Microsoft seems to be developing an enhanced user interface for Edge browser on Windows 11, with Copilot taking center stage in the overall experience. This new design, tentatively named Olympia, showcases a sleeker address bar and window border, arranges tabs vertically, and incorporates other significant modifications.
I chanced upon the new user interface recently on platform X, and it seems like it’s been under development for several months. The most recent builds of Microsoft Edge Canary offer an initial rendition of this interface that can be activated, albeit with a very preliminary and unfunctional version in many areas.
As an analyst, I’ve noticed an intriguing shift in the UI design. The new implementation moves Copilot front and center, strategically positioning it within the address bar. This revised address bar occupies less space, nestled neatly across the top of the interface.
The primary focus is clearly on Copilot, with the omnibox now optimized to merge search, chat, and voice input capabilities. A microphone icon has been conveniently placed within the address bar, ensuring it’s always readily accessible for voice inputs.
The overall design of this browser has been simplified, and unlike traditional Microsoft Edge, the tabs are now organized in a vertical sidebar which can be accessed by clicking on a dropdown button at the top-left corner. Interestingly, there’s another layout where the tabs are placed horizontally below the address bar, rather than above as found in most other browsers.
To the right of the window frame, you’ll find buttons for saving a webpage as a bookmark, and a dropdown list offering access to other browser areas like your browsing history, downloads, and settings.
The fresh interface marks a significant shift from the user interface we’ve grown accustomed to in Edge. At this stage, it’s not entirely clear what purpose this new design serves, given that much of it remains inactive during the early stages of development. However, we anticipate gaining more insights about its intended functionality within the upcoming weeks as the interface advances through its development process.
At present, it’s possible to guess what Microsoft might be intending with this fresh interface. It could potentially serve as a full swap for the existing user interface, aiming to make Edge more distinct as a standalone browser. Many people think that the current design of Edge’s UI is quite similar to Google Chrome, which isn’t particularly exciting.
It’s appealing to imagine that the fresh Olympia design could mark a significant overhaul for the browser, setting it apart from its competitors. Nevertheless, I suspect that this new UI is actually being developed as a specialized interface tailored specifically for Edge’s new Copilot Mode. This might account for the increased focus on Copilot in the address bar.
Currently, activating Copilot Mode within Edge doesn’t offer a significant change for users at first glance. The browser interface remains unaltered, with the main difference being that the Copilot button shifts its position from the right side of the window frame to inside the address bar on the left. It’s worth noting that this new Olympia layout aligns the Copilot icon in the same spot on the address bar.
With Copilot Mode advancing and developing additional capabilities, it’s quite possible that Microsoft will introduce a distinctive user interface that fully utilizes the growing agentic abilities of the AI assistant. The current trend is towards “AI browsers,” as companies like Perplexity, The Browser Company, and now Microsoft are focusing on creating specialized AI modes for navigating the web.
In simpler terms, it’s reasonable for Microsoft to think that Copilot Mode could require a significant change in its user interface, particularly if there are plans to focus more on agent-like features in the future. Microsoft has previously stated that AI with generative and agentic capabilities could fundamentally alter what a user interface (UI) looks like, and this might be a preview of such changes.
Previously, Microsoft had endeavored to introduce a novel UI in Edge, but this wasn’t their debut attempt. As far back as 2023, they revealed a revamped look for Edge that included rounded floating tabs along with minor alterations intended to harmonize the browser with Windows 11’s design aesthetic. Regrettably, Microsoft ultimately chose to abandon this new design for reasons yet unknown.
The revamped Olympia design might encounter the same issues, although it’s hard to tell at this point. However, considering the numerous functional flaws in the current Olympia UI, it seems they are still in the initial phases of developing the new layout.
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2025-08-13 16:21