A new feature, currently in beta, puts Cortana right on your Android lock screen for quick access.
The feature is similar to how Cortana behaves on Windows 10, where she can answer questions and perform other tasks without needing to be signed in. If the task requires another app, Cortana prompts you to unlock your device.
Cortana, named after Halo's AI assistant of the same name, first started on Windows phones and then moved to the desktop. Originally released in 2014, it has grown into a powerful assistant. In 2015, Microsoft brought Cortana apps to iOS and Android.
Users in the beta program already have access to the new lock screen feature, so it will likely be widely available in the coming weeks. Unlike the Windows version, users still have to swipe the Cortana logo left or right to use it, and they can't activate it by simply saying "Hey Cortana."
If your Android phone has a password or PIN, Cortana doesn't require it. That means anyone with access to your phone can potentially access Cortana. Other assistants, like Siri, will provide private information no matter who asks: Pick up your friend's phone, ask about their next date, and that's what it will tell you!
To avoid such problems, Google offers a “voice trust” option, which only allows “OK Google” to unlock the device when the sound matches a specific voice pattern. By the time Cortana’s lock screen functionality becomes available to all users, it’s likely that Microsoft will add some similar recognition mechanism.
Meanwhile, for those concerned about the security implications, a nice alternative to the new shortcut is the existing home screen widget. It requires the phone to be unlocked, but provides much of the same functionality.
Bringing Cortana to the Android home screen could be a big move on Microsoft's part. For Windows users in particular, it bridges the gap between the phone and the laptop. As an overall strategic move, it puts Microsoft in direct competition with Google Assistant.
