Early this morning, Microsoft announced on its official website that it is adding Copilot mode to its Edge browser, fundamentally reshaping how we use browsers.
Copilot mode functions more like a multi-layered hybrid intelligent agent. You simply state your problem, for example, "Find a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in downtown Los Angeles for under $5000 a month." Copilot mode will automatically perform searches, integrate information, and provide a final comparison result.
In addition, Copilot mode offers innovative features such as tab filtering and intent understanding.
For decades, our way of using browsers has mostly been fixed and tedious. We often open 30 or 40 tabs and then slowly filter through their content, which wastes a lot of time and energy.
Microsoft hopes to automate these operations through Copilot mode and further improve daily work efficiency with the AI Agent's understanding and integration capabilities.
When Copilot mode is enabled, users will see a clean, streamlined page with a single input box when opening a new Edge tab, integrating chat, search, and web navigation features. Copilot can understand user intent, helping users get started faster.
Copilot mode can also view all open tabs, providing a comprehensive understanding of what the user is exploring online. For example, when researching vacation hotels on multiple websites, users can chat with Copilot to quickly determine which option is closest to the beach and equipped with a full kitchen, saving time and reducing steps.
Copilot mode also supports natural voice navigation. Users can directly tell Copilot their needs, whether it's finding information on a page or asking Copilot to open several tabs to compare product options. Users simply state their needs, and Copilot will help reduce clicks and typing, completing tasks faster.
In the future, users will also be able to authorize Copilot to access more contextual information from the browser, such as history and credentials, allowing Copilot to perform more advanced, seamless, and personalized automated actions.
For example, a user could simply say, "Find me a paddleboard rental near my workplace." Copilot could not only find the best options but also check weather conditions, complete bookings, and even recommend sunscreen or instructional videos to help the user prepare.
Users can also invoke Copilot at any time on any webpage without losing their current page position. Whether converting recipe measurements or translating content, Copilot will appear as a dynamic panel while keeping the original page visible. This helps reduce distractions like pop-ups and lengthy blog posts, allowing users to get the information they need faster.
Copilot mode can also guide users through tasks and organize their browsing history into thematic journeys, providing suggestions for next steps, helping users stay focused and move projects forward.
For example, if a user is researching how to start an online business, Copilot can recognize this and offer relevant insights, such as recommending tutorials to help the user explore different website building methods.
Privacy and security are always Microsoft's top priorities. Microsoft only collects data used to improve the user experience or data that users choose to provide through personalization settings, and users always remain in control.
In Edge's Copilot mode, user data is protected by Microsoft's trusted privacy standards, which are designed to ensure user information is secure, not shared, and never disclosed without permission. User browser data will be processed and protected in accordance with Microsoft's privacy statement, and clear visual cues will be displayed on the browser when Copilot is viewing or listening.
Users can also turn Copilot mode on or off at any time through Edge settings. If users do not wish to enable Copilot mode, they can continue to browse the web with Edge as usual.
Currently, Edge's Copilot mode is freely available to users and will continue to be iterated and strengthened.