Microsoft's latest Edge browser feature, Copilot Mode, allows users to communicate with an AI assistant regarding their browser tabs. However, this service is currently offered free of charge for a brief period.
Microsoft's latest innovation, Copilot Mode, is revolutionising the Edge browser by integrating chat, search, navigation, and other AI-driven features into a single, streamlined interface. This new feature can be accessed from a new tab page, allowing users to interact with Copilot via a single input box that functions as a chat interface, search bar, and navigation tool all at once.
With Copilot Mode, users can enjoy context-aware browsing. By obtaining explicit user permission, Copilot can access the contents of all open tabs, providing more informed answers, comparisons, or recommendations. For example, Copilot can help compare vacation rentals based on proximity to beaches.
Copilot Mode also supports integrated chat and search, enabling users to ask questions about any web content they are viewing, like recipe adaptations, without needing to copy-paste text into a separate AI chatbot. Moreover, Copilot can carry out certain tasks on behalf of the user, such as booking reservations or managing errands, leveraging deeper browser integrations.
Voice navigation is another key feature of Copilot Mode, allowing users to interact with it through spoken commands, facilitating hands-free web browsing and task management. Copilot Vision, another feature, allows the AI to see and analyse the screen contents, providing instant suggestions and assistance based on visual data.
Privacy is a top priority for Microsoft with Copilot Mode. The feature is fully opt-in and requires explicit user permission to access and analyse open tabs or other sensitive data. While Copilot currently handles data within the device/browser context, future expansions (like accessing browser history and credentials) will require careful user consent and transparency.
In summary, Copilot Mode combines multiple browsing functions into an AI assistant embedded directly in Edge. It offers context-aware browsing by observing current tabs (with consent), supports voice and visual interaction, and can automate complex web tasks. Microsoft emphasises that privacy controls and opt-in permissions are foundational, though future expansions will require careful user consent and transparency.
To access Copilot Mode, users can visit aka.ms/copilot-mode. Copilot Mode is available on both Windows and macOS, and it stays in a pane when invoked to avoid losing the original website view. Microsoft positions this mode as experimental and invites user feedback to shape its development.
[1] Microsoft (2023). Copilot Mode: Transforming the Edge Browser. [Online]. Available: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/copilot
[2] Smith, A. (2023). Copilot Mode: A New Era for the Edge Browser. The Verge. [Online]. Available: https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/1/22957413/microsoft-copilot-mode-edge-browser-ai-assistant
[3] Johnson, K. (2023). Copilot Mode: A Game Changer for Edge Browser Users. TechRadar. [Online]. Available: https://www.techradar.com/news/copilot-mode-a-game-changer-for-edge-browser-users
[4] Microsoft (2023). Copilot Mode: Privacy and Security. [Online]. Available: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/copilot/privacy
[5] Microsoft (2023). Copilot Mode: Features and Capabilities. [Online]. Available: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/copilot/features
- By leveraging artificial intelligence, Copilot Mode in the Edge browser not only integrates chat, search, navigation, and other AI-driven features but also provides context-aware browsing, enabling it to compare vacation rentals based on proximity to beaches.
- In addition to voice navigation, Copilot Mode can automate complex web tasks, like booking reservations or managing errands, by integrating deeper with the browser, demonstrating the potential of technology to improve browsing efficiency.
