Edge just got a useful AI tool that Chrome doesn't have - here's how to try it

Source: ZDNet

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Microsoft Edge can now use Copilot to summarize a PDF.
• You can try this with a PDF that’s online or saved on your PC.
• You can also ask specific questions about the PDF.

How often have you opened a lengthy or complex PDF and just didn’t feel like reading the whole thing? Now Microsoft Edge will help you cut to the chase with assistance from AI.

New with the latest version of Edge is an AI‑based skill that taps into Copilot to summarize a PDF, either online or from your PC. You can ask the AI to cover the key points of the PDF and pose specific questions about the content. Edge responds with a brief summary, explanation, or answers to your queries.

Neither Chrome nor Firefox offers this type of integrated AI help for PDFs, so this skill may be one reason to use Edge the next time you need to work with a saved PDF.

How to use Edge’s PDF skill

1. Update Edge – In the browser, click the three‑dot settings icon → Help and Feedback → About Microsoft Edge. The latest update (version 145.0.3800.58 or higher) will download and install automatically. Restart Edge and verify the version.

2. Open a PDF – You can open a PDF online or from your PC. If Edge isn’t your default PDF reader, locate the file in File Explorer, right‑click, choose Open with, and select Microsoft Edge.

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3. Summarize – With the PDF displayed, click the Ask Copilot icon in the toolbar and select Summarize. Copilot will show a summary of the key points in a pane on the right.

4. Explain – Click the Ask Copilot icon again and choose Explain. Edge will rewrite the document in plain, simple language—useful for contracts or other legal documents.

5. Ask questions – In the right‑hand pane, type a specific question about the PDF. Edge will respond, and you can continue a back‑and‑forth conversation to deepen your understanding.

Hands on

I tried this with a PDF titled “70 Solutions to Common Writing Mistakes” stored on my PC.

1. Summarize – Edge listed the key points of the eight major sections. It then offered options for a shorter summary, bullet‑point sheet, study guide, a set of writing rules, or a personalized action plan based on my writing goals. Choosing the action‑plan suggestion produced several general recommendations and an invitation to provide more detail about my goals.

2. Explain – The AI broke down each section’s recommendations in clear, plain language. It also suggested creating a checklist of the 70 mistakes or extracting the most important lessons for my writing style.

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3. Specific questions – I opened a fresh chat window and asked, “What tips does the PDF offer on time and priority management for writing?” Edge returned relevant passages, recommending a daily 30‑45 minute writing window, removing one low‑value activity to make room, and tracking progress to see payoff.

Caution

AI can make mistakes, especially with legal or technical documents that require precise language. Always double‑check the responses. You can ask the AI to confirm its findings or request links to specific sections in the file so you can verify the original content.