Just now, Microsoft launched an AI browser, and surfing the Internet will never be the same again.

Microsoft has made a move on browsers!

Just now, the Edge browser has launched the "Copilot Mode", directly transforming the traditional browser into an AI intelligent agent.

The browser is no longer just a tool for displaying web pages. Instead, it has become an AI assistant that can actively perform tasks.

What's even more amazing is the core function of cross - tab context awareness. Copilot can simultaneously read and analyze all open tabs to complete various complex comparison and summarization tasks.

Microsoft CEO Nadella demonstrated opening 9 Nature papers at once and asking the AI to summarize their commonalities.

The vice - president of the Microsoft Edge product directly stated: "We are witnessing a turning point in the way humans interact with the web."

The Copilot Mode is now available for free for a limited time in all Copilot markets, only for the Windows and Mac versions of Edge.

Give the browser an AI brain

After enabling the Copilot Mode, the new tab page of Edge has completely changed. There is only a simple unified input box in the middle, just like the chat interface of ChatGPT.

But it's not just for chatting. You can enter a URL to directly jump to a website, enter a search query, or directly have a conversation with the AI.

Copilot will automatically understand your intention, search when needed, chat when appropriate, and navigate when required.

While browsing web pages, you can also call up Copilot at any time to ask questions, such as skipping the story part of a recipe - sharing blog and directly extracting the recipe and converting it to familiar units of measurement like Fahrenheit.

If you have too many open pages, you can also let the AI group the tabs with one click to stay focused, reduce clutter, and find the required content more quickly.

The Copilot Mode is designed as an intelligent agent, which means it can not only answer questions but also perform tasks for users.

Copilot supports voice control. You can directly speak out the desired operations, whether it's searching for information on a page or opening multiple tabs to compare different products. Just tell your AI, and it can complete the operations more quickly, reducing the number of clicks and inputs.

Microsoft also revealed more upcoming features. For example, the "Thematic Journey" feature. Copilot will identify the topic you are researching (such as "how to start a business"), then organize your past and present browsing activities into a complete learning path, and will also actively recommend what to read next.

What's even more remarkable is Microsoft's next - step plan. In the future, after obtaining authorization, Copilot will be able to automatically book restaurants, manage itineraries, and even shop.

Of course, it sounds terrifying to let the AI read the content of all tabs and perform payment operations. Microsoft clearly realizes this problem.

First of all, the Copilot Mode is completely optional. If you don't enable it, Edge will remain the same as before. Even if you enable it, you can turn it off at any time in the settings.

Secondly, all functions involving sensitive information require separate authorization. For example, if you want Copilot to view your browsing history, read page content, or use login credentials, each operation will first seek the user's consent.

The era of Browser War 2.0 begins

This move by Microsoft is clearly aimed at Google Chrome.

You know, Chrome has occupied more than 60% of the browser market for many years. Although Google has also integrated the Gemini assistant into Chrome, it has only added a chat function in the sidebar, far less radical than Microsoft.

On the other extreme, startups like Browser Company and Perplexity have directly launched fully AI - enabled browsers, completely abandoning the concept of traditional browsers.

Microsoft's Copilot Mode lies between the two: it retains all the functions of a traditional browser but deeply integrates AI capabilities. You can surf the web as you did before, or you can let the AI take over everything.

This strategy is very smart. After all, not everyone is ready to accept a completely AI - driven browser, but everyone is willing to try some new functions that can make surfing the web easier.

Along with this comes a change in the business model. Microsoft clearly states that this feature is "free for a limited time", and everyone knows what this means.

It is speculated externally that in the future, the browser's AI mode may be bundled with the Copilot subscription service (20 dollars per month).

This indicates a new trend: browsers may no longer be free software. When AI functions become the core competitiveness, users may need to pay for a smarter browsing experience.

This browser war triggered by AI has just begun. The traditional "open a web page - search - read" mode may soon become history. What will ultimately replace it is an intelligent assistant that can understand you, help you, and even complete tasks on your behalf.

As for whether users will buy it, the market will give the answer.

But one thing is certain: surfing the web will never be the same as before.

Reference links:

[1]https://blogs.windows.com/msedgedev/2025/07/28/introducing-copilot-mode-in-edge-a-new-way-to-browse-the-web/

[2]https://x.com/satyanadella/status/149884999345590406

This article is from the WeChat official account "QbitAI". Author: Meng Chen. Republished by 36Kr with authorization.