Prepare for your Skype experience to be a little more productive. Microsoft has started integrating its digital assistant Cortana into Skype. However, don’t be surprised if Cortana is not showing in any of your Skype sessions just yet. Apparently, Microsoft…
Voice Commerce: The Next Wave in eCommerce
There was some skepticism over the idea that voice commerce would be the future of retail. This wasn’t surprising, given the limitations that AIs like Cortana and Siri exhibited. However, recent improvements made to the technology hinted that big changes…
Microsoft and Amazon’s AI Assistants are Teaming Up
Usually, tech companies keep each other at arm’s length, unwilling to share new technologies with the hope of besting their competitors. However, it appears that Microsoft and Amazon, two of the major players in the AI digital assistant arena, are…
Historic Breakthrough: Microsoft Reaches Virtual Parity With Human Speech
In an historic breakthrough, Microsoft’s AI team has developed technology that recognizes speech as well as humans. Their research team published a paper (PDF) showing that their speech recognition system makes errors at the same rate as a professional transcriptionists,…
Microsoft Adds Reminder, Calendar Features to Cortana
Microsoft announced that it has added some features to Cortana, which should prove helpful to Windows users who wish to get things done on time. Included are more ways to be reminded of things and improved calendar management. “People often…
LinkedIn Announces New Cortana Integration
LinkedIn announced that it has partnered with Microsoft to get LinkedIn data integrated into Microsoft’s digital personal assistant Cortana on Windows 10. LinkedIn’s Bob Rosin explains, “If you’re already using Cortana and have your calendar connected, you’re probably used to…
Microsoft Edge Browser Adds Cortana Coupons To Improve Online Shopping
Microsoft announced the pilot of a new Cortana feature for online shopping in its new Microsoft Edge browser. It’s called Cortana Coupons, and it leverages Cortana functionality to help users find coupons while they’re shopping online with Edge. Retailers like…
Getty Images & Microsoft Bury Hatchet, Partner
It appears that Getty Images and Microsoft have buried the hatchet after legal issues last fall, as the two just announced a new partnership, which will see Microsoft taking advantage of Getty’s imagery. The two companies will work together to…
Microsoft Launches Cortana In More Countries
Microsoft announced today that it is launching Cortana (its Siri competitor) in four new countries in Europe: France, Italy, Germany, and Spain. “When we introduced Cortana as a beta as part of Windows Phone 8.1 in the U.S. this past…
Siri Thinks Microsoft’s Phone Is Pretty Smart (In This Microsoft Ad)
Typically, Microsoft attacks Google in its ad campaigns (Scroogled, anyone?), especially when it comes to stuff like this, but now, the company has set its sights on Apple. The latest Microsoft ad pits Microsoft’s virtual assistant Cortana (via the Lumia…