It looks like Microsoft Edge is getting a new feature that could help you fill out forms more easily thanks to a boost from GPT-4 (the most up-to-date large language model from ChatGPT creators OpenAI).
Browsers like Edge already have autocomplete assist features to help fill out fields that ask for frequently requested personal information, and this capability could be further improved thanks to GPT-4 technology.
The digital assistant that Microsoft currently offers, Copilot, also works with GPT-4 and has already seen considerable integration into Edge. In theory, the new GPT-4-powered form filling feature will help Edge users address more complex or unusual questions, rather than the typical basic fields (name, address, email, etc.) that the functionality Existing autocomplete handles it perfectly.
However, right now this supercharged autofill is a hidden feature within the Edge codebase (it's called “msEdgeAutofillUseGPTForAISuggestions”), so it's not active yet even in testing. Windows Latest tried to activate the new feature, but with no luck, so how the feature works in action remains to be seen.
Strengthening the powers of Edge and Copilot
Of course, as noted, Edge's current autocomplete feature is sufficient for most form filling needs, but that won't help with form fields that require more complex or longer responses. As Windows Latest notes, what you can do, if you want, is simply paste those types of questions directly into Edge's Copilot sidebar, and the AI can help you craft an answer that way. Additionally, you could also experiment with different conversation modes to get different responses, perhaps.
This improved autocomplete could be a useful addition to Edge, and Microsoft is clearly trying to develop both its browser and Copilot AI itself, to be more useful and generally smarter.
That said, it's hard to say to what extent Microsoft is prioritizing user satisfaction, as it's equally implementing measures that will potentially annoy some users. We're thinking about their recent aggressive advertising strategy and limiting access to settings if your copy of Windows is disabled, to give a couple of examples. Without forgetting the deprecation date of Windows 10 (its most popular operating system) that is quickly approaching.
Copilot was presented as a versatile assistant, but the AI still leaves a lot to be desired. However, improvements and integration are gradually being seen in existing Microsoft products, and we will have to see if the big bet on Copilot turns out as expected.
