Microsoft wants Cortana to save reminders for appointments made in emails

“Cortana will look for emails where you’ve said you’re going to do something”, Ash says. By uttering “Hey, Cortana”, users can search the Web, set reminders, get directions and call up weather forecasts, among several other activities.

Microsoft promises that the email scan is done locally, so no data is stored on their servers until you choose to set a reminder.

The process is similar to the way Cortana tracks packages and flights.

This feature, built in collaboration with Microsoft Research (MSR), is also handy for the times when you send yourself email reminders, including book dinner reservations at this restaurant, pay this bill, read this link later.

These new features are rolling out now for Windows Insider Program participants and will “eventually” reach all Windows 10 users. “Microsoft Research was pursuing an intriguing and powerful idea around this challenge – automatically recognizing when people make commitments to one another in e-mail messages and providing reminders”.

Microsoft is putting a lot of emphasis on its Cortana digital assistant for its next Windows 10 update. You can disable the feature if you don’t want Cortana to scan your email at all. Through the feature, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) seems to be giving a tidbit of Artificial Intelligence to Windows 10 users, who are forgetful in remembering their commitments.

Cortana is also being updated to help you manage your calendar. calendar. Cortana will send you a special alert if you have an event that is outside of your normal schedule.

If you prefer morning meetings but receive a request for a 6:00 p.m. appointment, Cortana will inform you a potential meeting is outside your usual schedule.

Ash said that this is “just the start of Cortana’s calendar management capabilities”, and that more features are on the way to help users become more productive.

Currently, these improvements are only available to users in the USA and UK.

First presented in the Windows 8.1, version, Cortana was originally released as a try out program in the United States before coming in England and a number of other marketplaces.