Microsoft's Cortana gets a new head to take on rivals

Microsoft’s AI assistant Cortana has a new boss in Javier Soltero, who previously controlled the Microsoft Office product group.

Axios reported that Soltero moved to oversee Cortana around three weeks ago, and will report to Harry Shum, Microsoft’s head of AI and research. Microsoft’s Outlook mobile app has become a popular option for both iOS and Android users, and the company has been continually updating it over the past few years.

Microsoft’s Cortana has now fallen far behind Alexa and Google Assistant, and that was particularly evident at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. With the exception of the Cortana-powered thermostat (announced last year), no new Cortana devices were unveiled at CES this year.

Soltero came to Microsoft in 2014 after Acompli, a company he cofounded, was acquired to bolster Office email app Outlook. As part of the deal, Soltero was placed in charge of Outlook mobile apps, where he spearheaded an effort to simplify and revamp the app and its product team. Soltero was later promoted to corporate vice president of the Office product group, expanding his purview beyond Outlook to Microsoft’s broader productivity suite.