Microsoft announced the release of Copilot Search in Bing, which is exactly what it sounds like, albeit with an important twist. In addition to the expected citations, the service also provides inline links to the sources for the information so that users can easily get to the original content.
“We’re excited to introduce Copilot Search in Bing,” the Bing Team writes. “Copilot Search seamlessly blends the best of traditional and generative search together to help you find what you need, and meet you where you’re at in your discovery journey. All while supporting and building a healthy web ecosystem.”
Copilot Search in Bing is currently available via a dedicated subsite on Bing.com, though I assume the plan is to one day replace Bing with this interface, assuming all goes well. You can also access it by clicking on the suggested, related topics under relevant answers in Bing search results, or on mobile using the Bing website or mobile app.
How it works will depend on the query. You may see a clear answer, a summary of the most critical points, or a smart layout of information, Microsoft says. Sources are clearly cited, and there is rich data, images, and videos from the underlying content creators and publishers so you can explore further. It is, the team claims, “the best of both a traditional search engine and generative AI chat all in one.”
“We’ve learned a lot since launching Bing Generative Search last year, and we believe this next phase truly reimagines search,” the Bing Team concludes. “Copilot Search in Bing is built to simplify the search process for you; seamlessly find a topic to explore within your everyday search flow or act on inspiration to search for not only what you want, but the depth you want.”
You can learn more about Copilot Search in Bing from the Microsoft website.