Microsoft wants Copilot in your face the moment you open Edge. No clicking, no searching – just there, waiting, every time you launch the browser or open a new tab. If you’re a Microsoft die-hard, that’s convenient. If you’re not, it’s another way to annoy your userbase and drive them to a different browser.
There’s more. Microsoft is testing an “Ask Copilot” button in Settings. Stuck adjusting preferences? Instead of digging through menus, you ask Copilot. If it actually works, that could streamline troubleshooting.
If your business uses Edge, this might mean:
• Instant troubleshooting: Instead of wasting time on Google or bugging IT, ask Copilot for quick fixes.
• Always-on AI assistance: Summarizing articles, drafting emails, or even composing messages – Copilot’s right there.
• Extra security: Microsoft is testing “Scareware Blocker” to flag and block scam sites in real time.
Not every test feature makes the cut, but Microsoft is betting big on AI, so odds are good this sticks. The question is, do users actually want this? For AI fans, it’s useful. For everyone else, it’s another hamfisted attempt by the big M to shove their own product front and centre.
Then there’s privacy. Microsoft hasn’t detailed how this always-on Copilot will function, but if it’s running 24/7, that’s something to think about.
If this goes live, Edge users will have an AI-powered sidekick baked into the experience. It’ll either make work faster or just get in the way. A smart move would be making it optional, but we’ll see what Microsoft decides.
That said, if you’re annoyed with these changes, the good news is, there will likely be a setting that can be controlled for your org. Need help with your IT strategy? Get in touch.
