Microsoft Edge browser turns smart with new Copilot Mode, available now for free
Microsoft has added Copilot Mode to the Edge browser, allowing users to browse with AI help. The feature supports voice commands, cross-tab comparison, and task automation. It's free for now and can be turned on in Edge settings.
New Delhi: Microsoft has officially rolled out Copilot Mode in its Edge browser, transforming the once-meme’d "browser to download Chrome” into something far more ambitious. The company is calling it an experimental AI upgrade that brings Copilot to the center of the web browsing experience.
Edge’s Copilot Mode replaces the usual tab-heavy routine with a more focused, AI-led interface. It combines search, chat, and task assistance into one streamlined space. "It doesn’t just give you endless tabs to sift through but works with you as a collaborator that makes sense of it all,” said Sean Lundersay from Microsoft in the official blog post.
Microsoft Edge with AI: One box to search, browse, and chat
The new Copilot Mode puts a single input box at the heart of every new tab. Whether users are searching, chatting with the AI, or navigating the web, everything happens in that one space. And it doesn’t just respond to queries, it understands intent based on what tabs are open.
With permission, Copilot can view all open tabs to offer better comparisons and decisions. For example, while researching hotels or flights, it can scan through all tabs to recommend the one closest to the beach or with a kitchen. That means less tab toggling and more focused help.
Microsoft Edge with AI: Voice commands
Edge’s Copilot now supports voice commands. So instead of clicking around, users can just say what they want. "Find me a pair of Jordans under ₹10,000,” or "open three tabs comparing Android phones under ₹25,000,” and Copilot will do it. Over time, it will also be able to access browser history and credentials to handle more advanced tasks like booking movie tickets or finding the nearest pharmacy and checking timings.
While some of these deeper features are still in the works, the current version already gives a preview of where the browser could be headed. The AI also appears inside any webpage through a floating pane, so you can convert units, get a summary, or translate content without switching tabs.
Privacy?
Microsoft says that privacy is still central. "With Copilot Mode in Edge, your data is protected under Microsoft’s trusted privacy standards that are built to keep your information safe, secure and never shared without your permission,” the company says in its blog.
The company promises that Copilot can only access content if a user allows it, and there will be clear signs when it’s active. For now, the mode is opt-in and available for free, though the "limited time” tag has led some to speculate that a Copilot Pro subscription could be needed later.
The launch puts Microsoft ahead in the AI browser race. Perplexity already launched its own AI-powered browsing experience, and OpenAI is rumored to be working on one too. The Browser Company is also revamping its Arc product to fit the AI-first model.
What’s clear is that Microsoft wants Edge to be more than just the default browser on Windows. Whether it’s enough to convince users to leave Chrome or Safari is another story. For now, if you want to try it, head to www.microsoft.com/edge/ai-powered/copilot-mode and give it a go. And if you don’t like it, it’s just a toggle away in Edge settings.