Microsoft’s Xbox One update will add Cortana, prompting questions as to where Apple is in this race?
If there is one rivalry the tech world will witness through the ages, it’s that of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Apple. It announced that the Xbox One will be getting the Cortana treatment this summer.
In a blog post published today, the company announced that Cortana support will debut as a preview in countries such as US, UK, France, Italy, Germany, and Spain. Plus, all Xbox users should expect to receive an update in the summer to take full advantage of the personal digital assistant. The company states that users will get the “familiar Cortana experience,” much like the one on Windows 10. The “Hey Cortana” feature will work through the headsets provided for the gaming console, along with Kinect.
The blog post states, “You’ll be able to use Cortana to find great new games, see what your friends are up to, start a party, accomplish common tasks, turn on your Xbox One if you’re using Kinect, and more. We’ll continue to build Cortana features over time and our vision is to use Cortana to help elevate your experience as your personal digital assistant for gaming.”
The new update allows Microsoft to finally have a presence in users’ households. According to research firm NPD, Microsoft has sold more than 21 million units of its popular gaming console globally. The personal digital assistant may be lacking advanced queries but Microsoft says it will constantly update the AI to have its powers extend to other areas as well.
On the other hand, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has been late to the party. Apple’s personal digital assistant Siri has been present in the company’s device since the launch of the iPhone 4s. However, after acquiring it from its creators, the company stripped the AI off all the advanced tasks it could do, and installed a limited version of it on the phones. The original creators of Siri have moved on to make Viv, an AI assistant much smarter and contextually aware than Siri.
Rumors of a fifth-generation Apple TV have also made rounds on the internet lately. The company is said to be working on a product that brings its own microphone and speaker, along with always-on capabilities. This will allow Siri to be accessible from different points in a house, without the need to carry the remote everywhere.
Apple is expected to release a Siri SDK at the WWDC this month. The company may open up the AI’s capabilities to developers to integrate apps and services with it. The progress of AI in the tech world has put Apple on the clock to put Siri on the big boys table. Amazon’s Alexa AI lives in the Echo speaker, and is an excellent instance of how the retailer is making space for itself in households. Alexa is now capable of learning 1,000 skills, that range from calling you an Uber, ordering Dominos Pizza, and tracking your packages online.
The release of Cortana on Xbox One means Microsoft now has a first mover advantage for users who own the console. While the console does cost $299, the Apple TV currently retails for $149. Granted, the price point is enticing, but the smarter Siri and hardware is not expected to show up anytime this year. Apple wants to make sure it advances its set-top box as soon as possible, to catch up to other giants.
