Microsoft gives Edge an AI advantage over Chrome with on-device AI for web apps and more

Microsoft Edge

At Build 2025, Microsoft unveiled a host of AI-powered enhancements for its Edge browser, positioning it as a stronger alternative to Google Chrome, especially for developers and enterprise users. From integrating the compact Phi-4-mini model to improving PDF workflows and security features, Edge continues to evolve as a browser optimised for modern AI-driven use cases.

Microsoft is introducing experimental AI APIs that allow developers to embed AI capabilities directly into web apps and extensions using Edge. These APIs—available through the Canary and Dev channels—support prompting and writing assistance tasks powered by the Phi-4-mini model. A Translator API is also in the pipeline, aiming to reduce dependency on cloud-based tools while preserving user privacy.

Edge for Business, Microsoft’s enterprise-focused browser variant, is also gaining productivity and security upgrades. One such feature is PDF translation, which enables users to convert entire documents into another language in a few clicks. A preview version is currently available via Edge Canary.

Copilot Chat, already known for summarising web pages, is expanding its scope to summarise Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents hosted online. Starting in June, Microsoft 365 Copilot agents like Sales Assistants will also be available within the Edge for Business sidebar.

To support small businesses and educational institutions, Microsoft is offering free web content filtering to block inappropriate sites. This tool, managed via the Microsoft 365 admin centre, updates daily and supports managed Windows devices using Intune.

Earlier this year, Microsoft also extended native data protection capabilities to Edge on unmanaged devices. Admins can now block sensitive data from being shared with popular consumer AI apps, such as ChatGPT and Gemini, via real-time auditing tools included in Microsoft Purview.

Edge for Business now supports a security connector framework introduced last month. This allows enterprises to integrate Edge with their existing authentication, DLP, and reporting solutions at no extra cost.