Microsoft collaborates with Amazon for Cortana-Alexa Integration

Microsoft collaborates with Amazon for Cortana-Alexa Integration

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Microsoft’s Cortana and Amazon’s Alexa are finally fulfilling a promise made last year to bring the rival digital assistants (voice-controlled personal assistants) together. Microsoft and Amazon officials shared the stage at the Microsoft Build developer conference in a historic moment two of the biggest tech companies in the world.

They demonstrated integrations between Alexa and Cortana. Megan Saunders, a Microsoft general manager, was joined by Amazon Alexa Senior Vice President Tom Taylor. Saunders, from her “home” on the stage, opened up Alexa on her Amazon Echo smart speaker and added to her grocery list. Then she called up Cortana by saying, “Alexa, open Cortana” and had Microsoft’s digital assistant run through her calendar and send an email.

Taylor, from his “office” opened Cortana on his PC to get directions to a Seattle restaurant referenced in an email. Then he asked Cortana to open Alexa, and Amazon’s assistant responded “Hi there, this is Alexa, how can I help.” Taylor then booked a ride through Uber to his destination.

[caption id="attachment_21122" align="aligncenter" width="681"] Amazon Alexa[/caption]

Megan Saunders said the integrations are only available in limited beta testing for now, but there is a new website where people can sign up for updates. But these conversations are the first of many between the two digital assistants.

“This is the first step in a longer journey as intelligent friends in both the real and ambient world,” Saunders said.

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Microsoft collaborates with Amazon for Cortana-Alexa Integration