Cortana is far from dead as Microsoft plans to make an 'Intelligent OS' with Windows 10

With the Consumer Electronics Evidence (CES) wrapping recently many people have been worried about Microsoft'southward Cortana assistant. After all, Amazon'southward Alexa and Google's smart services dominated the show with plenty of new product announcements and – more importantly – large partnerships with home accessory makers (notably absent-minded: Apple tree).

Despite that, yet, Microsoft did have some large announcements including Synaptics and Qualcomm for reference boards and integration into home products. The Qualcomm proclamation is significant because it lets manufacturers of smart home devices add Cortana without any work – it comes built into the reference board.

Additionally, Ecobee, Geeni, Honeywell Lyric, IFTTT, LIFX, TP-Link Kasa and Honeywell Total Connect Comfort are all on board besides. Indeed, my Cortana already has Ecobee and IFTTT integration letting me control my thermostat through my Android phone or Harmon-Kardon Invoke speaker.

Only the more pregnant news that was non announced is what'southward coming adjacent for Windows 10 and Cortana.

Despite not having a smartphone to serve as a proper vector for Cortana Microsoft is repositioning the smart assistant for the PC. Looking towards Windows 10 Redstone 5 in fall 2022, and Redstone 6 in 2022 Microsoft is showtime to weave Cortana and artificial intelligence (A.I.) through the beat out of Windows 10.

The IFTTT trigger service is coming to all Cortana users in early 2022. Information technology's currently in beta testing.

The goal is simple: make a "globally intelligent" OS.

The idea makes sense. Combine machine learning with A.I. and dig it deep into the operating system Cortana tin can be a very proactive assistant. Forget asking Cortana to play a song, just rather "Hey Cortana, can you read me the concluding electronic mail Zac Bowden sent me" actions and much more.

And no, this is not "Clippy 2.0". This is more nigh hooking Cortana deeper into the native app experiences rather than a floating icon that nags you.

And despite people requesting Microsoft to but put Amazon Alexa into Windows 10 the task of making that happen – and working through Amazon – is much more piece of work, with likely footling in return. Alexa every bit an app on Windows 10 will not be better than Cortana every bit an app on iOS for like reasons: lack of Bone integration.

Cortana's moving to the Action Centre in 'Restone v'.

Some of these changes with Cortana are now just beginning. Cortana Collections is one aspect, but besides Zac Bowden's contempo article detailing Cortana moving to the Action Center is some other. Another instance is making Cortana more conversational via text since people tend to type more on a PC versus voice on a smartphone.

The future of Cortana will become evident later in 2022, simply for now, Microsoft'south plans involve building Windows 10 – and Windows Cadre Bone specifically – around Cortana, non without information technology.