Microsoft Joins the AI Browser Race—But It’s Not Alone
Last week, Microsoft quietly rolled out Copilot Mode for Edge, and it feels like the browser wars just got a lot more interesting. The feature, still experimental, turns Edge into what Microsoft calls an “AI-powered browser.” But here’s the thing—they’re far from the only ones trying to crack this. At least half a dozen companies are now racing to shove AI directly into how we browse, each with wildly different takes on privacy, cost, and what the tech can actually do.
The timing makes sense. ChatGPT and its rivals are useful, but they don’t *browse*—they can’t fill out forms, compare prices, or interact with web pages the way a browser can. An AI that does all that? That’s a game-changer. Right now, it’s still a novelty for most people, but it’s easy to see this becoming the new normal.
The Contenders: Who’s Doing What?
**Microsoft Edge with Copilot** is the obvious starting point. It’s free (for now), and it bakes AI right into the browser. Open a new tab, and there’s a unified search-and-chat box waiting. No jumping to ChatGPT—just ask it to find vacation rentals, summarize videos (if they have captions), or explain a chart you’re looking at.
But it’s not perfect. The news feature sometimes dredges up old articles when you ask for “recent” updates. Video summaries fail without captions. And that “free for a limited time” label? Yeah, that’s worrying.
Then there’s **Perplexity Comet**, which costs a jaw-dropping $200 a month. Privacy is its big sell—everything stays on your device, no cloud nonsense. It’s open-source, so you can poke around the code if you’re into that. The AI assistant is surprisingly powerful, with Gmail integration and the ability to automate tasks like ordering food or applying promo codes. But $200? For something experimental? Oof.
**Dia** is another one to watch, though it’s currently locked behind a MacOS-and-.edu-email wall. It uses proprietary AI models, which means it can fine-tune features for productivity. Need a draft based on your open tabs? It’ll do that. Want it to rephrase messages for different chats? Done. But building AI from scratch isn’t cheap, and you can feel the limitations in places.
**Opera’s Aria** takes a simpler approach: it’s just a browser with an AI button. No reinventing the wheel here. It’s free, uses OpenAI’s models like Microsoft, and even lets you run some AI locally if privacy’s a concern. Not groundbreaking, but solid.
What’s Coming Next?
Two names keep popping up: **Opera Neon** and whatever **OpenAI** might be cooking. Neon promises to let users ask the browser to *build* things—games, websites, reports—while handling multiple tasks at once. No release date yet, though.
As for OpenAI, rumors suggest they’re working on a browser that could integrate their models more tightly than any partner can. If that happens, Microsoft might suddenly look like the underdog.
So Which One’s Best?
Depends on what you care about.
– **Most people?** Edge with Copilot is the easiest pick—free, familiar, and already here.
– **Privacy nuts?** Perplexity Comet, if you can stomach the price. Opera Aria’s local AI option is a decent runner-up
