Key Takeaways
\nMicrosoft on Monday unveiled “Copilot Mode,” an AI-powered tool for its Microsoft Edge browser.Copilot Mode, currently available for free, can view a user’s open tabs and execute tasks on their behalf.Copilot Mode launches on the heels of Google’s AI Mode for Chrome, which debuted earlier this year.Microsoft is due to report quarterly earnings after the closing bell Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Microsoft (MSFT<\/a>) rolled out an AI assistant for its Edge browser Monday, as the tech giant works to compete with Alphabet’s (GOOGL<\/a>) Google and others offering AI search tools.\n<\/p>\n Microsoft’s “Copilot Mode” displays a \u201cclean, streamlined page with a single input box that brings together chat, search and web navigation,\u201d Microsoft said in a blog post. Users can type commands into the input box, or use voice commands directly to prompt tasks like comparing travel listings pulled up across multiple tabs.\u00a0Copilot Mode is currently available for free, but only for a limited time, the blog post said.\n<\/p>\n Microsoft said users will eventually be able to give Copilot Mode access to their browser history and credentials in order to complete more complex tasks. For example, a demonstration video showed a user prompting Copilot Mode to find a paddleboard rental place near their workplace\u2014the AI assistant pulled one up, identified a day with good weather, and offered to make a booking.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n AI integration has become a key area of focus for America’s search giants as the use of generative AI chatbots<\/a> like OpenAI\u2019s ChatGPT becomes more widespread, threatening traditional search traffic. In May, Google launched AI Mode<\/a>, which lets users ask questions in conversation with Gemini. AI Mode has already reached 100 million<\/a> monthly active users in the U.S. and India, CEO Sundar Pichai said on Alphabet\u2019s earnings call last week.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n