Microsoft Expands Copilot Mode in Edge with Full Rollout of New AI-Powered Browsing Mode

After announcing plans to incorporate Copilot into the Edge browser back in July, Microsoft has officially launched Copilot Mode in Edge with a range of new features. Copilot Mode is no longer experimental and is now available to all users of the Edge browser, providing an advanced browsing experience.

So, what does this mean for the future of Copilot and the evolution of browsing?

Let’s take a look.

What to Expect

“Up until now, using a browser has meant doing all the work yourself — typing, clicking, tab-hopping and task-juggling,” said Sean Lyndersay, Vice President, Microsoft Edge. “Browsers have always been our gateway to the web, but they’ve never truly worked alongside us.

“The experience has been static for too long. When was the last time you questioned your browser?”

Well, now, according to Microsoft, you can. With Copilot Mode enabled, users can ask questions about what’s on screen without having to leave the webpage they’re browsing. Key capabilities of this opt-in feature include:

• Copilot Actions in Edge (limited preview U.S. only): Combining voice controls with the new Actions feature, users can instruct Copilot to carry out tasks on their behalf. This includes actions like opening a webpage, accessing specific content on a page, or performing more complex tasks like unsubscribing from mailing lists.

• Copilot Vision: With this capability enabled, Copilot can observe the user’s screen and make suggestions based on what is visible. Interactions are conducted through Copilot Voice.

• Journeys (limited preview in the U.S.): This feature allows users to resume a browsing session with tabs and past browsing projects grouped by topic. The feature also suggests next steps and provides context-specific guidance.

• Enhanced Security: In addition to Copilot Mode, Edge benefits from other AI-driven features that enhance security. The scareware blocker — available on qualified devices — utilizes local AI to protect users from full-screen scam takeovers. Additionally, password management features support easy password creation, storage, and monitoring.

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Battle of the AI Browsers

Microsoft isn’t the first company to launch an AI browser. Some of the most well-known include:

• Perplexity Comet
• Brave (with Leo)
• Google Chrome (with Gemini)
• Opera (with Aria)

As Chrome is the leading browser globally, holding a 67% market share, its AI-driven search powered by Gemini is likely to receive the most visibility. However, Microsoft has a secret weapon: the widespread use of Copilot.

Microsoft has made significant efforts to integrate Copilot across its product range, tailoring it to become one of the standout general-purpose assistants rather than a dedicated agent. This versatility makes it an ideal fit for conversational browsing, where voice interaction takes precedence over text outputs. Users can easily access the chat experience by clicking the now-familiar Copilot icon.

“Edge is the browser that you can talk to and that’s there when you need it as you browse the web,” said Lyndersay. And that, is a big leap forward.