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Edge Copilot may use your Browsing History to Provide AI responses
The new controversial feature may raise privacy concerns
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Published onJanuary 14, 2024
published onJanuary 14, 2024
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Microsoft Edge in Canary is testing quite a controversial feature for Copilot where Edge will send your browsing history to Microsoft for AI Assistant to provide relevant answers and suggestions. The respective Copilot setting is not enabled by default, here is more on this.
Microsoft Copilot in Edge
Copilot is an AI-powered tool in Microsoft Edge that provides suggestions and answers to users based on their queries. It generates page summaries and explains images when yousubmit screenshotsto it, to access Copilot, sign into Microsoft Edge and select the Copilot icon in the browser sidebar.
Here are some examples of what Copilot can do in the Edge Sidebar:
Additionally,Edge Copilot can rewrite the informationyou submit, which is useful for sharing short-length posts on social websites like Twitter.
Now, let’s explore Copilot settings in the Edge browser. When you visitEdge Settings > Sidebar > App and Notification Settings, you’ll find options to control how Copilot works. Most of these settings are self-explanatory:
Microsoft to access Edge browsing history for Copilot
Now Edge is adding a new option to the Copilot namedAllow Microsoft to access browsing history, thissends your “browsing history to Microsoft to make AI-generated answers and suggestions more relevant on Copilot”.
Generally, Browsing history includes the list of websites you have visited, passwords, the information you have entered into forms and cookies. It is stored on your device, and if you have turned on sync, your browsing data can also be stored in the Microsoft Cloud to be synced across your signed-in versions of Microsoft Edge.
Going forward, if you or Microsoft, choose to enable this feature in Edge, Microsoft will use your browsing history to generate personalized suggestions and answers for you when you use Copilot.However, this feature may raise privacy concerns. Some users may be uncomfortable with sharing their browsing history with Microsoft.
Here’s how to enable or disable this behavior that may impact your privacy.
It needs to be seen, if Copilot will seek consent and inform it is using your browsing history to provide personalized answers and suggestions to you like it doeswhen accessing Page content.
Will you allow Edge copilot to use your browsing history to provide information to you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
More about the topics:browsing history,Edge,Microsoft copilot
Venkat
Tech Journalist
Venkat, an experienced tech writer from India, specializes in uncovering new web browser features and tech trends. His work bridges the gap between technology and its users, making the digital world more accessible.
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Venkat
Tech Journalist
Venkat is an experienced tech writer who specializes in uncovering new web browser features and tech trends.
