The Cortana digital assistant is a core feature of Windows 10, or at least, that's what Microsoft believes and is trying to make us believe it too, by releasing updates that improve its capabilities.
But comparing Cortana to Google Assistant and Apple's Siri, it seems that the biggest difference Microsoft will have to deal with is the lack of a mobile platform.
Windows 10 Mobile is in maintenance mode and is scheduled to stop being supported in mid-2019. So it's clear that Microsoft should focus all its efforts on moving the digital assistant elsewhere, to tablets and other devices like speakers.
In Windows 10, Cortana is still a feature that most people don't use, not necessarily because it's not useful, but because a digital assistant on a computer doesn't make much sense.
Despite the modern touches, many Windows users still see the operating system as a desktop platform that should be used with a mouse and keyboard.
Sure, touch has come a long way lately and the digital pen may be becoming increasingly important, but there are still plenty of people who don't operate their computer with the help of a digital assistant.
A post on Reddit proves that I'm not the only one who thinks that the Cortana digital assistant isn't the most successful feature of Windows 10.
It should also be mentioned that Microsoft could do more to make Cortana much more useful. Cortana is still available in a few countries, which obviously affects its adoption across the world. At the same time, new features are being added, but at a rather slow pace, as they are usually released with the release of new versions of the operating system.
It's no secret that many users already remove the icon from the taskbar, and those who don't remove it forget it's there.
What do you think? Does the digital assistant feature in Windows make sense for the average user, or should it only be released as an assistive technology for people who need it?
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