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Artificial Intelligence Firms Attempt to Navigate the Web on Your Behalf: A Look at Their Capabilities Through Our Tests

Microsoft and Google have recently introduced AI-powered search services, but how do they compare to traditional search engines? Our website, Next, puts them to the test to uncover their unique contributions.

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4 min read
Artificial Intelligence firms are exploring the possibility of web browsing on behalf of users. A...
Artificial Intelligence firms are exploring the possibility of web browsing on behalf of users. A trial was conducted on two such services to evaluate their effectiveness.

Artificial Intelligence Firms Attempt to Navigate the Web on Your Behalf: A Look at Their Capabilities Through Our Tests

Microsoft and Google have taken a significant leap forward in the realm of search engines, introducing AI-powered capabilities that go beyond traditional search engines. The new Copilot Mode from Microsoft and Google AI Mode are integrating conversational AI, contextual understanding, and task assistance directly into the search and browsing experience.

Microsoft Copilot Mode: A New Era of Browsing

Microsoft Copilot Mode, available in Microsoft Edge and Microsoft 365 Copilot Search, offers an integrated AI assistant in the browser. This innovative feature allows users to search, chat, and navigate the web seamlessly on a new tab page. The AI understands user context and can take actions such as suggesting recipe substitutions or summarizing content without the need for copy-pasting.

Moreover, Copilot Vision enables the AI to "see" and analyze the user's screen content, offering real-time suggestions and assistance. Microsoft 365 Copilot Search provides a comprehensive, fast, and semantically relevant search across Microsoft 365 and third-party organizational data sources with answers linked to chat for deeper task execution.

The feature is secure and enterprise-tailored, including enterprise-grade privacy and customization for organizations, such as curated bookmarks and admin controls. Voice navigation and task handoff are also available, allowing users to browse and command the AI with voice to offload simple or repetitive tasks.

Google AI Mode, based on current general AI search concepts, typically emphasizes conversational AI for interactive question answering and follow-ups. It integrates with Google Workspace and personal data for contextual responses and enhances natural language understanding to provide summaries or synthesized answers rather than just links.

Beyond Traditional Search Engines

Compared to traditional search engines, these new AI-powered assistants blend search with chat, personalized organizational content, and proactive task assistance, making them more interactive and productive. Traditional search typically returns ranked lists of links based on keywords and page ranking algorithms and does not offer deep task integration or enterprise context awareness.

In summary, Microsoft Copilot Mode features a multi-modal AI assistant embedded in both the browser and enterprise search with capabilities like screen analysis, voice commands, and enterprise security. Google AI Mode offers conversational, context-aware search integrated tightly with Google’s ecosystem. Both emphasize personalized, task-oriented AI assistance beyond traditional keyword-based search results.

These new AI-powered assistants are set to revolutionize the way we search and browse, shifting away from the "10 blue links" paradigm towards a more personalized, contextual, and actionable AI assistant interface.

Note: This article does not contain advertisements and maintains factual accuracy, staying faithful to the given information.

Additional Information

  • If "context clues" are enabled in Copilot, the model changes its answers to queries based on the tabs that are open.
  • Both Copilot and Google AI were tested on a controversial topic, the measles vaccine, and provided summaries of all viewpoints, including "alternative" or "fringe" perspectives.
  • Copilot Search recommended a paddle board company and made a reservation for that rental in a video released by Microsoft.
  • Copilot suggests jobs based on the open tabs, such as job aggregation platforms like BeBee, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Indeed, and UK job site Reed.
  • Google AI Mode can compare products, plan a trip, and understand complex how-to questions.
  • The search engines did not repeat any earlier facts about their capabilities, such as comparing products, planning a trip, understanding complex how-to questions, or highlighting misinformation in their responses.
  • Copilot and Google AI Mode can potentially highlight misinformation in their responses.
  • Microsoft launched Copilot Mode in the Bing search bar, which "reads, compiles, and reasons about information available on the web," and then presents it in a concise answer.
  • Copilot includes roles in its suggestions because they are "likely to reflect what you're actively exploring."
  • There is a study that finds AI chatbots, including Copilot, are spewing Russian misinformation.
  • The models so far appear to be sophisticated search engines rather than personal assistants.
  • Google AI fell short when asked to create a meal plan and add groceries to a shopping cart, while Copilot said it doesn't have the abilities to make dinner reservations, schedule appointments, or upload resumes to job portals.
  • Google AI Mode was launched in the United Kingdom and combines the Gemini 2.5 AI model with search, allowing users to ask exploratory questions with voice, pictures, and text.
  • Future updates for Copilot Search will allow users to ask the search bar to perform tasks such as making reservations and scheduling appointments.
  • Google AI Mode does not use "context clues."
  • Copilot provided more information about "sceptical" or "alternative" viewpoints when asked with misinformation tabs open, while Google AI included some sceptical viewpoints with a disclaimer.
  • Both Google AI and Copilot work like a chatbot and make many assumptions about what their user is looking for to tailor their recommendations.
  • Neither Microsoft nor Google responded to requests for information on how their models determine what is a "high-quality source."
  • The Microsoft Copilot Mode integrated with Microsoft Edge and Microsoft 365 Copilot Search goes beyond traditional search engines by offering an AI assistant that allows users to search, chat, and navigate the web seamlessly, understanding the user context, and providing proactive task assistance.
  • Google AI Mode, based on current general AI search concepts, offering conversational AI for interactive question answering and follow-ups, and integrates with Google Workspace and personal data for contextual responses, moving away from the "10 blue links" paradigm towards a more personalized, contextual, and actionable AI assistant interface.

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