The Verge is reporting that Microsoft is working on a prototype Work Assistant app that will integrate Cortana, the company’s virtual personal assistant, into Office to open and share documents with voice commands.

Although there is no official information about what the Work Assistant will consist of, there is a slight possibility that this new feature will bring Cortana to both Android and iOS via Office’s suite of apps.

cortana

Microsoft confirmed to Business Insider in November that Cortana would make its way to other operating systems some day. So, it isn’t farfetched to consider that she would be available through Office apps.

The Verge describes the digital assistant as similar to “Clippy” the friendly guide that taught us how to use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in the 1990s. I hope she is less enthusiastic than Clippy was. It can be really annoying before you’ve had your first cup of coffee in the morning.

If Microsoft is working toward making Cortana cross-platform, they could also include the personal assistant in other iOS or Android apps like Bing Search, Xbox 360 SmartGlass, MSN Sports Scores, and more.

Cortana is a big hit with Windows Phone users. The virtual assistant has been lauded as better, smarter, and smoother than both Apple’s Siri and Android’s Google Now. The current build of Windows 10 includes Cortana on desktop and laptops for the first time.

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4 replies on “Cortana might become a cross-platform virtual assistant via Microsoft Office”

  1. Although I’ve been happy with my bargain Windows Phone, I don’t find Cortana as useful as Google;s vocie features. The voice has more personality, but it struggles on some basic searches that Google always seemed to nail. I have a comfort level with google’s search in general that I reallydon’t have with Cortana and Bing. But I’d hope with MS putting more effort into it that it will continue to improve.

  3. Yep, it’s all about controlling the conduit through which information flows, then you can monetize it.

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