Microsoft launched a redesigned content discovery experience today, bringing personalized reading and viewing to new tabs in desktop Microsoft Edge and the Windows taskbar Discover dashboard. The launch covers five markets, including India and Australia, alongside the US, UK and Canada. Readers can browse material from 1,500 publishers, while contributions from more than 3,500 creators appear beside publisher journalism.
The desktop launch comes ahead of planned expansion to mobile and MSN.com in the coming months. Microsoft also plans to bring the experience to the Bing.com homepage, though it has not given a rollout date for that destination. More countries are due to gain access in the coming months, according to Microsoft.
Read more: Microsoft Says Edge Launches Up to 33% Faster During Multitasking
For readers choosing what to open next, the rebuilt recommendation system places greater weight on how current, relevant and high-quality the material is. The interface gives users routes into subjects they want to explore, alongside popular stories and articles selected for their interests. PEOPLE, USA TODAY and Business Insider are among the publishers whose material is included.
Video gets more prominent placement across the redesigned experience, and Microsoft is giving it greater emphasis in recommendations. According to the company, video accounts for more than 40% of engagement on the platform. Its partners publish more than 45,000 videos each day, providing material for that increased focus on viewing.
Microsoft has also expanded Curated by Copilot within the redesigned experience, adding to the ways readers can explore coverage. The feature uses AI to bring together perspectives from articles and adapt the selection to a reader's interests. It identifies the sources behind that material and lets readers pursue the original reporting.
Publishers and other partners can decide whether to participate in AI Experiences, using Partner Hub to change their choice at any time. Readers can shape their own recommendations by following individual publishers or subjects that interest them. Separate settings provide controls for changing the experience's appearance.
Microsoft says future changes will draw on feedback from both users and partners. The company also reports that its summer World Cup experience attracted more than 1.4 billion views. Further features are planned for the coming months.
