Microsoft Unveils Rival AI Browser Shortly After OpenAI's Atlas Launch

Microsoft has introduced a new set of features for its AI assistant, including a significant initiative that embeds artificial intelligence directly into one of its core products. More than just an extension, the Copilot Mode in Microsoft’s Edge browser represents the company’s vision for the much-discussed AI browser category—a smart, adaptable assistant that accompanies you while you browse the web.

In the official announcement, Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman described the product in similar terms. “Copilot Mode in Edge is evolving into an AI browser that acts as your dynamic, intelligent companion,” Suleyman noted. “With your permission, Copilot can view and analyze your open tabs, summarize and compare information, and even perform tasks like booking hotels or completing forms.”

Edge’s Copilot Mode officially launched in July, initially offering basic capabilities such as a search bar on new tabs and voice-powered navigation. However, the feature was optional and didn’t attract the expected level of attention. At Thursday’s event, Microsoft expanded its ambitions, unveiling “Actions”—which let Copilot handle forms and hotel bookings—and “Journeys,” enabling the AI to identify relationships across your open tabs. While not a complete overhaul, these updates placed the AI browser concept front and center.

This announcement follows a similar reveal from OpenAI just two days earlier, when the company showcased its new Atlas browser. Of course, Copilot’s rollout had been planned for weeks, and development of the new mode likely spanned months. Neither company created the idea of an AI-enhanced browser, but the visual resemblance between the two products is striking.

The two images are remarkably alike. The Copilot for Edge background is slightly darker, uses text instead of a logo, and features Windows-style close and minimize buttons rather than MacOS conventions. Beyond that, Copilot positions its companion function in a new tab rather than a split-screen view… but those are the main distinctions. Essentially, it’s the same product.

Some of the similarity stems from function: users prefer clean browser interfaces, and there are limited ways to embed a chatbot window into a new tab page. For consumers, the key differentiator will be the underlying AI models—so minor cosmetic differences may not matter much.

Web browsers already tend to look similar. But given the high stakes in the AI competition and the tense dynamics between the two firms, the simultaneous release of these browsers in the same week carries symbolic weight.

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Correction: A previous version of this post incorrectly referred to the October 23 event as the initial launch of Copilot for Edge. In fact, the feature was launched in July. TechCrunch regrets the error.