According to PCWorld, Microsoft is testing a comprehensive visual overhaul for its Edge browser, making it look much more like the company’s Copilot app. The redesign, currently visible only in the Canary and Dev development channels, includes new settings pages, updated quick menus, and a completely refreshed new tab page. These changes pull shapes, colors, and fonts directly from Copilot’s design language. Crucially, the new look is not tied to enabling AI features and applies even if Copilot is turned off. Microsoft’s CEO of AI, Mustafa Suleyman, has previously stated the goal is to evolve Edge with AI rather than build a new browser from scratch. There is no confirmed release date for when this design will roll out to the general public.
So, what’s really going on here?
Look, this isn’t just a new coat of paint. It’s a full-blown identity shift. Microsoft isn’t just adding an AI sidebar; it’s rebranding the entire browser experience under the “Copilot” aesthetic. Think of it like your local coffee shop suddenly getting the exact same interior design as a Starbucks. You know it’s the same coffee, but it *feels* different. That’s what they’re doing with Edge. They want you to open the browser and immediately think “Copilot,” even if you’re just checking your email. It’s a visual conditioning exercise.
The weird part? The AI that isn’t there
Here’s the thing that I find really interesting: the design changes apply even if you disable all the AI features. That’s a bold move. Basically, Microsoft is betting that the Copilot brand is strong enough—or will be—that its visual language alone adds value. But it raises a question: if the AI is off, what’s the point of looking like an AI product? It feels like they’re future-proofing and baking in an assumption that, eventually, you *will* use Copilot. They’re making the browser itself a constant, quiet advertisement for their AI ecosystem. It’s a bit like buying a phone that has a camera bump designed for a lens you don’t own… yet.
This is about strategy, not just features
Mustafa Suleyman’s comment about evolving Edge, rather than building new, is the key. Building a new “AI browser” would be a massive risk. It would mean asking users to download yet another thing and abandon their habits. This way, they can slowly morph the Edge that’s already on millions of Windows PCs into their AI vessel. The challenge, of course, is pulling this off without alienating users who just want a fast, clean browser. And let’s be honest, Edge has had an identity crisis for years. Is it the Chrome competitor? The legacy IE holder? Now it wants to be the AI hub. This visual reboot is the clearest signal yet of which path they’ve chosen.
What happens next?
So, when will you see it? Who knows. Testing in Canary and Dev means it’s still early. They’ll be watching for feedback and probably tweaking things heavily. But the direction is crystal clear. Microsoft is all-in on AI, and every single surface—from Windows to Office to, now, your web browser—is going to reflect that. The real test won’t be if people like the new colors. It’ll be if this cohesive “Copilot” look makes people actually trust and use the AI features more. If it does, it’s a genius branding play. If it doesn’t, it’ll just feel like another confusing Edge theme. We’ll have to wait and see.
