Microsoft has launched the first set of skills for Cortana.
During the company’sannual Build developers conference this week, Microsoft announced aCortana Skills Kitso that developers could create Amazon Alexa-like skills for Microsoft’s voice assistant. A number of partners are already developing skills, and some of them are even available now as an early preview. Here’s everything you need to know about Cortana skills, including a list of the ones out.
What is Microsoft Cortana?
Cortana is Microsoft’s assistant, sort of like how Apple has Siri, Google has Assistant, and Amazon has Alexa. Cortana is available on Windows 10 devices, as well as Android and iOS devices via the Cortana app.
What are Cortana skills?
Well, before we get into Cortana skills, you should keep in mind thatAmazon’s Alexa was the first assistantto provide a set of built-in capabilities referred to as skills. While Amazon itself can create skills, it also opened up Alexa so that third-party developers can build skills for Alexa. Popular Alexa skills include the ability to hail a ride from Uber, post a message to Slack, order a pizza from Domino’s, etc.
Microsoft’s Cortana skills are essentially new skills that are similar to Alexa’s skills. The company has allowed developers to integrate their apps and services into the Cortana voice assistant. One of the first supported skills is the popular Dark Sky weather notification service. So, with it, you can say, “Hey Cortana, ask Dark Sky for today’s forecast," and then you’ll get a weather forecast via Cortana.
There are actually a variety of other skills available, including iHeartRadio, TuneIn, OpenTable, and even a cute one like Cat Facts. Cortana’s skills are only available in an early preview right now, but many more are expected to launch in full in the coming months.
Which devices can use Cortana skills?
Remember, Cortana is cloud-powered. That means Cortana’s skills will work across any device that use Cortana - whether that is Windows,iOS, orAndroid. New Cortana-powered devices like Harman Kardon’s Cortana speaker and HP’s Cortana device can also use them. While at Build 2017, Microsoft said consumers can expect many more Cortana-powered devices to arrive later this year.
Which Cortana skills are available?
Microsoft published alist of 46 skillsnow available in early preview.
How do Cortana skills work?
Some skills may need to be setup before you can invoke them. Domino’s has created a Cortana skill, for instance, but you need to link a Domino’s Pizza account before you can start ordering pizza through Cortana. You can learn more about each Cortana skill now available, including the phrases that invoke them, how to set them up, and which devices they support,on this Microsoft website.
