Bing AI Chat Expands Access To Include Google Chrome, Other Browers

Microsoft's Bing artificial intelligence chatbot and artificial intelligence search co-pilot features will expand access to users on Google Chrome and several other browsers.

Now, some select users of Google Chrome can access Microsoft's Bing AI chat and AI-powered search results on desktop browsers. The Director of Communications at Microsoft, Caitlin Roulston, said in an emailed statement that the decision was made as part of the company's testing on other browsers.

Microsoft Expands Access to Bing AI

The situation comes as, for months, only users logged into Microsoft accounts are given access to the AI chat interface via the Bing app or Microsoft Edge browser. But now, other users can chat with Bing AI using a browser other than Edge after accepting the terms of service and acknowledging the AI chatbot's privacy statement.

Despite the expanded access, the Bing AI chatbot can only accept 2,000 input characters on Chrome, half of what it accepts in the Edge browser. Some users who are logged in may also access Bing's AI-powered co-pilot in search results in Chrome, as per Search Engine Journal.

Following expanded access to the Bing AI chatbot, initial reports showed that some users could also enable dark mode. Other users on other browsers, such as Safari and DuckDuckGo, could still be limited to the Edge browser, similar to how mobile users are to the Bing app, to access Bing AI features.

The latest development marks a significant change in Microsoft's approach regarding Bing AI, as it is now embracing a broader platform for artificial intelligence capabilities. Despite the limitations that new users have access to with Bing AI, it still provides an enriched search experience.

Microsoft's efforts in developing artificial intelligence technology suggest a promising future for AI, even though it currently has certain restrictions. However, the new technology's implication for Google Bard and Search Generative Experience is still a mystery.

Artificial Intelligence Chatbot

Bing AI allows users to use the chatbot to answer questions, provide information, and even compose content, similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT. The rollout to new users comes as a popup notice on the Windows 10 or 11 taskbar, which informs users that Bing AI is available to try in Chrome, according to ZDNet.

The situation also comes as Microsoft is famous for trying to get users to use its browser more than any other. The company's policy makes it difficult to avoid prompts or efforts that make switching which browser you can use harder.

While Microsoft still wants users only to use its browsers, it can no longer ignore the existence of other browsers, and many users choose to use any of those instead of Edge. If it wants to succeed in the long term, it has to stop blocking people from using what they prefer. Expanding access to Bing AI is the culmination of this effort and provides bigger opportunities, said How-To Geek.