Microsoft Teams to Embrace Cortana in Windows 11

Among all the voice assistants around, Cortana by Microsoft seems the least successful. Nevertheless, on Windows 11 it’s making its way to Teams, where it is supposed to help arrange meetings with Microsoft Rooms devices. If it works, one can just say a command aloud, and a Rooms-compatible display, camera, or speaker will obey.

Teams by Microsoft is a conference-oriented solution that is available in Windows but also powered by various specialized hardware. Cameras, speakers, soundbars, hubs, and room kits are manufactured by Microsoft, as well as partners like HP, Lenovo, Logitech, Yealink, Crestron, or Epos. The prices are high above your home speakers by Amazon or Apple, but these are corporate solutions, with the build quality and support they deserve.

This array of devices supports Microsoft Teams, so it will support Cortana too. On these devices, Cortana support will be active by default (though there are ways to deactivate it). The updates to the Microsoft roadmap include seemingly minor things like updated Cortana iconography; these bagatelles, though, form the perception.

Speaking globally, the solution is so far local. While Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant are multilingual, Cortana so far only works with different dialects of English, from American to Indian and Australian. The roadmap, though, reveals the plans to teach Cortana other languages as well. In 2021, Microsoft Teams held about 15% of the world’s video conferencing market, while Zoom enjoyed 49%. Obviously, Zoom is one of the most ubiquitous solutions, while Microsoft attempts to stay in the premium division, with its expensive hardware and corporate approach.

Have you ever used Microsoft Teams or Cortana? Do you think this solution will make Teams more usable? Which voice assistant do you think is the best today? Type or dictate your comments here if you please!