Microsoft is planning to close its services with Cortana assistant. This will include shutting down the current iOS and Android apps and end Cortana support for the Harman Kardon Invoke smart speaker. The first-generation Surface Headphones starting in 2021will not witness the original Cortana functionality, once shut down gets implemented.
The company is planning for a more productivity-focused smart assistant in 2021. The changes are still a few months away, and Microsoft in pivoting Cortana from a Google Assistant or Alexa alternative. These apps would be associated with a more specialized and productivity-focused assistant.
The changes by Microsoft have already been started after they are made on the Windows 10 version of Cortana starting earlier this year. Also, the company will be focusing on its productivity features that repurpose Cortana. These will be a part of the Microsoft 365 suite of software, citing the revamped Windows 10 functions.
