Microsoft brings Copilot to Edge for Business

Microsoft said on May 20 that it is bringing Copilot-powered “agentic browsing” to Edge for Business in a limited preview, adding a new layer of administrator controls over where the feature can run. The update also includes a Copilot new tab page for work accounts and new management settings inside the Edge management service. Microsoft described the package as part of its push to make Edge for Business an “AI for work” browser with enterprise controls from the start. The company outlined the changes in a Microsoft Edge Blog post, product pages and new Microsoft Learn documentation. ### What exactly is Microsoft adding to Edge for Business? Microsoft’s May 20 announcement said Edge for Business now includes “agentic browsing with Copilot” in limited preview. In Microsoft’s description, the feature allows Copilot to complete multi-step tasks on a user’s behalf on approved websites, rather than only answering questions or summarizing pages. Microsoft’s product page calls this “Agent Mode” within Copilot Mode. (blogs.windows.com) The company said the browser can automate multi-step workflows, while keeping the feature under enterprise policy controls. ### How much control do IT teams get over where Copilot can act? Microsoft’s product materials say IT administrators decide when to enable Agent Mode and which sites it can operate on. The company also said users will see visual cues while the agent is working and can stop it at any time. (blogs.windows.com) The Microsoft Edge Blog said agentic browsing is designed to work with “IT controls and user oversight.” Microsoft also tied the feature to tenant protections, policy controls and existing enterprise security systems, including Microsoft Purview data protections referenced in its broader Edge for Business AI materials. (microsoft.com) ### What changed on the new tab page? Microsoft Learn documentation published this week said the Copilot new tab page is a refreshed start surface for Edge for Business users. (microsoft.com) The page combines Microsoft 365 Copilot chat, web search and work content in one entry point. It can also show prompt suggestions and work cards such as files and calendar events, according to the documentation. (blogs.windows.com) Microsoft said administrators can configure that experience through Edge policies. The company’s browser policy documentation says the setting `CopilotNewTabPageEnabled` controls availability of the Copilot new tab page in Edge for Business. ### Is this already live, or still being tested? Microsoft’s stable-channel release notes said the limited public preview for browsing with Copilot in Edge for Business is now open for admin signups. (learn.microsoft.com) The company said the rollout begins in Edge Stable version 145 and will continue through Edge version 148. Microsoft’s May 20 blog post separately described agentic browsing as a “limited preview,” while the Copilot new tab page documentation presents that surface as an available feature for organizations that enable it. (learn.microsoft.com) ### How does Microsoft describe the broader product move? Microsoft’s Edge for Business site says Copilot Mode is meant to turn the browser into an “intelligent workspace” for commercial users. (learn.microsoft.com) The company’s management page says administrators can use the Edge management service to enable AI browsing, set AI controls and customize the browser experience for employees. Microsoft has been building toward this release for months. (blogs.windows.com) A March 23 Edge Blog post tied Edge for Business to “contextual and agentic experiences” including Agent Mode, multi-tab reasoning and YouTube summarization, and the May 20 update adds the governed browsing layer now moving into preview. Microsoft’s next step, according to its release notes, is the continued rollout of browsing with Copilot through Edge versions 145 to 148, while administrators can already sign up for the limited public preview and configure related policies in Microsoft Learn and the Edge management service. (microsoft.com) (learn.microsoft.com) (blogs.windows.com)