Cheetah Mobile and Microsoft have inked a collaboration to incorporate Microsoft’s AI-based technologies and services into Cheetah Mobile’s product matrix.

As the first phase of the collaboration, Microsoft’s Cortana virtual assistant will be integrated into Cheetah Mobile’s leading mobile launcher app, CM Launcher, making it the first mobile launcher app to incorporate Cortana. Going forward, Microsoft and Cheetah Mobile plan to cooperate on additional Cheetah Mobile products, such as Cheetah Keyboard, the companies said in a statement.

CM Launcher is available in more than 200 countries and regions, including the U.S., India, Indonesia, Brazil and Russia, with nearly 300 million total downloads.

The Cortana version of CM Launcher is currently available as an open beta in the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia.

[Image courtesy: Cortana]