I use Edge as my default browser – but its new AI mode is unreliable and annoying
Ed Bott / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETMicrosoft’s on a relentless quest to embed its Copilot AI into every software product it owns. That campaign takes another big step forward with the addition of some new generative AI features in the company’s Edge browser.The latest release beefs up the capabilities of Copilot Mode, the chat-based search interface for Edge, on Windows PCs and Macs. You can use natural voice commands to navigate pages, and the chatbot can see all the open tabs in the current browser window instead of being limited to whatever’s on the current page. Also: Microsoft gives Copilot a face – here’s how to try your new Appearance chat buddyIf that sounds appealing, you can go to the Copilot Mode sign-in page and flip a switch that lets you enable Copilot Mode in Edge Settings. Here’s what happened when I turned this feature on.Hands-on with Copilot ModeTurning on Copilot Mode adds a Copilot logo button in the address bar. A separate option customizes the new tab page, replacing the search box with a Copilot chat input box that’s designed to handle search, chat, and web navigation. It also gives you the option to open Copilot Mode in a sidebar, where you can ask it questions about the current set of open tabs. Also: I made Microsoft Edge my default browser because of these three killer featuresIn Copilot Mode, the new tab page becomes an ocean of serenity, a simple input box with a personal greeting above it. If you start typing a question, Edge offers two options: You can send your question to Copilot for an AI-powered answer, or you can choose a traditional search. Here’s what it looks like. More