Microsoft Cortana
Microsoft Cortana is a virtual assistant developed by Microsoft that uses natural language processing and machine learning to perform tasks, answer questions, and provide personalized assistance. It was initially integrated into Windows 10 and other Microsoft products, offering voice-activated commands, reminders, calendar management, and web searches. While its consumer-focused features have been deprecated, Cortana continues to evolve as an enterprise tool for productivity and integration with Microsoft 365 services.
Developers should learn about Cortana when working on projects involving voice assistants, AI-driven productivity tools, or Microsoft ecosystem integrations, particularly in enterprise environments. It is useful for building skills or bots that leverage Cortana's APIs for tasks like scheduling, data retrieval, or automation within Microsoft Teams and Outlook. Understanding Cortana is also relevant for exploring natural language processing and conversational AI in the context of Microsoft's Azure Cognitive Services.