Microsoft’s digital assistant Cortana will soon show up in another smart gadget.
Microsoft and Johnson Controls today debuted a new smart thermostat called GLAS that includes Cortana and runs on the Windows 10 IoT platform. The device, which will be available for pre-order in March, can be controlled via smartphone app, a touchscreen on the thermostat itself and through voice commands to Cortana. No word on a price or release date for the device.
GLAS lets users set temperature, check the weather and monitor indoor and outdoor air quality. Over time, the device will learn to detect when someone is or is not home and adjust settings accordingly.
Digital assistants controlling thermostats has become a big trend in recent years. Several smart thermostats, primarily made by ecobee, work with Amazon’s digital assistant Alexa. Google spent $3.2 billion to acquire smart thermostat maker Nest in 2014, and the Google Assistant can control Nest thermostats. Apple also makes its own smart thermostat that can be controlled through its virtual assistant, Siri.
Microsoft’s Cortana plays an important role in the Windows 10 platform, but it hasn’t spread to countless third party devices like Alexa has. A Cortana-powered smart speaker debuted in October, going head to head with the Amazon Echo.
