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ZDNET key takeaways
- Edge’s Copilot Mode adds real AI utility to everyday browsing.
- I tested it to see if it makes comparing products and research easier.
- Copilot automated the process, all the way to checkout. Here’s how.
After using ChatGPT’s new AI browser, Atlas, to literally do my Walmart shopping for me this week, I started wondering how other AI browsers compare. Microsoft, for example, just rolled out a massive AI update for its Edge browser.
With Copilot Mode, Edge can act on whatever’s on your screen, compare multiple tabs, remember what you were researching days ago, and even complete tasks for you on websites, such as buying. That got me thinking: Could Edge’s Copilot Mode actually do better than Atlas? Since I’ve been searching for a new space heater before winter sets in, I decided that would be my first test.
Also: Microsoft gives Copilot a ‘real talk’ upgrade – and an (optional) cartoon face
My old oil radiators are on their last legs, and I want something stronger but still energy-efficient. What I don’t want is another “best” list written by someone who’s never even tried the products they recommend. So, I fired up Copilot Mode in Edge to see if it could help me make a better, more informed purchasing decision faster — with bonus points if it can load up my cart and check out for me.
A smarter search experience
Similar to ChatGPT Atlas, Edge has a new search bar that doubles as a smart prompt field.
Instead of automatically defaulting to Bing, it figures out whether you’re trying to search the web, open a site, or chat with Copilot based on your intent. After enabling the new Copilot Mode (by visiting aka.ms/copilot-mode), I tested it by typing “best energy-efficient heaters for large rooms.” Edge treated it like a regular web search and displayed shopping results.
Also: I use Edge as my default browser – but its new AI mode is unreliable and annoying
I then tried “When is the best time of year to buy heaters on sale?” — and this time, it switched seamlessly into chat mode. Copilot responded conversationally with sales insights and linked sources. A small drop-down menu next to the search box lets me choose different reasoning modes if I want to force Copilot to run a search, respond quickly, or think deeper.
Here are the different reasoning modes available:
- Quick Response: Provides fast, straightforward answers.
- Study and Learn: Guides you step-by-step with quizzes, hints, and explanations to support active learning.
- Smart (GPT-5): Automatically switches between quick replies and deeper analysis based on your request.
- Search: Browses the web and pulls in references for up-to-date information.
- Think Deeper: Slows down to offer more thoughtful, detailed reasoning on complex topics.
It’s a subtle upgrade, but it makes the search bar feel more like a smart command line for your browser rather than just a query box. It reminds me of when Chrome launched the omnibox, letting you enter web addresses or run searches directly from the URL bar.
Comparing everything at once
Next, I wanted to test Copilot Mode’s chat feature and something called multi-tab context. This lets Microsoft’s AI analyze all my open tabs at once, which is perfect for comparison shopping. I had four tabs open: one for a Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool–>, another for a Dr. Infrared heater<!–>, a third for a De’Longhi radiant model–>, and a final one for a Dreo smart wall heater<!–> that I had been eyeing.
Also: You can use Claude in Microsoft 365 now – if you’re ready to ditch Copilot
Normally, I’d bounce between tabs, reading specs and comparing things like wattage and noise levels. This time, I clicked the Copilot chat icon in the corner of my browser and entered the following prompt:
“Compare my open tabs and tell me which space heater is the best mix of power and energy efficiency.”
In the drop-down below the prompt area, I selected Quick Response as my mode. It’s the default, but you’ll see the other options like Think Deeper and Smart (GPT-5). You can also run a regular search from the same spot. If I didn’t have a few heaters in mind, I could have used search to find an initial list of products to compare. But I already had tabs open for Copilot to analyze.
Also: You can now edit Microsoft Copilot’s memories about you – here’s how
Copilot instantly generated a chart showing power output, coverage area, energy efficiency, smart features, noise level, safety features, price, and more. It also suggested which model to buy based on the best mix of power and efficiency. It said the Dr. Infrared Heater delivers about 60% more heat than typical 1,500W models, thanks to a dual heating system and built-in energy-saving features. This was incredibly handy — the kind of information I’d usually find in a “best” list or only after spending hours researching.
I decided to ask a follow-up:
“Which one will be the cheapest to run 24/7 in the winter in Franklin County, NY?”
Copilot looked at my local electricity cost average and said that using the Dreo Smart Wall Heater with smart scheduling and Eco Mode would be the most efficient option, since it could significantly reduce runtime. Now, narrowing my search to just two options — the Dr. Infrared Heater and the Dreo Smart Wall Heater — I used Edge’s @tab reference trick. This is where I enter @tab into the prompt field and select which tabs I want Copilot to analyze for my next prompt:
“Which of these heaters has the best or most reviews about longevity and efficiency?”
Ignoring my other open tabs, Copilot restricted its answers to only those two tabs in my browser and pulled review data straight from their listings. It told me: “If you’re prioritizing durability and proven performance over many winters, Dr. Infrared is the stronger bet. If you’re optimizing for smart control and short-term efficiency in a smaller space, Dreo is a sleek contender.”
Analyzing what’s on screen
I also wanted to try Copilot Vision, a new feature that lets Copilot truly understand what’s on my screen. With a tab open to a Dreo space heater review on YouTube, I pressed Control + C on my Mac to open Copilot chat and typed:
“Summarize this video.”
Copilot scanned the page transcript and produced a detailed summary of the reviewer’s key points. It said the Dreo is a “solid choice for those wanting a sleek, smart, and effective heating solution for small to medium-sized rooms.”
Also: I unleashed Copilot on my Microsoft and Google accounts – here’s what happened
Then I went a step further. Using the microphone icon in the bottom-right corner, I asked out loud:
“Hey Copilot, what’s the overall sentiment of the video comments?”
Within seconds, Copilot replied that the comments were mostly positive, citing phrases like “sleek design” and “smart features.” It also flagged a cluster of users complaining about the heater’s effectiveness, with some saying it didn’t warm rooms as well as expected. This real-time screen analysis is surprisingly useful – and even fun to try. It gives me better context about the products I’m researching without having to sit through entire video reviews or scroll through hundreds of comments.
Picking up where I left off
One of Edge’s new AI tricks is called Journeys. You can opt in through Edge’s settings by going to Settings > Copilot Mode Settings > AI Innovations > Journeys. Once it’s enabled, the feature runs quietly in the background while you browse.
Think of Journeys as collections of your past browsing sessions, automatically grouped so you can easily pick up where you left off. For example, if I stop searching for space heaters now, when I open a new Edge tab later this week, I should see a little card related to space heaters. Clicking that card will open a chat with Copilot, where it can help me continue what I was working on by summarizing information, comparing options, building a plan, and more.
Also: Is the new Microsoft 365 Premium worth it? Here’s how it compares to Copilot Pro
From what I can tell, you’ll need a bit of browsing activity before Journey cards start appearing at the bottom of a new tab page. Up to three cards can show at a time, but none have popped up for me yet. I probably just need to use the AI browser more. I’m hoping they’ll become especially helpful for ongoing research projects beyond space heater comparisons, like planning holiday gifts.
Letting Actions do the work for me
The last Copilot feature I tried in Edge is Actions. It’s an agent that lets Edge do things for me. But I needed to enable it first (by going to Settings > Copilot Mode Settings > AI Innovations > Actions in Edge Preview). Once turned on, I opened a tab and typed “Buy the Dreo smart wall heater on Amazon,” hoping it would look at my past browsing history and go ahead and check out for me.
Also: Copilot Chat arrives free for Microsoft 365 users – check if you have it
Copilot immediately pulled the right product listing and added it to my cart. However, it said it can’t finalize purchases or confirm payments on my behalf. It recommended I open Amazon, proceed to checkout, and confirm my address and payment method to place the order. Still, I was happy it understood what I wanted and got it ready for me to buy.
I checked out, and my new space heater is now on the way. I wanted to do one more Copilot Mode prompt test, though, so I went back to Amazon, made sure I was signed in, clicked Copilot chat in the corner of my browser, and typed the following:
“Look at my Amazon purchase history and add to my cart the space heater I recently bought.”
Copilot took a moment, but it eventually found the space heater I just purchased, located the exact model again on Amazon, and confirmed it was ready to be added to my cart. It asked me to OK, I said yes, and it did exactly that. Pretty neat. But I had to go to my cart and finish the checkout process. I wondered if I could actually force Copilot to buy it for me. So, I refined my prompt:
“Look at my Amazon purchase history and buy the space heater I recently bought. Send it to my house in [my town], NY. Use my [XXXX] card for payment.”
At this point, the edges around my browser tab glowed orange, and Amazon’s Place Your Order screen appeared, with my space heater ready to go and the correct address and payment visible.
When I recently shopped with Atlas at Walmart, the AI literally took over my tab — cursor and all — and navigated the screen as I watched it comb through my purchase history to find past products to add to my cart. But Atlas only loaded my cart; I still had to check out manually. It just handled all the shopping and found the right products for me.
Also: You can test Microsoft’s new in-house AI image generator model now – here’s how
I do wish Copilot visually showed me what it was doing in real time, the way Atlas does, since it’s fun to watch and easy to jump in if I want to take over. That said, Copilot’s experience was noticeably faster. It took less than a minute compared with 10 minutes using Atlas. I also liked that it loaded my checkout preferences and brought me right to the last screen to complete the purchase.
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My verdict on Copilot Mode so far
After trying Edge’s new Copilot Mode, including the search bar and Chat button, it genuinely feels like a smart AI browser. The multi-tab comparison, reference trick, and Vision and Action features turned what could have been tedious product research into something organized, fast, visual, and genuinely useful. I still had to confirm each action, but that kept things safe and on task.
Also: Are AI browsers worth the security risk? Why experts are worried
I just wish some of these features were enabled by default, so I didn’t have to dig through Copilot Mode settings to turn them on. Still, if you’re like me and spend your days juggling tabs, products, and projects, it’s worth giving Edge a try. It turns the traditional browsing experience into something far more interactive – like having a personal assistant built right into your browser.
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