Microsoft is testing Edge for Android with ‘Ask Copilot’ image recognition and AI-generated variations of your photos
Copilot on Microsoft Edge for Android is about to get better with enhanced support for image generation and detailing.
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What you need to know
Microsoft’s Chromium-based browser, Edge, has undergone several changes over the past few years. With the emergence of AI andMicrosoft’s multi-billion dollar investment in OpenAI’s technology, the company aims to enhance the user experience of its mobile browser.
Despite Microsoft’s doubled-down efforts to ship new features, updates, and a fully-fledged AI-powered assistant to Microsoft Edge, users are seemingly more inclined towardGoogle Chrome. In the past, users have openly expressed their reluctance to use Microsoft Edge, predominantly because of itsbloatedness.
But as it happens, the tech giant is looking to turn things around. According to a spot byMSPowerUser, Microsoft Edge on Android recently received an optional update that further enhances Copilot’s capabilities.
The new update builds on Copilot’s existing capabilities with new features, including the ability to “Ask Copilot” about an image and request the chatbot to “Generate AI images.” These options should be available under the “Mobile Copilot Chat with Images” feature.
RELATED:Microsoft to add dedicated AI Copilot key to all future PCs
Per our testing and analysis, we could not access the experiment despite running on Android’s latest version of Microsoft Edge. As is the case with most features in the testing phase, there’s a possibility that the feature might not reach a full release, or if it does, it’ll ship several tweaks and changes. Microsoft often buries such experiments under Edge flags as they could potentially negatively impact your security and privacy.
That said, you can try to enable the feature on your browser by following the highlighted steps below:
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Voila! You should be able to access theAsk CopilotorGenerate AI imagesoptions directly from the context menu on your browser. To test this, head to a webpage with an image and tap on it. The context menu will pop up with the new AI-powered options.
The image will pop up in your Copilot chat after selecting either of the new options. From this point, you can ask the chatbot anything about the image or even request it to generate an AI version of the selected photo.
Microsoft on the AI tip
Since Microsoft partnered with OpenAI, the company has integrated AI across most of its products and services, which now ship with a Copilot system. As you might know, Windows 11 already ships with an AI-powered assistant dubbedWindows Copilot. The same applies toMicrosoft Edgeacross its desktop and mobile clients. And now, the company is further enhancing Copilot’s capabilities on the Edge browser on Android.
In case you missed it, Microsoft recentlyrenamed its Edge browser on iOS and Androidto “Microsoft Edge: AI Browser.” This perfectly aligns with the company’s focus on AI for Edge on mobile.
Elsewhere, a new report by Appfigures indicated thatOpenAI’s ChatGPT continues to reign over Microsoft Copilotdespite its recent launch on Android and iOS. The report further included thatMicrosoft’s timely launch of the app on mobilewith free access toOpenAI’s latest LLM, GPT-4, andDALL-E 3 technologydidn’t impact ChatGPT’s revenue or installations.
Do you think Microsoft’s AI push will make users transition from Google Chrome to Edge?Share your thoughts in the comments.
Microsoft Edge |Free at Google Play|Free at App Store
Microsoft’s browser is most known for its presence on Windows, but it also has versions on iOS and Android. Microsoft recently added “AI” to store listings for Edge on mobile platforms and emphasized artificial intelligence features within the app.
Kevin Okemwa is a seasoned tech journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya with lots of experience covering the latest trends and developments in the industry at Windows Central. With a passion for innovation and a keen eye for detail, he has written for leading publications such as OnMSFT, MakeUseOf, and Windows Report, providing insightful analysis and breaking news on everything revolving around the Microsoft ecosystem. You’ll also catch him occasionally contributing at iMore about Apple and AI. While AFK and not busy following the ever-emerging trends in tech, you can find him exploring the world or listening to music.
