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Microsoft abandons personal AI chatbot race with Copilot reboot

157 points · 154 comments · sbulaev

  1. 2OEH8eoCRo0 · · focus · HN ↗
    Still can't believe they ditched the Cortana name.
    1. rm_-rf_slash · · focus · HN ↗
      Nah it makes sense. They know their AI is second rate at best. Cortana implies 26th century excellence. If the reality is a step back (and we all know it’s several), then “haha Cortana dumb” memes would sweep the internet. They would have to rebrand anyway. If anything it was smart to rip off the band aid early.
      1. VCFundedGenYer · · focus · HN ↗
        No, it doesn't make sense. Cortana was a fantastic name for an assistant, and synergistic with Halo at the time.

        The low quality of the voice assistant was unfortunate, but the naming was perfect.

        1. Kirby64 · · focus · HN ↗
          The low quality of the voice assistant meant they doomed the Cortana name. It got associated with garbage voice assistance, so they had to rebrand.

          If there had been consumer good will for voice assistant performance before poisoning the name, it might have survived... but when you first product in that realm is garbage and it lingers for a long time, you're dooming the name.

          Also, synergy with Halo is meaningless to Microsoft. Most folks do not care or even know about Halo.

          1. 2OEH8eoCRo0 · · focus · HN ↗
            Why isn't the Siri name poisoned for being terrible?
            1. spogbiper · · focus · HN ↗
              I get the impression that it is, at least to some degree
              1. 2OEH8eoCRo0 · · focus · HN ↗
                If the Siri name is poisoned then why doesn't Apple rebrand?
                1. jandrese · · focus · HN ↗
                  Because Apple doesn't care. Siri is just something that is bolted on when you buy the hardware. Cortana was an actual product that Microsoft is trying to sell.

                  I don't know anybody who uses Siri for more than just setting an occasional timer or something. Usually it's a nuisance when she is accidentally activated and takes over the interface.

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