Microsoft is looking to integrate as many AI features as possible into its web browser. The built-in PDF reader in Microsoft Edge has received a new batch of AI improvements. The AI feature added to Copilot scans the document, highlighting keywords and phrases, and then provides additional information to the user. The processing is likely done on Microsoft servers, which could compromise privacy.
The new tool is available by clicking a button that appears next to the existing “Ask Copilot” button in the PDF reader interface. It starts scanning the entire PDF document to generate relevant keywords and phrases. The user can then select any of them to open the Copilot sidebar in the browser and get more context or information related to that keyword.
Privacy Concerns and Future Developments
The content of the PDF file is likely processed and analyzed by Microsoft servers, which could potentially leak sensitive information. Most likely, there will also be large-scale data collection during document processing to improve the AI model and study the user experience. You might want to think twice before using this new feature to process documents with sensitive information, such as tax forms or financial contracts.
It’s likely that Microsoft will expand the scope of the new AI feature to include Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations in the near future, adds NIX Solutions. We’ll keep you updated on any developments in this area.
This feature is just one of several AI-powered capabilities that have been added to Edge. The browser previously received a smart search feature that detects related matches and words, making it easier to find information on a page. An AI-powered “topic generator” turns text suggestions into visual designs. The AI has even learned to automatically assign names to groups of tabs for efficient browsing.
Right now, judging by the preview build of Canary, Microsoft is working on improving the AI’s ability to suggest sites for the user to view. The exact nature and functionality of these innovations is not yet known, but given Microsoft’s commitment to massively implementing AI everywhere possible, sooner or later they will appear.