Exploring Microsoft Edge’s newly integrated AI functionality feels less like testing a web browser and more like collaborating with a remarkably capable digital aide designed to anticipate your needs. These advanced features reposition Edge not just as a browsing tool but as an adaptive, highly interactive environment that supports productivity, informed decision-making, and a smoother online experience overall. Through its Copilot Mode and accompanying intelligent systems, Microsoft effectively transforms what was once a routine web navigation experience into a series of automated yet personalized interactions.
At the center of this evolution lies Edge’s Copilot Mode, a multifaceted AI engine woven into the browsing framework. This mode enables the browser to interpret what’s displayed on your screen, compare information across multiple tabs, recall previous research sessions, and even carry out complex, sequential actions on different websites — such as locating an item, adding it to your cart, and guiding you almost all the way through checkout. For anyone accustomed to tedious product comparisons or time-consuming research tasks, this functionality introduces genuine convenience and measurable efficiency.
To appreciate its effectiveness, I began by comparing Edge’s Copilot Mode with another AI-driven browser I had recently tested, Atlas — a ChatGPT-based tool capable of performing autonomous online shopping. I wanted to determine whether Microsoft’s new addition could outperform Atlas, especially when tackling a real-world scenario like selecting an energy-efficient space heater before the onset of winter. The plan was straightforward: evaluate whether Copilot could simplify research, manage the product comparison process, and assist me in finalizing a purchase with minimal manual input.
From the first interaction, Edge’s new intelligent search bar revealed its evolved nature. No longer merely an entry field defaulting to a search engine like Bing, the bar recognizes context. Depending on your phrasing, it can initiate a web search, open a specific page, or engage Copilot in conversational mode. For instance, when I typed “best energy-efficient heaters for large rooms,” Edge interpreted this as a standard search query and returned shopping results. Yet, when I tried asking, “When is the best time of year to buy heaters on sale?” the interface seamlessly transitioned into chat mode, producing an analytical summary accompanied by linked resources. In this way, the browser effectively acts as an intelligent mediator—interpreting your intention before determining how to respond.
To refine the quality of responses, Edge provides multiple reasoning modes, each catering to different needs. A user may opt for Quick Response when requiring immediate factual data, or switch to Study and Learn, which offers guided explanations and step-by-step educational prompts. The Smart (GPT-5) option recognizes the user’s intent automatically, balancing depth and speed as needed, while Search draws on the wider web for up-to-date information. Finally, Think Deeper slows down to deliver thorough, nuanced reasoning, ideal for complex topics demanding layered analysis. These options transform what was once a simple search bar into a flexible, context-aware command interface, reminiscent of Google Chrome’s original omnibox upgrade but with significantly greater intelligence and adaptability.
To further test Copilot’s abilities, I experimented with its multi-tab context feature, which enables simultaneous analysis of several open pages. This capability is uniquely suited to comparison shopping. I opened four product tabs—each for a different heater model—and instructed Copilot to identify which one offered the most balanced combination of power, efficiency, and performance. Almost instantly, it generated a comparative chart listing specifications such as wattage, coverage area, noise level, and price, as well as safety elements and smart controls. It even highlighted distinctions that would otherwise require meticulous manual research, such as the insight that the Dr. Infrared heater performs more powerfully than the typical 1,500-watt unit while maintaining energy savings through a dual heating system.
When I pressed further with a follow-up question about long-term operational costs based on local electricity rates, Copilot factored in my region’s data, concluding that the Dreo Smart Wall Heater—particularly when operated using Eco Mode and smart scheduling—was the most economical to run continuously through winter. The AI’s ability to contextualize its recommendations with regional information effectively turned a basic product comparison into a detailed, location-specific cost analysis.
Through Edge’s distinctive @tab referencing feature, I was able to instruct Copilot to narrow its focus to particular pages, allowing it to pull metrics and user reviews about durability and efficiency directly from those sources. It offered practical insight: the Dr. Infrared model was the better long-term choice for durability, while the Dreo offered contemporary smart control suited to smaller rooms. This level of specificity made the AI’s output not only helpful but decisively actionable.
Beyond analyzing text content, I explored Copilot Vision, a pioneering feature that processes visual and media elements on screen. With a YouTube review open, I simply requested a summary, and Copilot extracted the transcript, synthesizing the key arguments from the reviewer into a concise, accurate narrative portraying the Dreo heater as a sleek, effective option for modestly sized spaces. Taking this a step further, I used the built-in voice input to ask the AI for a sentiment assessment of the video’s comment section. Within moments, Copilot identified the prevailing viewer attitudes—largely positive comments praising design and intelligence-related features, counterbalanced by some dissatisfaction with heating intensity. This integration of textual, visual, and emotional parsing demonstrated just how deeply the AI can engage with contextual information across formats.
The newly introduced Journeys feature adds yet another dimension of intelligence to Edge’s AI ecosystem. By grouping previous browsing activities into thematic clusters, it allows users to effortlessly resume prior research sessions. For instance, if I paused my space-heater exploration and revisited Edge days later, a Journey card related to that topic would appear on the new-tab page, inviting me to continue where I left off—summarizing my prior findings, suggesting next steps, or even building a structured plan to complete the task. Although this system requires consistent browsing activity before displaying these contextual cards, its potential for streamlining ongoing projects is substantial, particularly for users engaged in extended research or coordinated online planning.
Lastly, I tried a function simply labeled Actions. Unlike static search results, Actions give the AI limited agency to execute tasks—such as finding products, filling online forms, or preparing carts for checkout. After enabling this tool in Edge’s preview settings, I entered a command instructing Copilot to purchase the Dreo heater on Amazon. It quickly recognized my request, located the correct product, and added it to my cart but stopped short of confirming the purchase, requiring me to finalize payment manually. While this safeguard preserves user control and financial security, it still illustrates how close Edge’s automation has come to full transactional capability.
In repeated tests, Copilot proved remarkably adept at recognizing prior behaviors, leveraging my Amazon account history to retrieve previously purchased items, and reconstructing them for new orders—all while ensuring the process remained transparent. Compared with Atlas, Microsoft’s solution delivered faster, cleaner execution times, even though it lacked Atlas’s visually animated step-by-step browsing emulation. In less than a minute, Copilot brought me to the checkout screen, conveniently pre-filling preferences and verifying my information.
After extensive testing, my impression of Edge’s Copilot Mode is overwhelmingly positive. The embedded intelligence changes passive browsing into a dynamic, conversational experience. Multi-tab analysis, contextual reasoning modes, Copilot Vision, Journeys, and Actions collectively elevate everyday browsing into a unified ecosystem of assistance and efficiency. Admittedly, I wish some of these functions were automatically enabled rather than hidden several menu layers deep, but once activated, the experience feels transformative. For anyone who juggles multiple projects, performs product research, or manages diverse digital workflows, Microsoft Edge has evolved beyond the definition of a browser. It now operates as a true companion—a digital co-pilot that listens, interprets, and acts with precision, making ordinary online tasks faster, more organized, and significantly more intelligent.
Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-tested-all-of-edges-new-ai-browser-features-and-it-felt-like-having-a-personal-assistant/
