We’ve reported that Google is working on an “AI Mode” for Search, and it seems Microsoft is going to do the same thing with Bing with a new “Copilot Search” mode.
The use of Generative AI tech in search kicked off in early 2024 with Bing’s integration of AI search summaries powered by what is now Copilot, with Google later bringing “AI Overviews” to Search as well, which are now available widely.
Microsoft is now adding a new “Copilot Search” mode for Bing.
This new mode was spotted by Windows Latest, with Bing showing “search results” as generated by Copilot on the entire page. A summary of the user’s query is shown on the majority of the page, with backlinks to sources peppered into the summary and links out to image and video search and the option to ask additional questions at the bottom of the page. The functionality is similar to Bing’s Copilot-powered “Deep Search” option, but with a streamlined UI that ditches the classic links to the web entirely while also not leaving Bing entirely, as the dedicated Copilot button does.
We found that this is live on our account in the United States, with “Copilot Search” appearing in an overflow menu alongside other search filters. The new interface has also been shown to be available without clicking on this additional tab, though.
The design is unabashedly similar to Google’s ongoing “AI Mode” tests, which we first revealed earlier this month. Google’s mode is only being tested internally.
Microsoft confirmed to Windows Latest that it is “experimenting” with this new AI search mode but didn’t offer any further context on how widely it is available.
More on AI Search:
- Google Search AI Overviews testing new Gemini animation
- Microsoft Copilot is now just a web app on Windows, like Gemini on Chromebooks
- Google Search AI Overviews rolling out to 100 countries
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