Microsoft has acquired Semantic Machines Inc., a conversational AI business. No doubt it'll be engaging the technology to make Cortana and its bots react and sound human-like.

At the time of writing, no further details are revealed.

With the acquisition of Semantic Machines, we will establish a conversational AI center of excellence in Berkeley to push forward the boundaries of what is possible in language interfaces. Combining Semantic Machines’ technology with Microsoft’s own AI advances, we aim to deliver powerful, natural and more productive user experiences that will take conversational computing to a new level.

[blogs.microsoft.com...]