Microsoft Launches Copilot Search: A New AI-Powered Search Engine to Rival Google

Microsoft releases its own AI search engine, called Copilot Search

Microsoft is stepping up to Google. Ask questions and get AI-powered summaries based on information from across the web. Artificial intelligence has basically taken over and replace traditional web search engines. You've already seen it with AI overviews in Google Search, followed up with OpenAI going the way of SearchGPT. Even alternative search engines like DuckDuckGo are starting to incorporate AI into their platforms, and things aren't slowing down. Well, now we can add another to the pile: Microsoft just released Copilot Search, which is sort of like an AI-infused Bing Search. It takes in data from sources all over the web, then uses Copilot's AI powers to synthesize a summary for you. You may have seen something similar before in Bing with AI-powered "Copilot Answers." Copilot Search supports natural language queries, which means you don't have to worry about how to phrase your questions or search inquiries to get the answer you're looking for. For example, if you ask the question, "How much is 57 degrees Fahrenheit in Celsius?", Copilot Search can figure out that you're talking about temperature conversions. Unlike Copilot Answers in Bing, however, Copilot Search has its own interface that's reminiscent of Copilot itself (and ChatGPT, among other AI chatbots). You can ask follow-up questions and keep the conversation going, building on past queries to get more specific answers. The easiest way to try Copilot Search right now is to visit bing.com/copilotsearch. Soon, the AI-powered search engine will also be available via menus in the Bing search engine itself.

Microsoft surfacing Bing's new Copilot Search mode as it races to beat Google

Last month Google announced a new "AI Mode" for Search, and now Microsoft has rapidly rolled out "Copilot Search" on Bing, which largely does the same thing. First appearing in late February, "Copilot Search" in Bing is a dedicated UI for performing searches that provides answers and results in a focused way using generative AI. The typical "blue links" are hidden, with an AI summary of your question or search and a list of sources from the web below that. Microsoft started testing this functionality over a month ago, but has now widely rolled it out and surfaced it in Bing's overall UI. Spotted by Windows Latest, Microsoft is now starting to show Copilot Search as the first search filter in Bing, even ahead of the dedicated shortcut to the full Copilot experience. Microsoft said that it was "continuing to experiment and iterate with generative search" with this effort. This change doesn't appear to be widely available to all users, though. On our account, we still see the Copilot Search shortcut buried under the "more" overflow section. It's obviously that Microsoft is pushing this experience forward right as Google is preparing to launch "AI Mode." Google officially announced that feature in early March and is testing it with some users, though it's unclear when it will roll out widely. Free users who signed up for the waitlist were granted access last week.

Microsoft's Bing adds a Copolit Search mode to rival Google AI Search

Table of Contents Table of Contents How to access Bing's Copilot Search? How Copilot Search works? Barely a few weeks ago, Google introduced a new AI Search mode. The idea is to provide answers as a wall of text, just the way an AI chatbot answers your queries, instead of the usual Search Results with blue links to different sources. Microsoft is now in the race, too. The company has quietly rolled out a new Copilot Search option for its Bing search engine. The feature was first spotted by Windows Latest, but Digital Trends can confirm that it is now accessible across all platforms. Recommended Videos How to access Bing's Copilot Search? You can access the dedicated Copilot Search mode by visiting Bing Search in any web browser, or simply use this shortcut: "bing.com/copilotsearch?q=(QUERY). It is also widely available in the Edge browser on both mobile and desktop now. When you look up information on the web using the Bing Search, the top menu bar now shows a dedicated "SEARCH" option sitting alongside the Copilot icon, flanked by "All" and "Image" options. Once you tap on it, your query will automatically be carried over and an AI search will kick into action. On the desktop version, if you don't see Copilot Search at the top, tap on the three-dot menu button underneath the text box and select "Copilot Search" from the drop-down menu. How Copilot Search works? Depending on your question, you can get a series of paragraphs, or a well-curated answer separated across numbered bulleted lists and sections. At the end of each paragraph break, you will also see a hyperlink embed, which can be tapped to open a small window taking you to the source material. At the bottom of the AI Search answer, all the sources are listed in the form of a sliding card carousel. The approach is not too different from Google's AI mode for Search. So far, a few of the tricky questions I put before Copilot Search were handled accurately. But do keep in mind that AI search tools still have a knack for fumbling, so it's always recommended that you double-check with the source material.

Microsoft's Bing AI search mode is lurking

Microsoft is stepping into the AI search ring, challenging Google's recently launched AI Search mode. The company has quietly introduced a new "Copilot Search" option for its Bing search engine, now accessible across all platforms. It's also available in the Edge browser on both mobile and desktop. When using Bing Search, a "SEARCH" option now appears in the top menu bar alongside the Copilot icon. Tapping it carries your query over and initiates an AI-powered search. If Copilot Search isn't visible on the desktop version, click the three-dot menu button under the text box and select "Copilot Search." Copilot Search provides answers in paragraphs or numbered lists, depending on the query. Each paragraph includes a hyperlink to the source material. Similar to Google's AI mode, Copilot Search lists all sources in a sliding card carousel at the bottom of the AI-generated answer.