to replace screens and Donna from Suits. The new Apple Watch and smartwatches in general are leading the way towards no screeen devices by offering only a very small display. Many Sci-fi movies depict the conversing computer as the digital tool of the future. 

Cortana came a long way from being a sexy artificial intelligence appearing in Microsoft’s Halo starting in 2008 to become a digital assistant.

About Cortana

Cortana has access to Bing search and keeps track of things that interest users. Cortana makes suggestions and reminds users of meetings and appointments and help you stay closer to the people who matter most to users.

Cortana continually learns about your interests, friends and favorite things – and just like a real assistant, records it in her notebook. She’ll ask you questions and tailor her suggestions over time to make them ever more personal. Cortana is the only personal smartphone assistant with people based reminders. That means Cortana can remind you to congratulate a friend on his promotion when he calls, or to send your mom a birthday card. 

Cortana also can chat with users like a real person and Micrsosoft clams that she is funnier than most of the friends users have and will root for your favorite team with you.