Definition: Cortana

Microsoft's earlier virtual assistant. In 2014, Cortana was added to Microsoft's smartphone (see Windows Phone). A year later, it was added to Windows 10, iOS and Android. However, in 2021, the smartphone versions were discontinued, and the Windows version was replaced with Bing Chat, later renamed (see Copilot).

Cortana provided answers similar to Siri and Google Assistant. It also offered event-based notifications; for example, "When your sister calls, congratulate her." Cortana was integrated into Microsoft's Edge browser, which replaced Internet Explorer (see Edge browser). See virtual assistant.

A Sassy Answer

A bit like Siri when asked provocative questions, PCMag.com lead software analyst Michael Muchmore asked Cortana "which was better... Siri or Cortana?" (Image courtesy of PCMag.com.)