Microsoft Tests Copilot Update That Opens Web Links Inside The App

Microsoft is testing a new Copilot feature in Windows that opens web links directly inside the Copilot app rather than launching the user’s browser, allowing the assistant to display web content alongside AI conversations.

A New Way To Browse With Copilot

The change is part of an update to the Copilot app for Windows that is currently rolling out to users in the Windows Insider programme.

Under the update, when a user clicks a web link during a Copilot conversation, the page opens in a side pane next to the chat window instead of launching a separate browser window. The aim is to allow users to view web content while continuing their conversation with the AI assistant without losing context.

Microsoft said the feature is designed to make it easier to move between information sources and AI assistance during everyday tasks. In a blog post announcing the change, the company explained that when a link is opened, “Copilot opens the content in a side pane next to your conversation instead of a separate browser window, so you don’t lose context.”

Context Across Multiple Tabs

The feature also allows Copilot to work across several web pages opened during a conversation.

With user permission, the assistant can access the context of the tabs opened within that session. This allows Copilot to summarise information across pages, answer questions about multiple sources and help draft text based on what the user is reading.

Microsoft said this capability is intended to support tasks such as research, writing and document preparation, where users often need to combine information from several web pages.

Tabs opened during a Copilot conversation are saved alongside the chat history, allowing users to return to them later when reopening that conversation.

Microsoft explained that the feature allows users to “ask clarifying questions, summarise information across tabs, or ask Copilot’s help in drafting exactly the right words needed for the task.”

Optional Synchronisation Features

The update also introduces optional synchronisation features designed to make the Copilot interface behave more like a browsing environment.

If users choose to enable it, passwords and form data can be synchronised so that websites accessed through the Copilot side pane work more smoothly during tasks such as logging in or completing forms.

Microsoft says this functionality is optional and requires user permission. However, the possibility of synchronising sensitive information inside the Copilot interface may raise questions for some users following recent debates around AI assistants and personal data handling.

How The Technology Works

Technically, the browsing capability appears to rely on Microsoft’s WebView2 framework, which allows developers to embed a Chromium-based browser engine directly inside Windows applications.

This approach enables the Copilot app to display full web pages without launching a separate browser program.

Embedding browsing functionality directly inside an AI assistant also allows Copilot to analyse the information displayed on those pages and respond to questions about it within the same interface.

From Microsoft’s perspective, this integration helps turn Copilot into a more complete productivity environment where web research, reading and writing tasks can all happen in one place.

Concerns From Browser Vendors

The update has also raised questions among some browser vendors and technology observers.

Traditionally, clicking a web link in Windows opens the user’s default browser, along with their preferred settings, extensions and security configurations.

Opening links directly inside the Copilot app could bypass that behaviour by keeping users inside Microsoft’s own application environment. Critics argue that such changes could potentially affect competition among browser providers, although the feature is still in preview and may evolve before a full release.

At the moment, Microsoft has not provided detailed clarification about how the feature will interact with users’ default browser settings once the update becomes widely available.

Insider Testing Phase

The feature is currently limited to Windows Insider builds and is being rolled out gradually across Insider channels.

According to Microsoft, the update is part of a broader effort to improve the Copilot app by making it faster, more reliable and more closely aligned with the latest Copilot features available on the web.

The update also brings some capabilities from Copilot.com into the Windows app, including features such as Podcasts and Study and Learn mode, while other elements may be temporarily removed while the company refines the experience.

As with many Insider previews, the company says the design may change before the updated Copilot app becomes generally available to all Windows users.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

For organisations using Windows and AI tools such as Copilot, the update highlights how rapidly AI assistants are evolving from simple chat interfaces into integrated productivity environments.

Embedding web browsing directly inside an AI assistant could streamline tasks such as research, writing, analysis and document preparation, particularly when employees need to combine information from multiple online sources.

However, it also introduces new questions about browser behaviour, data access and security policies. Businesses may need to review how AI tools interact with web content, authentication systems and sensitive information, especially if features such as password synchronisation are enabled.

As AI assistants become more tightly integrated with everyday computing environments, organisations will increasingly need to balance productivity benefits with governance, security and compliance considerations.