Here is a real conspiracy!

[TPFKA@W]

I got a new computer last year. It’s a Lenovo, it was on the cheap side and and suits my needs. Among its thingadoos is Cortana. Cortana is Alexa’s and Siri’s half sister.

I noticed that Cortana kept turning on without me requesting her appearance. I removed her from my screen. She persisted in popping up scaring the snorts out of me a time or 2 when she announced herself late at night. Fine. I went in and ostensibly disabled her ability. She is still making appearances, quietly announcing “listening” on the screen. I will be taking her to those nice young men who helped me when my IPhone greenscreened on me last summer. I plan to have her removed. Take that Bill Gates.

[Joe Guy]

This article might be helpful.

Also, you can uninstall Cortana in Settings > Apps and Features, but I don't know if it might later get reinstalled without your knowledge when your OS is updated.

I have Cortana but I've never turned it on. I just now tried clicking on Cortana on my Start menu and it wants me to log on to it, which I didn't. (seems like you should be able to log off if you can log in - but that would make too much sense)

[Sue U]

I met Cortana when I had a WindosePhone a few years ago. Her jokes are a lot better than Siri's or Alexa's.

[Long Run]

Hal is not going to be very happy.