Microsoft has renamed the experimental AI search feature it’s testing in Edge Canary. The feature was previously called “AI Search” in the address bar, but the latest build now labels it “AI Mode.”
The same change is also showing up in the browser’s flags page, where the “Edge AI Search” flag has been renamed to “Edge AI Mode,” while its description now reads “Enables AI Mode features.” The underlying flag identifier is still #edge-ai-search, so this is clearly the same feature Microsoft has been testing rather than a new experiment.
This new change was first spotted by Windows Report. It’s an interesting one because Google also uses the same “AI mode” moniker for its AI-powered search experience in Chrome.
I enabled the new AI Mode flag in Edge Canary to see how it works. Once enabled, an AI Mode button appears in the address bar alongside the usual search controls. Entering a query and clicking it doesn’t open a separate AI search interface, though. Instead, Edge takes you to a Copilot answer page with the AI-generated results.
Bing also remains the default search engine. Enabling AI Mode doesn’t replace it or change the browser’s search settings. At least for now, the feature is essentially another way to jump from the address bar to Copilot-powered search results.
Microsoft could still change how this works before it reaches a wider release. The company has already used several names for Edge’s AI features, including Copilot Mode and Browse with Copilot, so there’s no guarantee that “AI Mode” is the final branding either.
The rename also comes as Edge continues to follow some of the same changes happening in Chrome. Microsoft recently confirmed that it will end support for MV2 extensions by the end of 2026 and changed local IP address detection on corporate networks to align with Chromium.
We’ll keep an eye out for more details and will post an update if we hear anything new.
Dwayne Cubbins
2903 Posts
I cover fast-moving stories across apps, online platforms, and everyday tech — phones, wearables, consoles, and whatever else people are fighting with this week. Bugs, rollouts, scams, policy enforcement, and the occasional internet-culture rabbit hole are all fair game. My goal is simple — make confusing tech news readable. When I'm not working, I'm working out or chilling with my dog. Got a tip? You can find me on X @dcubbins.