Microsoft to Bring Cortana Digital Assistant to iOS

Microsoft is working on an advanced version of its Cortana digital assistant using research from an artificial intelligence project called "Einstein", reports Reuters. The updated personal assistant will launch with Windows 10 this fall and later will be available as a standalone app for iOS and Android.

The plan to put Cortana on machines running software from rivals such as Apple and Google, as well as the Einstein project, have not been reported. Cortana is the name of an artificial intelligence character in the video game series "Halo." They represent a new front in CEO Satya Nadella's battle to sell Microsoft software on any device or platform, rather than trying to force customers to use Windows. Success on rivals' platforms could create new markets and greater relevance for the company best known for its decades-old operating system.

"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. "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."


Recently, a video of Microsoft new Spartan web browser leaked that showed Cortana integration. The new browser will ship with Windows 10.

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