Windows says goodbye to Cortana

 Windows says goodbye to Cortana

That synthetic voice that assaulted you at high volume when you first set up a computer will soon be a distant memory.

Windows says goodbye to Cortana

The voice assistant Cortana, directly inspired by the homonymous AI from the Halo video game series, is about to retire. It has been announced for a long time: the 24H2 version of Windows 11, scheduled for the second part of the year, will disable it completely. The update is already available for computers from Microsoft's Preview program.

Cortana, WordPad, and Tricks disappear from Windows

Perhaps you will miss the Windows Voice Assistant, which launched on Windows 8 in 2014, eventually. But know that she will not leave alone. With Windows 11 24H2, three applications will disappear from the operating system: Cortana, WordPad, and Tricks.

Very useful for simple (and free) word processing, WordPad will not be replaced by an alternative from Microsoft. It will be necessary, at the choice, to turn to the Microsoft 365 subscription including the Office apps, or to download a free alternative by one's own means. NotePad++ is a good solution, just like the LibreOffice suite, if the needs are limited.

Finally, Microsoft has, so to speak, yet to be interested in a future Windows aligned with the ambitions of Microsoft entirely focused on artificial intelligence. Indeed, Copilot is destined to take an increasingly important place within the OS and will be able to answer users' questions and inform them about the various functions of the operating system.

A myriad of novelties

Despite a name that doesn't evoke much, Windows 11 24H2 has long been imagined as being Windows 12. This is to say if the list of novelties is substantial. This major update of Microsoft's operating system is the one that must definitively mark the turning point towards the brand's AI. A turning point widely detailed at the conference held by Microsoft last week.

Among the most anticipated novelties: a deeper integration of Copilot, of course. An AI that, like Cortana before it, will be entitled to its own button pinned to the Windows taskbar (and even a dedicated keyboard key). We will also find the Recall feature, presented last week and subject to many controversies surrounding data privacy.

Finally, Windows 11 24H2 will make it possible to natively unzip 7-zip and RAR archives, bring various Bluetooth improvements, and allow wifi support 7 on compatible machines. Impatient? Already discover the new update by joining the Windows Insider program (for free).