Microsoft Edge experiments with replacing New Tab Page with Copilot

In what happens to be a strange move, Microsoft is experimenting with replacing Edge browser’s New Tab Page in the Canary version with Copilot. The New Tab Experience is replaced by Copilot, letting you ask AI, search the web, and open a web page.

The Microsoft Edge Canary is a battlground for Microsoft to try out various surprising features via A/B testing that it may never eventually ship. Microsoft is doing another experiment, this time integrating Copilot into New Tab Page.

With Copilot Search already made public by Microsoft on Bing, it seems Micorsoft is looking to make Copilot and its search part of Edge by integrating it into the New Tab Page.

The feature is being tested behind flags such as NTP Composer, NTP Composer Chat Ranking, NTP Composer Focus, and NTP Composer Use Copilot Search.

While turning on one flag, the NTP composer enables “an experimental New Tab Page in Microsoft Edge, featuring a new way to chat with Copilot, search the web, and navigate to URLs—all in one place.”

Meanwhile, “NTP Composer Use Copilot Search” enables “Search suggestions that are directed to Copilot search instead of web search in the experimental New Tab Page search box.”

Here are other flag descriptions:

NTP Composer Chat Ranking
Ranking of chat suggestion in the search box on the experimental New Tab Page. – Mac, Windows, Linux

NTP Composer Focus
Sets the default pref value for kFocusComposer. The feature enables autofocus on the Unified Composer from NTP Online. – Mac, Windows, Linux

When you enable the flags and relaunch Edge Canary and open a New Tab, you will notice Copilot Search box with three options : Default (search, navigate, chat suggestions), Search and Navigate (AI-powered for Smarter Search), and Chat (conversations and tailored responses), with Default selected by default.

The search suggestions while typing appear for both Default and Search and Navigate, while Chat mode limits you to asking questions. The search suggestions open in another tab powered by Bing. The experience of replacing NTP with Copilot is something different and never imagined.

The gear icon mentions “Edge Copilot Labs” and says, “You’re viewing a test page where we’re trying out new designs, layouts, and an updated search/chat box for your new tab experience.” There is also a top websites option that you can enable, which shows the websites you interact with most while chatting with Copilot below the search box.

Apart from the integration of Copilot on the New Tab Page in Edge, Microsoft is planning to deprecate the Mobile Wallet feature in Edge on Android. Microsoft Edge also aims to open a bunch of websites based on your browsing history when you launch it.

What’s your take on Microsoft integrating Copilot into the New Tab Page in Edge? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.