Microsoft's ultimate goal is to bring Cortana to everyone, everywhere

Microsoft's goal is to democratize or make its technologies accessible to everyone. Its digital assistant Cortana is no exception.

Cortana is loosely based on the AI companion to Master Chief, the protagonist of the Halo video game franchise. She, as Group Program Manager for Cortana Marcus Ash refers to the inanimate personal digital assistant, was introduced to eager Windows phone fans in 2014. And though she was initially a U.S. and Windows phone exclusive, Microsoft discovered 50 percent of her users were people in unsupported countries who changed their Windows phone's region to the U.S. just so they could use her.

Ash said the following in 2014 to allay fan's fears Cortana might be brought to iOS and Android at Windows phone's expense:

Our top priority and showcase device for Cortana is Windows Phone. Any ... commentary about us .... abandoning Windows Phone is crazy talk. Our top priority is to make Cortana so fantastic that it pulls customers to Windows Phone. Period. As we THINK about the future, we want to figure out what we need to do so that a Microsoft customer who has a PC/tablet but a different phone can have a great Cortana experience.

Hey Cortana is that you on my iPhone?

Ash's desire to give everyone a great Cortana experience indicates Microsoft's AI and Cortana plans have always been democratization. Creating an inspiring reference point for Cortana that OEM partners could emulate like they did with Surface-inspired 2-in-1s has been a difficult challenge for Microsoft, however. A fusion of Cortana, AI and Windows 10 may be the key.

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