Microsoft is expanding the capabilities of Bing Chat with the re-introduction of a ‘plugins’ feature. Initially tested in August with a select user group, the feature was withdrawn, possibly due to performance and quality concerns. However, recent developments suggest that the issues have been addressed, with reports of users once again accessing the feature, hinting at a wider release on the horizon.
The latest Bing Chat update, which was deployed to a limited user base over the past weekend, integrates the ‘plugins’ feature into the AI chat interface. This enhancement was confirmed by multiple users speaking with Windows Latest, who noted that their Bing Chat on both desktop and mobile now supported five distinct plugins.
However, this feature currently appears to be exclusive to Edge Canary, the early-access version of Microsoft’s web browser. Our own experimentation aligns with user reports; the plugins are operational solely within Microsoft Edge Canary. Attempts to utilize the feature in the stable version of Microsoft Edge, as well as other browsers like Google Chrome and Apple Safari, were unsuccessful, despite being logged in with the same user account.
Moreover, there seems to be a marked improvement in the speed of the plugins, suggesting optimization efforts have borne fruit. The selective implementation within Edge Canary might indicate Microsoft’s strategy to refine the feature within its ecosystem before a broader rollout. The focus on performance improvements could also suggest that Microsoft is taking user feedback into account to enhance the overall experience.
As the tech community anticipates the full-scale deployment of Bing Chat plugins, it remains to be seen how this feature will integrate with the wider web browsing experience and how it will fare against competitors. The return of plugins to Bing Chat marks a significant step towards a more interactive and utility-driven AI chat interface, with potential implications for how users interact with web browsers and AI systems alike.
