Microsoft just made its biggest AI browser play yet, officially launching Copilot Mode in Edge after months of testing. The new feature transforms every browser tab into an AI-powered command center, letting users search, navigate, and even automate tasks across all their open windows. While the launch puts Microsoft squarely in competition with emerging AI browsers from OpenAI and others, early testing reveals the technology isn't quite ready for prime time.
Microsoft is betting big on AI browsers, and today's official Copilot Mode launch in Edge represents the company's most aggressive move yet into this emerging battleground. After announcing the feature in July, Microsoft is now rolling out what it calls "your AI browser" to all Edge users.
The concept is straightforward but potentially game-changing. Every new tab opens not to a blank page, but to a Copilot chat window where you can ask questions, conduct searches, or simply type a URL. The AI assistant doesn't just work with your current tab - it can analyze and summarize information across all your open windows, compare products between different tabs, or help you navigate complex research tasks.
But it's the new Copilot Actions feature that really sets Microsoft apart from the pack. The experimental tool promises to handle real-world tasks on your behalf, from unsubscribing from marketing emails to booking restaurant reservations. Microsoft is clearly taking aim at the growing market of AI agents that can interact with websites and services automatically.
The reality, however, is messier than the marketing promises. During hands-on testing by The Verge, Copilot Actions struggled with basic tasks. When asked to delete an email, the AI claimed success but failed to actually remove it. It also allegedly sent an email that never actually went out. Most telling was a restaurant reservation attempt where Copilot booked October 26th instead of the requested November 26th date.
These reliability issues aren't unique to Microsoft. The entire AI browser space is grappling with the challenge of turning conversational AI into reliable web automation. OpenAI's ChatGPT Atlas browser and Perplexity's Comet browser face similar hurdles in translating AI capabilities into consistent real-world performance.