Microsoft Edge Beta 138 Introduces Advanced AI-Powered History Search and Media Control: Complete Guide and Privacy Insights

Microsoft is pushing the boundaries of browser innovation with its latest Edge Beta Channel updates, introducing cutting-edge AI features and improved media management tools. As reported by The Verge, these updates not only enhance user productivity but also address growing privacy concerns, setting a new standard for modern web browsing.

AI-Powered Browser History Search: How It Works

The most notable addition to Microsoft Edge Beta is the new AI-powered browser history search. This feature leverages on-device artificial intelligence to help users find previously visited websites—even when they can’t recall the exact URL, site name, or keyword. The system is designed to recognize synonyms, phrases, and even typos, making it easier than ever to retrieve elusive browsing history.

For example, if you remember visiting a site about “Microsoft Surface discounts” but can’t recall the exact name, a search for “Surface deals” or “Microsoft laptop sales” could surface the correct result. The AI model processes your browsing history locally, ensuring that your data never leaves your device and is not transmitted to Microsoft servers.

Privacy and Control

Microsoft has prioritized user privacy with this feature. The AI-powered history search is enabled by default, but users can easily disable it if they have concerns about AI analyzing their browsing data. Additionally, enterprise administrators can manage this feature through group policies, providing organizations with granular control over its deployment.

This approach stands in contrast to previous Microsoft features like Recall, which faced criticism for capturing and storing extensive user activity. By keeping all processing on-device and not sending data to the cloud, Microsoft aims to alleviate privacy concerns while still delivering powerful search capabilities.

Media Control Center: Streamlined Media Management

Alongside the AI history search, Microsoft Edge Beta now includes a media control center. This new hub allows users to manage multiple media sources from different websites in one convenient location. Whether you’re watching videos, listening to music, or streaming content, the media control center provides quick access to playback controls, picture-in-picture mode, and casting options.

The media control center icon appears to the right of the address bar whenever media is playing in Edge. Clicking it opens a panel where you can pause, play, skip, or cast content to other devices. This feature is especially useful for users who multitask across multiple tabs or windows, as it centralizes all media controls in a single, easy-to-access interface.

Additional Feature Updates in Edge Beta

Microsoft Edge Beta continues to evolve with a range of new features and improvements:

• Primary Work Profile as Default for External Links:
  For enterprise users, Edge now defaults to opening external links with the Primary Work Profile (signed in with Microsoft Entra ID), streamlining workflows for business users.

• Enhanced Autofill Settings:
  A new consent toggle in Autofill settings allows users to control whether Edge collects web form field labels to improve Autofill suggestion accuracy. Only field labels are collected—not user-entered data—and everything is stored securely.

• Support for Sensitivity Labels in MIP Protected PDFs:
  Enterprise customers can now view sensitivity labels applied to Microsoft Information Protection (MIP) protected PDFs, helping them better manage and classify sensitive documents.

• Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat Summarization in Context Menu:
  Edge is adding a Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat summarization option to the context menu, enabling users to quickly unpack and ask questions about the current page.

• Performance Notifications:
  Edge now provides clearer notifications when performance issues are detected, helping users identify and resolve slowdowns related to extensions or other factors.

How to Access and Enable the New Features

To take advantage of these new features, users need to be running Microsoft Edge Beta version 138.0.3351.14 or later. The updates are being rolled out gradually, so not all users may see them immediately. If you don’t see the new options, check back later as Microsoft continues its controlled rollout.

To enable or disable AI-powered history search:

1. Open Microsoft Edge Beta.

2. Go to edge://settings/privacy or look for a new toggle in the history section.

3. Find the option labeled “Enhanced history search” or “AI-powered history search.”

4. Toggle the feature on or off as desired. Note: This is a controlled feature rollout. If you don’t see this feature in Microsoft Edge settings, check back as Microsoft continues to rollout the feature.

To use the media control center:

1. Play media (video or audio) in any tab.

2. Look for the media control center icon (a music note) to the right of the address bar.

3. Click the icon to access playback controls and casting options.

Privacy and Security Considerations

Microsoft’s focus on privacy is evident in the design of these new features. The AI-powered history search uses an on-device model, meaning your browsing data is processed locally and never shared with Microsoft or third parties. This approach minimizes privacy risks and gives users greater control over their data.

Enterprise administrators can further enhance security by disabling the feature via group policy, ensuring compliance with organizational data protection standards. The ability to disable the feature at both the user and admin levels provides flexibility and peace of mind for both individuals and businesses.

Comparing Edge’s AI Features to Competitors

Microsoft Edge is not the first browser to introduce AI-powered features, but its implementation stands out for its privacy-first approach. Unlike some cloud-based solutions, Edge’s AI history search keeps all processing on-device, reducing the risk of data exposure. This is a significant advantage for privacy-conscious users and organizations.

The media control center, while similar to features found in Google Chrome, is integrated seamlessly into Edge’s interface, offering a unified experience for managing media across multiple tabs and windows.

User Feedback and Industry Reaction

Early feedback from beta testers has been positive, with many users praising the convenience of the AI-powered history search and the centralized media controls. However, some users remain cautious about any AI feature that analyzes browsing history, even if it is processed locally. Microsoft’s decision to make the feature optional and easy to disable has helped address these concerns.

Industry analysts note that Microsoft is taking a more measured approach with this feature compared to the controversial Recall feature, which was delayed due to privacy concerns. By focusing on on-device processing and user control, Microsoft is striving to balance innovation with privacy.

How to Stay Updated on Edge Beta Features

For the latest information on Microsoft Edge Beta updates, users can visit the official Microsoft Edge release notes page. This resource provides detailed changelogs, feature descriptions, and instructions for accessing new tools and settings1.

Tips for Maximizing Your Edge Beta Experience

• Regularly update your browser: Ensure you’re running the latest version of Edge Beta to access new features as soon as they’re released.

• Customize privacy settings: Take advantage of Edge’s granular privacy controls to tailor your browsing experience to your preferences.

• Explore media controls: Use the new media control center to manage multiple media sources efficiently.

• Provide feedback: Microsoft values user input—report bugs or suggest improvements through the browser’s feedback tools.

The Future of Microsoft Edge Beta

Microsoft’s commitment to innovation is clear in its ongoing development of Edge Beta. With the introduction of AI-powered history search, enhanced media controls, and robust privacy safeguards, Edge is positioning itself as a leader in the modern browser landscape.

As Microsoft continues to roll out new features and refine existing ones, users can expect even more tools to streamline their browsing experience, improve productivity, and protect their privacy.

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Summary Table: New Microsoft Edge Beta Features

Microsoft Edge Beta’s latest updates deliver powerful new tools for productivity and media management, all while maintaining a strong focus on user privacy. The AI-powered history search and media control center are just the beginning—Edge continues to evolve, offering users and organizations more ways to browse smarter and safer. Stay tuned to msftnewsnow.com for the latest Microsoft Edge news and in-depth feature guides.

Download Microsoft Edge Beta now.

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