Microsoft Edge is now getting more AI, and Id be surprised if an even bigger push for more Copilot isnt just around the corner

Date:
Tue, 27 May 2025 13:29:55 +0000

Description:
Dont want more AI in your browser? Then the direction Microsoft Edge is heading in wont appeal to you.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Microsof t is implementing Copilot prompts on Edges New Tab Page Its also rolling out an ability to trigger a web search to happen with Copilot rather than Bing Moves in testing to have Copilot take over the New Tab Page still appear to
be in the pipeline

Microsoft Edge is getting more Copilot, with the AI assistant coming to the New Tab Page (or NTP) in a more prominent way.

The NTP is what you see in the web browser when you open up a new tab,
serving as a place to start for exploring what you might want to do in Edge which will usually, but not always, be a web search.

However, rather than that traditional query in the search box (which fires up a Bing search, unsurprisingly), Microsoft would prefer you to use Copilot ,
as theres an icon for the AI assistant right next to said web search option.

Clicking that icon brings up Copilot on the web, ready for your query, but with the latest update for Edge version 136 (which was deployed earlier this month), Microsoft is rolling out a fuller integration of the AI in the NTP.

Windows Latest reports that Microsoft explains in the release notes for the update to Edge that: Starting at the end of May 2025, users may see suggested work and productivity-related Copilot prompts by their search box on the NTP page.

Those suggested prompts are efforts along the lines of get advice or write a first draft which invoke Copilot to achieve the indicated task.

Microsoft further notes that some Edge users may also see the Copilot icon in the search box, and when clicked this triggers the current search query, but sends it to Copilot rather than having Bing resolve it. Analysis: Copilot context (Image credit: Windows Latest / Microsoft)

In short, Copilot is slowly gaining a grip on the New Tab Page, although the mentioned capabilities are part of what Microsoft calls a controlled feature rollout, and Id imagine this will be a fairly slow and tentative affair. I dont have this feature yet on my Edge browser, and neither does Windows Latest.

The company will likely want to conduct this deployment at a leisurely pace because there are some Windows 11 users who are wary of seeing AI creep into more corners of the OS and its various apps, which is certainly a goal Microsofts intent on pursuing. So, moving slowly and regularly taking the temperature of feedback is likely to be the way forward for Microsoft.

More AI is likely coming to Microsofts browser, though, in the form of the Edge Copilot Mode spotted by Windows Latest (hidden in the flags menu, as an experimental feature in Edge).

This appears to be Microsofts plan thats already been seen in testing,
whereby the New Tab Page becomes far more Copilot-focused read more about that here (and see the above screenshot for a glimpse of what this might look like). It also dumps the MSN feed in favor of Copilot, which I feel is a good trade-off (though your opinion on that may vary, of course).

A second part of this Copilot Mode may be a less popular addition, namely so-called context clues that tap into the web page youre visiting, and your web history, to allow the AI to provide better and more personal responses.

A fair few privacy red flags are appearing at this point, but we dont know
how (or even if) this feature will be implemented though it certainly
appears to be allowing Copilot to access your browsing history. As such, its surely going to be an optional (and opt-in) capability, if any of this is realized with Edge.

Remember, all this is still in testing, save for the changes to the NTP that Microsoft has confirmed are now rolling out with Edge v136. You might also like Ive tried the new Opera Air browser here are 3 features that have already convinced me to ditch Chrome Microsoft gets rid of Edge uninstall advice page after facing criticism over it having nothing to do with removing the app, and just promoting the browser instead How to use Microsoft Edge



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/edge/microsoft-edge-is-now-getting-more-ai -and-id-be-surprised-if-an-even-bigger-push-for-more-copilot-isnt-just-around- the-corner


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