Microsoft Edge subtly nudges users toward Copilot on rival AI sites
Key Points
- Edge shows a "Try Copilot" button on the address bar when visiting ChatGPT, Perplexity or Deepseek.
- Clicking the button opens the Copilot assistant in the browser sidebar.
- The prompt does not appear on visits to Google’s Gemini AI site.
- A larger pop‑up appears on the Chrome download page, urging users to stay with Edge.
- Some users find the prompts intrusive and describe them as heavy‑handed promotion.
- The Copilot button can be disabled through Edge’s appearance settings.
- Microsoft’s strategy mirrors earlier efforts to redirect traffic from rival AI services to Copilot.
Microsoft Edge now displays a "Try Copilot" button when users visit popular AI services such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and Deepseek. The button opens the Copilot assistant in the browser sidebar, a move Microsoft says is meant to promote its own AI offering. The prompt does not appear on visits to Google’s Gemini, and a larger pop‑up appears when users navigate to the Chrome download page, urging them to stay with Edge. Some users find the nudges intrusive and have discovered how to disable the Copilot button through the browser’s settings.
Background
Microsoft has integrated its Copilot artificial‑intelligence assistant into the Edge browser as part of a broader effort to highlight its own AI services. The company’s strategy includes prompting users toward Copilot when they browse sites that host competing AI tools.
Implementation in Edge
When a user opens the Edge browser and visits the websites of popular AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Perplexity or Deepseek, a small button labeled “Try Copilot” appears on the far‑right side of the address bar. Clicking the button launches the Copilot assistant in Edge’s sidebar, offering an alternative to the AI service the user originally intended to use. The prompt is described as subtle but visible enough to attract attention.
Notably, the same prompt does not appear when users visit Google’s Gemini AI site. In contrast, navigating to the Chrome download page triggers a more prominent pop‑up that attempts to persuade users to remain with Edge, emphasizing that Edge shares the same underlying Chromium engine as Chrome but adds Microsoft’s trust.
User Reaction and Perception
Some users view the Copilot prompt as a heavy‑handed promotional tactic. While the feature aims to redirect traffic from rival AI services to Microsoft’s offering, the experience has been described as disappointing and annoying, potentially reducing enthusiasm for Edge’s other features.
Disabling the Prompt
Edge provides a way to turn off the Copilot button. Users can enter edge://settings/appearance/copilot in the address bar, locate the “App specific settings” panel, and disable the option to “Show Copilot button on the toolbar.” Once disabled, the prompt no longer appears in the address bar, and related suggestions are reduced.
Overall Context
This approach follows previous instances where Microsoft has redirected users from rival services—such as Bing searches—to Copilot. The consistent use of nudges across the browser indicates an ongoing commitment to promoting Microsoft’s AI ecosystem within its own products.