When you opt in, your taskbar becomes an extension of the Copilot app, but with some search added in

hands on With Microsoft cramming Copilot into every nook and cranny of its software, it’s no surprise that everyone’s favorite AI assistant is now set to take over the search box. As of the latest Windows Insider Dev and Beta builds, the "Ask Copilot anything" box is available if you know how to switch it on.

Though it’s off by default, using the Copilot search box feels like glancing into the future. As Microsoft has become more aggressive about pushing its AI services, we can totally see this becoming a default part of the UI. Whether it represents a net positive to the user experience remains an open question.

The default Windows 11 Search box just says “Search” and, if you haven’t disabled it, contains some kind of colorful icon representing search highlights. However, the Copilot box has the text “Ask Copilot anything,” along with a ...