Microsoft Pulls Cortana From Windows 11 Taskbar
Cortana has been excised from the upcoming version of Microsoft Windows. The voice assistant will no longer be a part of the setup or taskbar in Windows 11 when the new operating system rolls out, as revealed in the specifications this week.
Cortana Fades
Cortana has been a part of the Windows setup for a long time. The voice assistant was the voice guiding new owners through the initial installation and customization of the operating system. Cortana would then be available in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen for easy access. Now, it will still exist but not be arranged as the default choice. Windows 11 has a few subtle but significant changes that set Windows 11 as a major milestone in the operating system’s evolution. Internet Explorer, though still accessible, is disabled by default, with Microsoft pushing the Edge browser instead. And the tablet mode will no longer be an option. On the other hand, Microsoft plans to make Android apps available and a revamped interface, but Cortana is not a central part of the experience anymore.
Voice Enterprise
Microsoft began shifting away from the Cortana as a consumer experience when it launched the Cortana Skills Kit for Enterprise. The Cortana app shut down this year, and the Harman Kardon smart speaker no longer uses Cortana as a voice assistant. Cortana is far from gone, however. Microsoft keeps adding new voice AI features to its mobile apps and has fully integrated Cortana into its Microsoft 365 products. Microsoft Outlook has also integrated Cortana, letting users set up and confirm meetings by voice, and is a key element of the Teams platform. Cortana hasn’t totally vanished from devices either, though it’s pretty much done with smart speakers. The voice assistant runs the new Microsoft Surface Hub and Lenovo ThinkSmart View touchscreen computers. Though specialized around using Teams, the devices share similarities with Microsoft’s latest laptops, which can perform as voice-controlled smart displays.
Follow @voicebotaiFollow @erichschwartz
Microsoft is Testing Voice Controls for Windows 10 After Ditching Cortana
Microsoft Cortana App Will Shut Down in 2021 and Cortana Skills RIP in a Few Weeks
