Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Subscribe
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Subscribe
    Home Latest News
    • Networking

    Microsoft Responds to Alexa, Google Assistant Challenge to Cortana

    Written by

    Pedro Hernandez
    Published January 10, 2018
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      Alexa and Google Assistant are making waves at CES 2018 in Las Vegas, but Microsoft is advising the industry not to count Cortana as strong contender in the digital assistant race.

      A handful of PC makers, including HP, Acer and Asus, are integrating Amazon’s Alexa into some of their upcoming Windows 10 PCs, a move that may help extend Alexa’s reach into the business application market, a move that is separate from the Cortana-Alexa alliance Microsoft and Amazon struck in August 2017. During re:Invent 2017, Amazon unveiled Alexa for Business, an enterprise-friendly variation of the popular AI assistant.

      Google Assistant, meanwhile, is making the jump to wireless headphones, cars that support Android Auto and smart display devices from JBL, Lenovo, LG and Sony. The technology will also show up in a bevy of new voice-activated speakers from Altec Lansing, Bang & Olufsen, Klipsch and others.

      Although Cortana appears to be keeping a lower profile, Microsoft is reminding everyone that more devices that are compatible with its virtual assistant are on the way.

      Just before CES 2018 opened its doors, the company and Johnson Controls announced that preorders for the GLAS smart thermostat would begin in March. Taking on Nest and similar devices, GLAS features a translucent OLED touchscreen and will ship with Cortana built-in, allowing home owners to regulate indoor temperature, monitor air quality and more using voice commands.

      At CES, Microsoft is touting its reference design partners, including Qualcomm. The mobile chipmaker unveiled its Smart Speaker Platform, integrated hardware and software that is scheduled to ship in the first half of 2018 and is intended to give OEMs a head start on building smart speakers that work with Cortana.

      Synaptics, known for biometric scanners, touchpads and other input technologies, is also offering Cortana-compatible platform to OEMs and ODMs, based on AudioSmart, the company’s far-field voice digital signal processing technology. According to Synaptics, a AudioSmart-based device will be able to pick up the Cortana wake-word up to five meters away, or over 16 feet, in noisy conditions or while the device is playing music.

      Two Chinese companies are also integrating Cortana into their wares, Allwinner Technology, a fabless semiconductor firm, and Tonly Electronics. Allwinner is working on voice-enabled (IoT) Internet of Things solutions and Tonly has collaborated with Microsoft on the design of Cortana devices that are optimized for Skype.

      It’s not the first time Cortana will be venturing into voice-enabled devices, apart from PCs and Xbox One.

      In October 2016, Harman Kardon, a Samsung company, began selling the Invoke, an Echo-like smart speaker powered by Cortana. Not only does Cortana’s voice pour out of the device’s 360-degree speaker design when summoned, Invoke’s capacitive touch control panel mimics Cortana’s animated icon as it appears in Windows 10.

      More devices may be on the horizon, according to Jordi Ribas, corporate vice president of AI Products at Microsoft.

      “Regardless of the device or context, our goal is to put Cortana everywhere you need assistance, whether that is on your PC, phone, Xbox, mixed reality headsets, intelligent home speakers, thermostats and even more in the future,” wrote Ribas in a Jan. 9 blog post. “You’ll continue to see Cortana integrated on your favorite devices and services throughout the year to come.”

      Pedro Hernandez
      Pedro Hernandez
      Pedro Hernandez is a writer for eWEEK and the IT Business Edge Network, the network for technology professionals. Previously, he served as a managing editor for the Internet.com network of IT-related websites and as the Green IT curator for GigaOM Pro.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.