Since its change in leadership almost three years ago, Microsoft has considerably shifted its strategy. The company is now much more consumer-oriented, a stark difference to the product-specific direction it has long been known for. Microsoft of today doesn’t shy away from venturing into different territories. A part of those efforts is the Cortana AI.
Cortana is Microsoft’s very own AI digital assistant. Or, to put it in another way – Cortana is Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s Siri. It’s the easiest way to answer what Cortana stands for. The gaming populace might recognize the name from Halo, a popular video game series where Cortana first emerged as a digital character. Microsoft put a lot of effort into making Cortana efficient, interviewing actual personal assistants in the process and then adding their experiences.
It’s hard not to compare it to Siri as the two are very much alike. Microsoft’s digital agent possesses the same natural language processing that fuels Siri, meaning there is bound to be some hit-and-miss during conversations. Still, Cortana’s adaptive neural network absorbs the experience and improves the interaction every single time.
If you are wondering how to activate Cortana, you can do it in two ways. You can tap or click a microphone icon in the search box for a single use. Also, there is the always-on option so every time you say the key phrase “Hey Cortana”, it marks the beginning of a new command. It has a training option to respond more selectively to your voice. In addition, it has a totally opposite option to respond to anyone, suitable for devices you share with others.
For beginners, it may take some time getting used to Cortana and thus achieving personal awareness between the two sides. However, that is all part of the process and comes with the territory.
Now, let’s get down to brass tacks and see what Cortana offers.
It makes a real effort to “know” you
If one feature stands out, it’s the Notebook. This is where Cortana stores all the information it knows about you. Contemplating what to say to Cortana will not be an issue as it makes useful almost any concrete information. When you start it for the first time, it performs a quick interview with you to get to know you. It stores various data on things that interest you. This allows Cortana to automatically provide quick updates to your queries. For instance – the change in the weather forecast, price discounts on the things you look for and various other information without even asking you. In the end, you get the feeling it almost cares for you, almost.
It does the small things
Cortana is very well connected with other apps, as well as other platforms. Among stiff competition in the digital assistance area, it’s probably the best digital agent around that works equally well on personal computers and mobile devices.
That being said, there are loads of things to tell Cortana to do for you. Here are just some of them:
- Calculations and conversion
One of the rare occasions where typing into the Cortana search box might be faster than speaking (especially with the long numbers), you can perform various calculations and currency conversion directly through the digital agent.
- Natural language search
There is also the support for natural language search, which makes it easier to find files on your computer. Basically, this is the standard built-in Windows search engine with enhanced natural language abilities.
- Launch programs
Just say “Launch (program name)” or “Hey Cortana, launch (program name)” and that’s it. It will automatically open it.
- Keeps you up to speed with the news
Cortana provides headlines for all the topics you are interested in. By pinning it to the Start screen, Cortana will also show you the latest news on the live tile. You can personalize the news feed by turning off cards you don’t want to see.
Organize your day
Having a keen sense of organization is the essential part of every assistant. Cortana, considering her limitations, has that nailed down almost to perfection.
Reminders get a special mention because they are one of Cortana’s best features. These go beyond your simple alarm or note at a specific time. Cortana can remind you about specific locations and people as well. For instance, you can set a reminder to visit a store when you get to a certain location or buy a present for your significant other. This way, the next time you pass that location or exchange a phone call or text with you beloved one, a reminder pops up.
Linking reminders is a rather useful feature and one of the highlights of the Cortana AI. It can also create calendar events by simply stating the date and Cortana will automatically create an entry. Or you can also just start with “add meeting” command and Cortana will ask you for further details.
Help with getting around
You can get directions to a certain location by just asking for them. Cortana AI will use the built-in Windows 10 Maps app with directions to the location of your choosing. Thanks to its integration with a number of third-party apps, Cortana can fetch you a ride, like calling the ride-sharing service Uber. Of course, you need to have an Uber account, but the option is quite convenient, particularly for mobile users.
It’s worth mentioning that after a while, Cortana recognizes the pattern of your movements (like going to work) and notifies you when to leave so you can avoid traffic jams.
As an added bonus, Cortana is able to track flights and packages using the flight number and the tracking number of the package. Just enter them into the Cortana search box and you’ll get an overview of the current status. It can also automatically track packages through your email account, but you need to have an email account configured in the Mail app in order to use the automatic tracking.
Control media playback
This is mainly reserved for the Groove Music app. Cortana can completely control your music by pausing, resuming and cycling back and forth between tracks. Furthermore, it can play specific songs, artists or genres. Cortana retains some of the basic commands when using different music apps.
In addition, you can use Cortana to identify a song. It will use the microphone to listen and provide a matching result. It’s still iffy with live music, but recorded music works well.
Send and write emails and text messages
Cortana can write and send emails via the built-in Mail app, providing you have an account. If you need to add an attachment to your email, Cortana provides a link to continue in Outlook so you can add whatever you want. If you’re using Cortana on a phone, she can do the same with text messages.
Act as technical support
This one is obviously mostly beneficial to beginners, but nonetheless, it’s worth mentioning. Cortana can provide entry-level technical support, solving mysteries like changing default apps, making a backup, installing peripherals and much more. Cortana’s area of expertise is growing with each update so if you encounter a problem, use the digital assistant to fix it.
Be a translator
Cortana can be your personal translator so you don’t have to browse the web for online translation. The voice assistant supports more than 30 different languages, including Klingon. It also provides an audio message of the translation, where available.
It’s fun
Nobody wants a sterile digital assistant and thankfully, Cortana is nowhere near like that. In essence, it has the same tried-and-true formula of written-in responses as Siri does, except Cortana has a little bit extra personality over its Apple counterpart. For the most part, Microsoft succeeded in giving Cortana a likable personality and much of it is thanks to the funny part of its persona. For many, this is the area with the best things to ask Cortana. The digital assistant can be snarky too (just ask it about Siri) so if you are looking to brighten your day, a smile is only a question away.
However, that is not all. Cortana can even play games with you. Granted, it’s only limited to a few like rock, paper, scissors, movie trivia, coin toss and dice rolls but still, it’s more than enough to crack the occasional boredom.
Closing words
While this piece may serve as a starting point for some, there are always more Cortana’s hidden talents to discover. There is plenty of cool things to ask Cortana and the results are equally impressive. Just ask it for “help” and you’ll get a list of things you can do with the voice agent.
Part of Cortana’s allure is her extension across a wide array of devices. It works well on both PCs and mobile devices. As Microsoft has ventured deep into Android and iOS territory, you can use it on your Android phone or an iPhone. Cortana is almost three years old and it will get better with age. For now, give it a try and see for yourself.