Microsoft expands Cortana's home automation skills and announces IFTTT integration

Microsoft’s Cortana digital assistant already supports managing of smart devices through Samsung SmartThings, Nest, Philips Hue, Wink, and Insteon. Today, Microsoft announced the expansion of home automation skills for Cortana. Cortana now supports smart home devices from ecobee, Honeywell Lyric, Honeywell Total Connect Comfort, LIFX, TP-Link Kasa, and Geeni. Cortana running on Windows 10, iPhone, Android, and the Harman Kardon Invoke speaker can be used to control these devices.

Microsoft today also announced that Cortana will work with IFTTT, a popular platform that helps you connect your apps and services together.

You could add items to your shopping list on Trello, post a tweet, open your Link shades, extend tumble time on your GE Dryer and log your weight on Fitbit among many other things.

Using IFTTT and Cortana integration, users can customize their experience by creating their own phrases to use with services on IFTTT.

For example, you could turn your lights off by saying, “Hey Cortana, let there be light” or put money towards that next concert trip on Qapital by saying, “Hey Cortana, penny for my thoughts.”

Users can use the triggers and responses on IFTTT to make Cortana their most personal assistant. Learn more about it here.