Copilot Will Launch Automatically in Edge From Outlook Emails

Microsoft is expanding Copilot once again, this time by integrating it deeper into Edge and Outlook workflows. The company plans to automatically open the Copilot side pane in Edge when users click links from Outlook, further positioning Copilot as a core productivity tool.

According to the Microsoft 365 roadmap, the new feature will load webpages in Edge alongside the Copilot pane whenever a user opens a link directly from Outlook. The goal is to streamline workflows by providing AI assistance without requiring users to manually launch Copilot.

Copilot will summarize and suggest actions

With the update, Copilot will analyze the opened webpage and generate a summary of its content. It will also highlight key points and surface actionable suggestions based on the page.

Those suggestions may include drafting email replies, scheduling follow-ups, or extracting relevant information that can be used in ongoing conversations. The integration aims to reduce context switching between email and browsing.

Microsoft previously introduced a basic Outlook context pane in Edge in 2023, but it was not enabled by default. The upcoming upgrade enhances that experience with more advanced AI-powered capabilities.

General availability planned for May

The rollout is scheduled to begin in May, with general availability expected shortly after. The feature will target personal and business users who already have access to Copilot within Microsoft 365.

It remains unclear whether the Copilot side pane will be optional or enabled by default once the update reaches users.

Part of a broader Copilot push

The move fits into Microsoft’s broader strategy of embedding Copilot across its ecosystem. Copilot has already expanded into Office apps, document workflows, and various web experiences.

In related Copilot updates, Microsoft 365 Copilot is set to receive AI watermarking and corporate branding features. The company is also expanding Data Loss Prevention controls to block Copilot from accessing sensitive documents.

Meanwhile, Outlook users are still waiting for the delayed Web People Hub feature, and Microsoft has acknowledged an invisible cursor issue affecting Classic Outlook.

Via Neowin