Microsoft Launches Copilot Mode in Edge Browser, Rivaling OpenAI's Atlas in AI Browser Race

Two days after OpenAI's Atlas, Microsoft launches a nearly identical AI browser | TechCrunch

Microsoft released a new batch of features for its AI assistant Thursday, including an ambitious project that builds artificial intelligence directly into one of its most central products. More than a simple extension, the new CoPilot Mode of Microsoft's Edge browser is the company's take on the long-hyped AI browser category -- an intelligent and flexible AI assistant that follows you as you browse the web. Mustafa Suleyman, the CEO of Microsoft AI, even described the new product in those terms in the announcement. "Copilot Mode in Edge is evolving into an AI browser that is your dynamic, intelligent companion," Suleyman wrote in the announcement post. "With your permission, Copilot can see and reason over your open tabs, summarize and compare information, and even take actions like booking a hotel or filling out forms." The announcement comes just two days after a similar launch from OpenAI, which showed off its new Atlas browser. Of course, Copilot's release has been scheduled for weeks, and new Copilot Mode has probably been in development for months. Neither company invented the idea of an AI-assisted web browser. But the visual similarity between the two products is hard to ignore. These are two very similar pictures. The Copilot for Edge background is a little darker, there's text instead of a logo, and the close/minimize buttons follow Windows conventions instead of MacOS conventions. Beyond that, Copilot puts its "ride-along" function in a new tab instead of a split-screen... but that's about it. It's pretty much the same product. Part of the similarity is functional: people like clean browsers, and there are only so many ways to integrate a chatbot window into the "new tab" screen. For users, the main difference will come from the underlying models, so maybe a little facial similarity doesn't make too big a difference. Browsers mostly look the same anyway. But given the high stakes of the AI race and the tense state of play between the two companies, it seems significant that we got both of these browsers in the same week.

Not to Be Outdone by ChatGPT Atlas, Microsoft Enhances Copilot Mode in Its Edge Browser

Imad is a senior reporter covering Google and internet culture. Hailing from Texas, Imad started his journalism career in 2013 and has amassed bylines with The New York Times, The Washington Post, ESPN, Tom's Guide and Wired, among others. Copilot Mode in Edge brings more powerful agentic AI capabilities to Microsoft's web browser and is available now as part of a limited preview in the US, the company said in a blog post on Thursday. Recent versions of Edge already had many of the same features found in competing AI web browsers, such as Perplexity's Comet, OpenAI's ChatGPT Atlas and Google's Gemini in Chrome. This includes having an AI in the corner to chat about the web page you're looking at, analyze content across multiple tabs, or search the web. Users who update to the latest version of Edg can enter into a limited preview and activate a Copilot toggle. Microsoft says Copilot can be toggled off at any time. Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source. Copilot Mode in Edge includes Actions and Journeys, two features that were announced earlier in the year. Actions, as the name suggests, gives Edge agentic capabilities -- it can do things on your behalf. For example, using Actions with Voice, users can talk to their browser and have it open up a web page or ask Copilot to find a part in the article discussing a specific topic. Journeys remembers a user's browsing history and can help them pick up where they left off, along with suggestions of where to go next. In Journeys, users can see their past browsing sessions and group them accordingly. For example, if researching for a new TV to buy the day prior, Journeys can organize that previous research session and help users pick it back up. Microsoft didn't immediately reply to a request for comment. The release of Copilot Mode in Edge comes as the browser wars are heating up, thanks to the advent of generative AI. Earlier this week, OpenAI announced its ChatGPT Atlas web browser that integrates agentic systems to allow an AI to analyze data or do tasks on behalf of the user. Perplexity released Comet earlier this year, as did Google with Gemini in Chrome. At the moment, the browser market is dominated by Google, with Chrome maintaining a 71% market share, according to GlobalStats. After Apple's Safari, Microsoft's Edge is a distant third at 4.67%. It's a tremendous fall for Microsoft, as its Internet Explorer web browser once dominated the landscape at 95% global market share. Granted, Internet Explorer was the default on Windows, and Microsoft was ultimately sued by the US Department of Justice for engaging in anticompetitive behavior. This, somewhat ironically, paved the way for Chrome to enter the field. Microsoft said user data will remain secure and it will only collect data that's meant to "improve your experience." Browsing history can't be accessed without users opting in via the Page option in settings.

Microsoft Edge's new Copilot Mode turns on more AI features

Microsoft is joining the AI browser wave with the official launch of a new "Copilot Mode" in Edge. The option, first announced in July, turns Copilot into your portal to the web, with each new tab opening a chat window where you can either ask a question, conduct a search, or enter a URL. Copilot Mode ties Microsoft's AI assistant more closely to Edge, as it combines AI-generated responses, search results, and navigation into one window. It also draws from all of your tabs -- not just the one you're on -- allowing you to ask Copilot to summarize the information in all of your open windows or compare products in each one. Though Microsoft previously launched Copilot Mode as an experimental feature, it's now available for everyone to try, alongside a few new features available in a limited preview. That includes an agentic Copilot Actions feature that can do things like unsubscribe from marketing emails or book a reservation on your behalf. Just like the other AI browsers out there, Copilot's agentic features just aren't totally reliable yet. Copilot displays a warning before taking action that says the tool is "intended for research and evaluation purposes" and "can make mistakes." When I asked it to delete an email, for example, Copilot said it deleted it, but failed to actually do so. It also lied about sending an email that it composed directly in Gmail. The assistant did, however, successfully unsubscribe from a mailing list. Outside of my email inbox, Copilot struggled to make a reservation for me at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City. I asked it to book a slot on November 26th, and even though it told me it selected a reservation for that date, the AI tool chose October 26th instead. Copilot Mode in Edge can now use your browsing history to provide better responses -- but only if you give it permission. Microsoft is launching Journeys in preview as well. Journeys is an AI-powered feature that organizes your browsing history into topics and makes suggestions about what to search for next. I didn't browse enough using the new experience to see my own Journeys, but it seems like it might help you quickly dive back into a topic you frequently revisit. You can turn on Copilot Mode by downloading Edge and toggling on the switch on Microsoft's website. If you're based in the US, you can also scroll down to enable Copilot Actions and Copilot Journeys in preview.

Microsoft gives Copilot a 'real talk' upgrade - and an (optional) cartoon face

Copilot for Health promises 'credible' results from trusted sources. If you had any doubt about Microsoft's intention to insert its AI-powered Copilot features into every corner of its product line, today's massive Copilot Fall Release should change your mind. In a buzzword-heavy blog post that reads suspiciously like it was written with a heavy assist from Copilot, Microsoft announced 12 new features designed to expand its footprint in the AI market and address some criticisms of its signature chatbot. Starting today, Copilot conversations -- whether through voice or keyboard -- will reportedly become less cloying and sycophantic than the current iteration, thanks to a new "real talk" feature that Microsoft claims will challenge your assumptions and "adapt to your vibe." In this release we're adding features to make Copilot more personal and more adaptable to your needs and style, while holding true to our brand values. Copilot is designed to be empathetic and supportive, not sycophantic. It will push back on you sometimes, but always respectfully. This is AI that listens. That learns. That earns your trust. And for those who have been dreaming of the day that Clippy returns, the wait is over. Copilot chats can be accompanied by an "optional visual presence" -- an animated blob called Mico (short for Microsoft Copilot, and pictured above) that "listens, reacts, and even changes colors to reflect your interactions ... Mico shows support through animation and expressions, creating a friendly and engaging experience." Also: The best free AI courses and certificates in 2025 - and I've tried them all You can also add friends and co-workers to a chat, beginning today. With the Groups feature, Microsoft says, a user can start a session and then send a link to invite other people -- up to 32 in all -- to collaborate in real-time. The multi-user feature includes the ability to summarize threads, propose options, keep track of votes, and assign tasks. Learn Live turns the chatbot experience into an education tool -- a "voice-enabled, Socratic tutor that guides you through concepts instead of just giving answers. It uses questions, visual cues, and interactive whiteboards," Microsoft says. Those four features are available in the US only and are live today. The most controversial addition to this fall's feature drop is billed as "Copilot for health." Encouraging customers to ask for medical advice is a bold, even risky move for a product that has been known to make up answers and routinely includes a "Copilot may make mistakes" disclaimer with every interaction. To deal with that concern, Microsoft says it's worked on tying health-related questions to "credible sources like Harvard Health." The feature can also reportedly help you "find the right doctors quickly and confidently, matching based on specialty, location, language, and other preferences." Copilot for health is available only in the US, on the web and in the iOS Copilot app. The Connectors feature, which is rolling out gradually, will allow you to connect a Copilot session to external services, so you can use natural language to search for documents, email threads, and calendar events. In addition to Microsoft's own OneDrive and Outlook, Microsoft says support will be available for Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Calendar. Other enhancements to the core Copilot chat features include Memory & Personalization, which allows Copilot to reference past conversations and store important information so you can recall it in future interactions. Microsoft says you'll be able to edit, update, or delete these memories at any time. Also: Windows 11 AI agents will act on your behalf - how much can you trust them? A related feature, Proactive Actions, will allow Copilot to "suggest next steps based on your recent activity or research threads." It's currently available as a preview and requires a Microsoft 365 subscription. Copilot Pages can now handle multiple file uploads -- up to 20 files in a variety of document, image, and text formats, and an Imagine panel promises to "explore and remix AI-generated ideas in a collaborative space," whatever that means. Copilot Mode in Edge allows access to the Copilot Actions feature that Microsoft introduced earlier this year, with a few enhancements. By turning on the Journeys feature, you can reportedly return to previous interactions and tasks without having to start over. And the browser-based Copilot can work with all open tabs in the browser window instead of being restricted to just the current tab. Copilot Search reportedly "combines AI-generated answers with traditional results in one view, providing clear, cited responses for faster and more trustworthy discovery." Whether it will improve on the current mess of search results with an AI summary at the top remains to be seen.

I Put Microsoft's AI Browser to the Test. Here's What Actually Works

An expert in all things Windows, Michael has been reviewing PC software for more than 15 years. I don't think most people are likely to switch from their current web browser to an AI-powered one anytime soon, especially considering negative press and perceptions about AI. That's why I like that Microsoft lets you try AI features without forcing you to fully commit; the company delivers AI capabilities right within its Edge browser via Copilot Mode. In this scenario, you can use the standard web browser as normal and then turn to AI features when you want them. Microsoft recently launched two new major features for Copilot Mode in Edge at its Copilot Fall Release event: Actions (heavily revamped) and Journeys. The Actions feature (called agents in other AI browsers like ChatGPT Atlas) lets Copilot drive your browser to complete multipart tasks, such as making a dinner reservation. The company says the Journeys feature "organizes past browsing into meaningful storylines so you can revisit ideas and resume tasks without retracing steps." Some features in Copilot Mode for Edge are currently experimental, but undaunted by that, I took the newfangled browser mode out for a spin. In short, I found some things to like and several shortcomings, but nothing showstopping. You should absolutely try it if you enjoy testing the latest tech, but keep your expectations in check. How to Get Copilot Mode in Edge Copilot Mode is available only on the desktop version of Edge that runs on macOS or Windows (both 10 and 11). You also have to live in one of the 170 worldwide markets where Copilot is available, but the new Actions and Journeys features are currently available only to users in the US (though not for managed business versions of Windows). Copilot Mode is free, at least for now. The first step is to update Edge to the latest version. To do so, click the three-dot menu at the top right of the interface, choose the Help and Feedback option at the bottom, and then select About Microsoft Edge. You need to restart the browser to install updates. Once you have the latest version running, you need only go to the Copilot Mode in Edge site and slide the Turn On Copilot Mode switch to the right. You can also just go into Edge's Settings page, find the AI Innovations section, and turn on the Copilot Mode from there. Note the new Journeys and Actions settings in there. You can also change the color theme to match Copilot mode and whether the focus in new tab pages goes to the address bar or the on-page Copilot text box. What Can You Do With Copilot Mode in Edge? Copilot Mode in Edge offers several distinguishing features. The most immediately noticeable is a new AI chatbot-focused new tab page. You also see the Quick Assist Copilot button and get access to voice-driven browsing, Copilot Actions, Journeys, and multi-tab analysis. Here's what to expect from each feature. New Tab Page When you open a new browser tab, you get an AI-centric page, rather than the standard one with a Bing search box, a daily photo, and news summaries. It's nearly identical to what appears on the Copilot website, with just a few minor differences. For instance, it includes shortcuts for your most-visited sites. You can edit these as you can on the standard Edge's new tab page. Another difference between this new tab page and standard Copilot: If you enter a URL in the text box on the Copilot Mode's new tab page, the browser takes you directly to said page, rather than to a chatbot response or a search result page. It also keeps your previous entries accessible for easy navigation. I initially missed the engaging photos on the regular Edge's new tab page, but you can enable those in the settings without leaving Copilot Mode. You can also still use an alternative default search site, such as DuckDuckGo. This is in contrast with ChatGPT Atlas, which makes it impossible to change the default browser search engine from ChatGPT's own web search. One major difference between Copilot Mode's new tab page and that of Copilot itself appears in the drop-down menu that's accessible by clicking the Copilot logo to the left of the text box (above). Microsoft switched up these options (Chat & Search, formerly the first choice, is now gone). Currently, you see options for the following interaction modes: Smart (which takes the place of Chat & Search), Quick Response, Real Talk (a new, more conversational mode that challenges you rather than just spitting out an AI answer), Think Deeper (for queries that require more digging through info), and Study and Learn ( which offers quizzes and Socratic-style dialogues). The Smart mode uses OpenAI's GPT-5; it automatically determines which AI model to use based on your request and devotes the appropriate amount of time. When you opt for voice interactions, the choices are different. You can't, for example, generate images and text using voice prompts. Once you switch back to a text interaction, however, the browser takes you to the regular Copilot web interface. It's an inconsistency that Microsoft needs to iron out; the new tab page should always offer the same options. In any case, the standard Copilot options are Quick Response, Think Deeper, and Deep Research. The last option handles even larger projects than Think Deeper. It can take up to 10 minutes and generate several pages of information. Keep in mind that you don't see text responses for voice interactions with Copilot Mode. The regular version of Copilot shows you a text transcript for voice interactions after you turn off the mic, which I prefer. Quick Assist Due to popular demand, Microsoft has moved the Copilot button in Copilot Mode from the top left corner of the browser back to the top right of the address bar. This opens the Quick Assist panel, a compact version of the Copilot interface. In non-Copilot mode, it opens a right-side Copilot panel. Quick Assist is available no matter what's in your main browser window. From this box, you can ask questions about or get summaries of the current site or pages across multiple tabs (see the next section). When I asked Copilot to summarize a page about a conservation project, it gave me a rather long bullet list of key points. I then asked it to summarize the information in one paragraph, and it complied, with an informative (though long) paragraph. And when I asked when the project took place, it gave me the correct answer. An example that Microsoft gives on its Copilot support pages is asking the AI to "skip the life story and get to the recipe." This ability is useful beyond recipe web pages. Plenty of tech tip articles, for example, start with a long diatribe about the history of the feature or problem, which you might want to skip to get to the tip steps. Actions Actions perhaps point most to the future of AI browsing, though the current implementation in Copilot Mode falls short of the idea of completely hands-off agency. Actions use third-party web services to complete tasks for you. You don't need to choose the Actions mode from the search box's drop-down menu on Copilot Mode's new tab page to get started; just ask it to do something like the requests in the video below. Not for nothing, the following message appears whenever an Action starts: Actions in Edge Preview is intended for research and evaluation purposes. Copilot can make mistakes. Please monitor results closely. I tested the capability by asking it to make dinner reservations for two near Times Square on November 8. Copilot responded as shown in the video below: Like ChatGPT Atlas, it tells you what it's doing as it works. Instead of the Take Control button, you now have a Watch Progress button in the chat. This switches you to a new tab where the AI is carrying out its actions. The tab it spins up and works in uses a pointer with splash marks to distinguish it from your own tabs. You can stop the action with the square stop button in your text entry box. The whole process takes several minutes (hence I cut short the video, just to give you a flavor of how it works). In the end, Copilot set up the reservation, but I had to enter my phone number to confirm. I expect the AI will handle this itself in the future, as long as you're willing to have it store your number. At this point, I think it could make sense to use this feature to narrow down your options for dinner reservations and the like, but overall, it's probably more efficient to just navigate the site yourself. It could eventually make sense for more complicated requirements, however, and it's a reasonable proof-of-concept. I also tried to get Copilot Actions to create a spreadsheet based on numbers from financial websites, but it stalled the first few times I tried it. It could create a downloadable sheet, but not one in Excel Online until after many attempts. Even when it did, it failed to type in column headers, which seems pretty lame. It did ask my permission to use the site it chose for data; it was a crypto site, so good call! Voice-Driven Browsing Since the last time I tested it, Edge in Copilot Mode can no longer open pages for you in response to a voice interaction. This time, when I asked it to find me a good 5.1 sound bar, it replied verbally with recommendations, but didn't open the store pages in the browser. Although it can scroll pages to a spot of interest (in this case, a product it recommended on Best Buy), I miss the full hands-free browsing experience. Copilot Mode also has translation and unit conversion capabilities. Translation worked well in voice mode, as you can see and hear in the video above. I asked for a translation of a page about the Mexican environmental agency to test it, and the translation was spot-on. But in text mode, it tapped the Actions feature to find a site's language selector for this rather than using its own translation. This took far longer than the previous method. Since it's part of the browser, Copilot could have more efficiently used Edge's translation tool. Multi-Tab Analysis You can ask Copilot about all your open tabs at once. The Quick Assist panel is handy for this. One use case could be for a price comparison across sites. I tried the feature by opening four websites' browser comparison articles and asked which browsers won, based on all the open tabs. The panel displayed a table summarizing the information from the pages across categories, such as performance and privacy. This isn't something you can do with Copilot Vision, which sees only what's visible on the current screen. Journeys You need to enable the new Journeys feature in Edge's Settings (shown below). There's even an Explore Journeys link there to help you understand what exactly it does. Once you turn them on, Copilot automatically creates Journeys based on your activity. Before turning it on, a warning box appears with this message: "Journeys may also use your web searches and Copilot conversations to make them more personal. Data from Journeys isn't used for AI training or advertising." You can turn Journeys off whenever you want. This feature requires you to build up a history of interactions, so I can't test it right away. Basically, after you've been digging into a topic for a while, you see new tiles under the "Continue where you left off" header. Clicking on one of these opens a recap of the topic, links to relevant sites, and recommendations for next steps. After I turned the feature on, its section on my home page had a tile saying, "Your Journeys are on the way." Just keep in mind that the similar Pages feature might better fit your needs. What Copilot Mode in Edge Can't Yet Do You can't use your voice to have the AI generate images as you can with the standard version of Copilot on the web. And unlike earlier-generation AI assistants, it fails to set a timer for things like cooking food. It can't take you to a specific moment in a video either, as Comet can, thanks to its Google integration. Copilot Mode also can't point to and highlight items on the page like Copilot Vision in Windows. I also lament that one particular voice command doesn't work: "Stop listening." This is essential if you're using voice-only interactions. Microsoft claims that agents in Copilot Mode will be able to anticipate your needs and take actions for you, but the current iteration of the Actions feature hasn't yet reached that stage. I expect it to develop better interaction with your personal info, for example, being able to enter your phone number in OpenTable for reservation completion. A Promising Work in Progress Microsoft's blog post on Copilot mode states, "This is just the beginning of our journey in introducing new AI innovation into your everyday browsing. Copilot Mode is experimental and will evolve over time." My testing bears this out. The tool is lacking in several ways to the point that it might not be worth switching to unless you're simply keen on testing new technology. Just keep in mind that many of Copilot Mode's most powerful features require privacy permissions, such as history, logins, and payments, too. Microsoft states that Edge will mark these permissions with "clear visual cues" for full opt-in. Hopefully, we won't end up with another Recall-like outcry. The company encourages testers to chime in on Discord about their experiences and wishes. But despite all the misgivings I have about Copilot Mode, I still appreciate that anyone can try it out now without installing a separate app. Neither Perplexity's Comet nor OpenAI's ChatGPT Atlas can make this claim. It's definitely worth checking out and makes Edge far more capable than it was in the past.

Copilot is getting more personality with a 'real talk' mode and group chats

Microsoft is rolling out some significant changes to its Copilot AI assistant today. There's a new groups feature that connects multiple people into a Copilot chat, memory to let Copilot learn things about you, a new "real talk" mode that will bring back some of Copilot's early personality, and more. Copilot Groups is designed for groups of friends, classmates, and even teammates to use Copilot in a single session. Microsoft is targeting this at people who need to make a plan or solve problems together, and the company is supporting up to 32 people in Copilot Groups, in an effort to make AI more social. "My guess is you're going to see groups of two or three dominate this," says Jacob Andreou, CVP of product and growth at Microsoft AI, in an interview with The Verge. "I think it's actually going to be a lot of small groups, it's not going to be like your long-running group chat suddenly has an AI in it." While Copilot Groups sounds like it's more ideally suited to work environments, it's only launching inside the US consumer version of Copilot today and not the business-focused Microsoft 365 Copilot. That might change in the future, though. "I do think it's going to be amazing in work contexts," says Andreou. "Bringing experiences like this into Microsoft 365 are going to be really important." Microsoft is also adding an optional "real talk" mode to Copilot that will adapt to the way you're asking questions and have more challenging responses. When Microsoft first launched Copilot as its Bing AI chatbot, it could often be prompted to refer to itself as Sydney and sometimes respond rudely to users. While the real talk mode doesn't bring back the full sassiness of Sydney, it sounds like Copilot is about to get a lot more personality in its responses. "In real talk this mode will match your tone, add its own perspective, and maybe be a little more witty than people expect," says Andreou. "It's also going to challenge you, so it won't just agree with everything you say." Real talk won't be the default mode, it will just be another mode you select in the dropdown menu, and it's also only limited to text and not Copilot's voice mode. Real talk will be able to take advantage of improvements to Copilot's memory features, though. "Copilot is getting way better memory. It will be able to remember facts about you, the people you care about, your life, and the things you're working on," explains Andreou. You'll also be able to control what Copilot knows about you. "You'll be able to see a list of everything Copilot knows about you, and you'll be able to go in and delete things," says Andreou. "We also really want to invest is doing a lot of this conversationally." You'll be able to use the Copilot voice mode to ask the AI assistant to forget everything it knows about your partner, for example. Copilot is also getting changes to how it answers health-related questions by improving how it sources and grounds responses with trusted sources like Harvard Health. "Copilot also helps you find the right doctors quickly and confidently, matching based on location, language, and other preferences," says Microsoft. Microsoft is also updating its Copilot voice mode to introduce Mico, a new Clippy-like character. It will react with real-time expressions and bounce around a Copilot window. It also has a Learn Live mode that acts like a tutor. You can read all about Mico right here.

The New Clippy? Mico Is One of 12 Copilot Upgrades Rolling Out Now

Emily is an experienced reporter who covers cutting-edge tech, from AI and EVs to brain implants. She stays grounded by hiking and playing guitar. Don't miss out on our latest stories. Add PCMag as a preferred source on Google. Microsoft dropped its Copilot fall release today with a dozen new features, the splashiest being a new anthropomorphic buddy called Mico. The rest focus mostly on personal productivity, or making humans more capable versus AI; the wider tech industry has tended to prioritize the latter in the past few years. "Here's the simple idea I keep coming back to: technology should work in service of people. Not the other way around. Ever," says Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman. The updates are now live in the US, and rolling out across the UK, Canada, and "beyond" in the next few weeks, Microsoft says. If you're outside the US, take a closer look at what's available in your region. Microsoft notes that "specific feature availability may vary by market, device, and platform." You can access Copilot through the app (iOS or Android) or by visiting copilot.microsoft.com in Microsoft Edge or another browser. Meet Mico: The New Clippy for the AI Age Clippy may have retired in 2007, but Microsoft is back with a new anthropomorphic computer buddy, Mico. The name is a combination of "Microsoft" and "Copilot," and the avatar is currently only available in the US. Mico is a voice assistant that promises to be "expressive, customizable, and warm," Microsoft says. It changes colors to reflect the interactions, which sounds somewhat like a mood ring for your computer. A variety of conversation styles can help you find the one you enjoy most, or you can disable Mico if you need a break. For more emotional support, Mico can engage in Real Talk, a "collaborative model that challenges assumptions with care, adapts to your vibe, and helps conversations spark growth and connection," Microsoft says. A Better Way to Do Group Projects In the US, you can now invite up to 32 people to a session with Copilot, perhaps friends, classmates, or coworkers. The Groups feature offers real-time collaboration, while the AI "keeps everyone aligned by summarizing threads, proposing options, tallying votes, and splitting tasks." Once a person starts a session, they send a link to others, who join the conversation. Sounds helpful, or at least like it could make big group projects go a bit smoother. Microsoft is also offering a creative version of this, called Imagine, which allows you to iterate on others' AI-generated images. "Every post can be liked and remixed, creating a dynamic ecosystem where creativity multiplies," Microsoft says. "We're pioneering ways to measure AI's social intelligence-how it elevates group chats, encourages creativity, and grows conversations." Health Advice From a Chatbot? Chatbots giving health advice is a controversial proposition, but Microsoft is diving right in with new Copilot for Health features. The chatbot can now answer health-related questions, grounded in "credible sources like Harvard Health," Microsoft says. It can also help locate doctors with the right specialty, location, and language. A new Learn Live feature, meanwhile, turns the AI into a tutor -- specifically, a "Socratic tutor" that asks questions and guides students, rather than providing answers. It can also pull up "interactive whiteboards" to help students study, practice a new language, and more. Better Memory and Context Copilot finally gets a memory, something ChatGPT offers, so every interaction doesn't start from scratch. It can keep track of important information, like your anniversary or if you're training for a marathon, and recall it during future interactions. You won't need to repeat, "I'm training for a marathon," before asking a question about meal planning or training, for example. Copilot will also have more context about your life and work with Connectors that let you link services, such as OneDrive, Outlook, Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Calendar. The AI could then answer questions about your inbox, for example, or unearth documents, emails, and events. Sound creepy? Google Gemini can perform similar functions, for what it's worth. However, Microsoft says it has built-in privacy controls and requires "explicit consent" before accessing your data. The final all-knowing new Copilot feature is Proactive Actions, rolling out in Deep Research. It looks at your recent activity and research threads, surfacing insights and suggesting next steps. Too Many Tabs Open? Close 'Em Microsoft is building upon its July launch of Copilot Mode in Edge with a new feature called Journeys. It aims to make you more comfortable closing tabs, because it remembers your past browsing "journey" and can bring you back once you're ready to pick back up again. It'll also reference your browsing history in conversation. For example, it knows if you were shopping for a couch, so you can reference that casually without repeating, "I am shopping for a couch. Will this chair match?"

Microsoft makes Edge's Copilot Mode a bit smarter

Apparently, web browsers are cool again. Two days after OpenAI launched its AI browser, Microsoft has some updates for its Edge's AI mode. (Fancy that!) Copilot Mode, introduced in July, now has several features that were teased at launch. First up: Copilot Actions, which is Microsoft's branding for AI-assisted, multi-step tasks. This feature is already available in the standard version of Copilot, but it's now being previewed for Edge's Copilot Mode. Microsoft's examples of Copilot Actions in Edge include unsubscribing from email newsletters or making a restaurant reservation. Another new (but previously announced) feature is Journeys. These are saved projects you can return to anytime. "Remember that project you started a while back, but life got in the way?" Microsoft's blog post asks. "No need to bookmark all those tabs." For example, if you're researching starting a business, Copilot can recap articles you've read, suggest next steps and resurface a tutorial video you watched. Here's a video from when Microsoft teased Journeys in July. Along similar lines, another new Copilot Mode feature is the option to let the assistant access your browsing history. One example Microsoft gives is chatting with Copilot about a clothing item you checked out last week. Or, ask it for movie recommendations based on content you previously liked. Copilot requires explicit permission to access your private data for these new features. Microsoft's blog post stresses that your browser data is protected under the company's privacy statement and that Copilot "only collects what's needed to improve your experience." The company also notes that you'll see clear visual cues so you know when Copilot is active. Still, these features require loads of private information to be useful. Don't grant those permissions without first giving it some serious thought. The new Copilot features are currently free in a US-only "limited preview."

Microsoft Copilot gets long-term memory, group chats, and new 'Mico' persona in latest update

Microsoft is rolling out a series of updates to its consumer Copilot AI assistant, including shared group chats, long-term memory, and an optional visual persona named Mico. New capabilities include a "real talk" conversation style, a Learn Live feature that acts as a voice-enabled Socratic tutor, new connectors that link to services like Google Drive, Gmail, and Outlook, and deeper integration with Microsoft's Edge browser. Microsoft is competing against AI tools including Google's Gemini, Amazon's Alexa, Apple's revamped Siri, OpenAI's ChatGPT, and Anthropic's Claude in the consumer market. It looks to be the single biggest Copilot update to date from the group led by Mustafa Suleyman, the Google DeepMind co-founder who joined Microsoft last year as its AI CEO. "This release is a milestone for what AI can deliver," Suleyman writes in a blog post, explaining that the idea is to make Copilot a comprehensive assistant that connects users to their personal information, contacts, and tools with the goal of improving their lives. The features are rolling out starting today in the U.S, and the company says they will be available soon in the UK, Canada, and other parts of the world. Microsoft is showing the new features in the live stream below.

Copilot is getting a major upgrade and Microsoft is hoping Mico makes you forget you ever met a Clippy

In perhaps one of the most significant updates since Microsoft launched Copilot as Bing AI in 2023, the Windows company is rolling out a dozen Copilot (and Edge) updates, a handful of which are sure to transform your experience with the AI platform. The updates, which include a new face for Copilot and Journeys to help you digest your online activities and proactively recommend next steps, range from Edge Browser and Windows experiences to the mobile app. They're all free and dropping on Windows 11 (and Windows 10) installations today. While there are a dozen or so changes, Jacob Andreou, Corporate Vice President, Product & Growth, Microsoft AI, boiled them down for me to four major areas that "he's most excited about." The first and arguably biggest change, and it might be argued one that signals a fundamental shift in how we work with generative AI systems, is Groups. As the name suggests, Groups lets you invite other people into your Copilot session, and then you can start building prompts together, each asking your own questions, and "collaborate real-time with friends, with classmates, with family," explained Andreou. Think of it like a group Zoom or FaceTime call, but supercharged by generative AI. The group could brainstorm with Copilot, create drafts, and maybe even set up a study group. It might also prove useful in situations where, say, you're planning a family trip and want input from all family members. Then you all use Copilot to help add ideas and research about destinations, hotels, and itineraries. At TechRadar, we've found that AI can be quite helpful in planning group vacations. Andreou, who has had access to the new features for some time, recounted using it with his wife to figure out how to transition kittens to more adult cat food. "I was working with Copilot and figuring out the plan, and I just added her directly to the chat, and she was able to ask the follow-up, so we were able to kind of do it together." As for how this affects chat history and who can see what, Andreou told me that those invited into the chat will see the prompts and responses related to that chat, but nothing else about your copilot interactions. "The system stops using memory, as an example, as soon as you bring someone else in, because we want to make sure that, you know, your personal details stay private," he added. Microsoft is also adding more personality to Copilot in the form of "Mico" (a mashup of "Microsoft" and "Copilot"). It's similar to the Copilot app's original blob, but now it has a face. Andreou called it a "warm, expressive, customizable visual appearance." Its expressions will, in a sense, match your mood. If you enter a sad prompt, Mico may look sad. "It's incredibly performant," Andreou told me, "but all of the technology fades in the background." It's been a while since Microsoft had an incredibly helpful digital character. I wondered if Mico's face might be a bit Clippy-esque. Andreou laughed and told me, " We have a little Easter egg that's hidden in the product for the people that end up playing with Miko the most, where we're gonna be following in our footsteps of what's come before." The next update, Real Talk, seems to be a counter to concerns about the overly synchphantic nature of some AI chatbot models. Microsoft calls it its first "personality-forward" model. Andreou told me it's more witty, adds its own perspective, and can be more challenging. "It's not just someone who's there to kind of just be a cheerleader... this is a model that actually might really push back and might actually both help you think things through, but also actually spark some deeper conversations." Unlike OpenAI, which forced the more staid GPT-5 model on everyone, Microsoft is offering Real Talk as an option. Andreou admitted this kind of "conversation" is not for everyone, but some may appreciate it. "I think it's gonna lead to amazing conversations and a ton of learnings, of attributes, of personality that we will bring back into the overall product over time," he added. Copilot's memory is also getting an upgrade to better align with the competition, remembering details you share about yourself and your activities. If, for instance, you talk about a family member's birthday in a prompt, Copilot will remember that. "It'll make the interactions and responses feel a lot more natural and a lot more connected, Andreou told me. One of the things Microsoft learned about Copilot is that 40% of users ask the AI health-related questions within the first weeks of using the platform. Other studies have found that 1-in-6 adults under 30 turn to ChatGPT for health advice. It's with those statistics in mind that Microsoft is promising to make all Copilot's health-related responses grounded in "clinical sources." Andreou cited Harvard Health as one of them. Copilot users will see details about clinically trusted sources for each health-related response. The AI platform, however, will go a step further, connecting you with relevant doctors who are nearby and, if possible, in your coverage network. "We will never try to be the be-all end-all of these kinds of conversations," said Andreou, "As soon as we think it is appropriate, we will redirect you to find clinicians that can help you to speak to someone in the real world that can help you." Of course, Copilot can't recommend an in-network healthcare provider unless you share your insurance provider at some point during the chat. It's unclear how many people will be comfortable doing that. Copilot has been a part of the Edge browser for some time, but just in time for OpenAI's ChatGPT Atlas browser, Microsoft is fully releasing the Copilot Mode in Edge, which the company first teased last July. There's quite a bit of agentic activity in the browser, like having it review your email and scroll through your social feeds, but Andreou points to the local actions as some of the most powerful new features, including Journeys. "Journeys looks at your browsing history and basically helps you pick up where you left off." he explained. Edge and Copilot mode make sense of what you've been up to, and when you return, it's ready with a next step. Andreou told me he uses Journeys to research new candidates during the job interview process. "Copilot will often go in the background and try to pull some more information for me and help me jump back in," he added. Microsoft appears to be going all in on the watchful digital assistant (with your permission, of course, and despite the unfortunate Recall history). Andreou described a redesigned homepage that features recent apps, files, and conversations. It almost sounds like a new Windows homescreen and, in a way, it is. "You can kind of imagine the new Copilot homepage becoming the starting point for computing on your Windows computer." While much of Copilot has historically been built on OpenAI models like GPT-5, Andreou confirmed they still use a collection of OpenAI models. However, he wasn't prepared to list all the models at work in this major Copilot update. "At every point in our stack, whether it's the mainline text responding model, the reasoning models we use under the hood, the image generation models that we use, we're constantly evaluating all of the available options that we have to serve our community. And so, that means that in many parts of the product, we still, through our partnership with OpenAI, are serving their state-of-the-art frontier models." Andreou, though, also echoed other AI-focused tech companies I've spoken to, telling me, "That also means that we want to maintain the flexibility to, in parts of our product, use the best model for the job." Microsoft later clarified Andreou's comments with this statement: "OpenAI continues to be our partner on frontier models, and our consumer AI model strategy remains unchanged. We will continue to use the very best models from our team, our partners, and the latest innovations from the open-source community to power our products. This gives us the most flexibility to build AI that delivers the best outcomes across millions of unique interactions every day." As for where you'll find these features, which are all available today (October 23), browser actions won't show up in the mobile app, but the app will get Mico. Microsoft's Copilot experiences differ in another way from those of Google and OpenAI: Most of them are free and, in some cases, you don't even need a Microsoft account. Andreou reminded me that they support Google and Apple accounts. "There is no feature of the twelve that is blocked behind a subscription," said Andreou.

Edge's Copilot Mode now helps you handle mundane tasks and pick up where you left off

You can now unsubscribe from emails, make hotel reservations, and fill forms with Copilot Mode. What's happened? Microsoft has enhanced Edge's Copilot Mode with two new features, and it's now widely available on Windows and macOS. First announced as an experimental feature in July, Copilot Mode offers users a chat interface in each new tab where they can ask questions, search, or reason across multiple open tabs. The new Copilot Actions feature lets users perform tasks like filling out forms, unsubscribing from emails, or booking hotels. Copilot Journeys, on the other hand, organizes browsing history into topics, making it easy for users to quickly pick up where they left off. In addition, Microsoft says Edge's Copilot Mode can now analyze users' browsing history to offer higher-quality responses. Why is this important? With the AI browser space heating up, making Copilot Mode widely available helps Microsoft Edge stay in the game. The new Actions feature allows users to quickly perform routine tasks, giving them time to focus on what's important. Journeys offers a new way for users to revisit and explore previously accessed topics with ease. Why should I care? If you're a long-time Edge user, you no longer need to download alternatives like ChatGPT's Atlas, Dia, or Comet for an AI-powered browsing experience. The new Copilot Actions should help you save time and reduce repetitive tasks. With Journeys, you can easily revisit websites related to specific topics without relying on bookmarks. Recommended Videos What's next? Copilot Mode in Edge is now widely available on Windows and macOS in all Copilot markets, and it will soon be available in the Edge app for mobile. Copilot Actions and Journeys are currently available for free in a limited preview in the US only.

Microsoft Adds Copilot Mode to Edge to Compete With ChatGPT Atlas | AIM

Copilot in Edge builds on features first introduced in July, such as an integrated chat interface, reasoning across multiple open tabs, and a dynamic context pane. Microsoft has announced the rollout of Copilot Mode in Microsoft Edge, a new AI-powered feature that helps users perform tasks, organise tabs, and pick up past sessions directly from the browser. Sean Lyndersay, vice president of Microsoft Edge, said the company aims to redefine how users interact with browsers. "Up until now, using a browser has meant doing all the work yourself -- typing, clicking, tab-hopping and task-juggling," he said. "With Copilot Mode in Edge, your browser can anticipate, assist, and accelerate your experience online -- all with your permission." This development comes after OpenAI launched its own AI browser, ChatGPT Atlas. Copilot in Edge builds on features first introduced in July, such as an integrated chat interface, reasoning across multiple open tabs, and a dynamic context pane. The new release expands those capabilities with features like Copilot Actions and Journeys, designed to help users complete complex tasks and return to past projects without managing numerous tabs. According to Microsoft, Copilot Actions allows users to issue voice or text commands to perform both simple and complex actions. For instance, users can ask Copilot to unsubscribe from newsletters or make a restaurant reservation. The feature is currently available for free in a limited preview in the US. The Journeys feature, also in limited preview, groups previous browsing sessions by topic and lets users pick up exactly where they left off. "With Journeys, you see your past browsing projects automatically grouped into helpful topics and can dive right back in, all with your explicit permission," Lyndersay said. Microsoft emphasised that user privacy remains central to the experience. "Your browsing history will never be accessed without your go-ahead," the company said in a statement. Users can enable or disable history-based personalisation via the browser's settings at any time. Copilot Mode also includes new safety features such as a Scareware blocker, which uses local AI to protect against full-screen scam takeovers, and enhanced password management tools that create, store, and monitor passwords for breaches. "When Copilot is active, you'll see clear visual cues, so you know when it's taking an action, listening or viewing," the company stated. "Microsoft only collects what's needed to improve your experience -- or what you choose to provide via Personalisation settings." Copilot Mode is available in all Copilot-supported markets on Edge for Windows and Mac, with mobile support coming soon.

Microsoft extends Copilot with new automation, collaboration features - SiliconANGLE

The first enhancement to the artificial intelligence assistant is a feature called Groups. According to Microsoft, it will enable up to 32 users to participate in a Copilot chat session. A group planning a trip could use the feature to request hotel suggestions and then have the assistant poll the participants on which property they prefer. Users can pull additional data into a Copilot session via a new set of connectors. The integrations enable the assistant to access content in OneDrive, Outlook, Gmail, Google Drive and Google Calendar. It's possible to run searches across multiple connected services at once. According to Microsoft, Copilot is now better at accessing data in not only third party services but also past chat sessions. The new version of the assistant makes it easier for users to reference past conversations and pick up where they left off. Additionally, they can request Copilot to remember information they plan to use in future chat sessions. The assistant's enhanced memory comes with privacy controls that make it possible to delete saved data. Microsoft has also made a number of user experience changes as part of the update. The interface of Copilot's voice mode now displays an AI character called Mico that can react to user instructions. Additionally, Microsoft has added a "real talk" mode that configures the assistant to generate wittier responses. Another focus of the update is making Copilot better at researching healthcare topics. Microsoft's engineers have improved the mechanism that the assistant uses to ground its answers in reliable sources such as Harvard Health. Additionally, Copilot can now help users find doctors based on criteria such as specialty. The enhancements are rolling out alongside a new release of Copilot Mode, a version of the AI assistant built into Edge. The most significant change is the addition of a feature called Copilot Actions. It enables the assistant to automatically perform tasks such as unsubscribing from newsletters and reserving restaurant tables. The feature could make Edge more competitive with ChatGPT Atlas, the new browser that OpenAI debuted on Tuesday. Atlas includes a built-in AI agent that can interact with webpages on the user's behalf. Copilot Actions will also create more competition for other AI browsers such as Perplexity AI Inc.'s Comet. Copilot Actions is available in limited preview. The other enhancements are generally available in the U.S. and will roll out to additional markets over the next few weeks.

Microsoft Might Bring These New Copilot Features to You Soon

Microsoft will announce the new Copilot features on October 23 Microsoft is gearing up to announce new Copilot features on Thursday. The Redmond-based tech giant announced that it is reimagining Copilot into a more personal and supportive assistant. Separately, new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered agentic features were also teased for the Edge browser. The company is said to be planning to bring the Mico avatar, which appears in the GroupMe app, to Copilot. Interestingly, Microsoft's Copilot announcement comes just days after OpenAI held a livestream event to launch the ChatGPT Atlas browser. What Is Microsoft Likely to Announce for Copilot Ever since the launch of Copilot in 2023, Microsoft has been focused on making it an integrated experience across all of its products and services. Currently, a user can experience the AI chatbot in Windows 11, as a standalone mobile app, a web interface, within GitHub and Azure platforms, as well as across Microsoft 356 apps. Now, the October 23 announcement could reveal more about the company's future vision of Copilot. While the tech giant is tight-lipped about the new features that could be announced, it has hinted at a couple of new introductions. On its Instagram page, Copilot has shared an image of Mico with the caption, "This Thursday, prepare to see the light," hinting that Copilot could finally get avatars. Avatars for Copilot were also teased by the company earlier this year. The avatar is said to be available on the home page and to use animated expressions and gestures while responding to voice conversations. The official X (formerly known as Twitter) handle of Microsoft Edge has also teased new agentic capabilities. The browser received Copilot integration a few months earlier, and it appears the company is now planning to bring agentic actions to it as well. The post mentions, "Why do we browse like this? All of this scrolling, clicking, hunting, when you could just... ask?" According to a TestingCatalog report, Copilot Journeys could also be introduced during the live event. The feature organises the tabs based on the topic of the session. The AI chatbot can recognise the user's end goal and recommend the next steps they should take. This feature was also teased earlier. Apart from this, a new group chat feature, browser memory management, and app connectors are also teased for the scheduled event. Do note that Microsoft has not confirmed any of these features, and the official details will only be revealed at 9:30pm IST.

Microsoft introduces new Copilot features such as collaboration, Google integration

Microsoft unveiled new Copilot features, enhancing collaboration and integrating with services like Outlook and Google to compete in the booming AI market. The digital assistant can now analyze browser tabs, summarize information, and book hotels, while a new avatar, "Mico," aims to make interactions more natural. Microsoft on Thursday introduced new features in its digital assistant Copilot such as collaboration and deeper integration with other services like Outlook and Google, beefing up its artificial intelligence service to stave off a hit from its competition. Other AI service providers such as Anthropic and OpenAI are upgrading their models and launching products aimed at capturing a wider share of the booming AI market. If it gets permission, Copilot can see and use reasoning over a user's tabs on Microsoft's Edge browser, summarize and compare information and take action like booking a hotel. Previous browsers can also be turned into "storylines" so people can revisit older ideas. Along with the software features, the company introduced an avatar called "Mico" - a nod to Microsoft Copilot - which can show expressions and change color to make conversations feel natural, the company said. The upgrades are an attempt to boost the appeal of Microsoft's browser to gain ground on Alphabet's Google Chrome, while OpenAI also entered the browser market with Atlas. Groups turns Copilot into a shared space, able to support up to 32 people, allowing users to collaborate on writing and other projects. The company has also improved Copilot's health-related questions, addressing how to ground responses from credible sources, as concerns over misinformation from AI-generated responses rise.

AI Face-Off: Microsoft Edge Gets Copilot Mode to Outshine ChatGPT Atlas

Microsoft's Edge browser now includes Copilot Mode for enhanced productivity and personalized AI assistance. This new addition directly challenges ChatGPT Atlas. With this AI-powered feature, Microsoft users can perform tasks, organize tabs, and pick up past sessions directly from the browser. The tech giant aims to redefine how users interact with browsers. First launched in July, in Edge builds on features such as an integrated chat interface, reasoning across multiple open tabs, and a dynamic context pane. Sean Lyndersay, vice president of Microsoft Edge, said, "Up until now, using a browser has meant doing all the work yourself -- typing, clicking, tab-hopping, and task-juggling. With Copilot Mode in Edge, your browser can anticipate, assist, and accelerate your experience online, all with your permission." This development comes after OpenAI launched its own AI browser, . Copilot Mode is now available in all supported markets and apps on Edge for Windows and Mac, with mobile assistance coming soon.

Microsoft Edge turns into an AI browser with new Copilot Mode: All you need to know

To try Copilot Mode, simply download Microsoft Edge and turn on the Copilot toggle on Microsoft's website. Microsoft has officially launched a new Copilot Mode in its Edge browser. First announced in July, this feature transforms Edge into a more interactive experience, opening a chat window every time you start a new tab. In this window, you can ask questions, search the web, or even enter a URL directly. Copilot Mode is designed to make browsing smarter and more convenient by combining AI-generated answers, search results, and web navigation all in one place. It can access information from all of your open tabs, not just the one you're viewing. This means you can ask Copilot to summarise content across multiple tabs or compare products without switching between windows manually. Also read: ChatGPT's Shared Projects feature now available for all: What is it and how it works Copilot Mode was previously available as an experimental feature, now it is open for everyone to try. Microsoft has also introduced some new features in a limited preview. One of them, Copilot Actions, can perform tasks for you, such as unsubscribing from marketing emails or making reservations. Copilot Mode in Edge can also use your browsing history to provide more personalised responses, though you need to give permission for it to do so. Alongside Copilot Actions, Microsoft is also launching a feature called Journeys in preview. Journeys organises your browsing history into topics and suggests what you might want to explore next. Also read: OpenAI acquires AI startup Software Applications Incorporated founded by former Apple employees To try Copilot Mode, simply download Microsoft Edge and turn on the Copilot toggle on Microsoft's website. US-based users can also access the preview versions of Copilot Actions and Journeys.