Microsoft Edge Update: AI Now Analyzes Your Open Tabs

Microsoft has announced a significant update for its Edge browser, deepening the integration of Copilot, its artificial intelligence assistant. The primary new feature allows Copilot to access and analyze information from all your currently open browser tabs.

This capability unlocks a range of possibilities for users, who can now query Copilot about the content of their tabs. They can ask it to compare products they are viewing, summarize articles, or extract specific data from multiple open sources.

The company has detailed that users will have control over which AI experiences they wish to enable or disable. This ensures personalization and control over the privacy of information shared with the assistant.

As part of this evolution, Microsoft is retiring "Copilot Mode," which offered similar functionalities but with a more autonomous approach, such as booking reservations. These capabilities have now been folded into the "Browse with Copilot" tool, which focuses on assisted browsing.

In addition to tab management, Edge will introduce other AI-driven features. An "Study and Learn" mode will transform articles into interactive study sessions or quizzes, facilitating learning.

Another notable innovation is the ability to turn your open tabs into AI-generated podcasts. This feature promises a new way to consume content while multitasking, similar to what is already seen on other platforms.

Microsoft has also confirmed that Copilot in Edge can access browsing history, with user permission, to provide more accurate and contextualized answers. "Long-term memory" will allow the assistant to recall previous conversations and tailor its suggestions.

The mobile app experience will also be enhanced, enabling screen sharing with Copilot to address questions about what is being viewed. Clear visual cues will be implemented so users know when Copilot is active, assisting, listening, or viewing.

Edge's new tab page will be redesigned to unify chat, search, and navigation, including the "Journeys" feature. This feature uses AI to organize browsing history into categories, making it easier to revisit and access past information.