Seizing User Entry Points in the AI Era! Google and Microsoft Stage a "Browser War"

The battle for user entry points in the era of artificial intelligence is intensifying, with Google attempting to make Microsoft relive its antitrust nightmare from the 1990s.

The search giant is funding the "Browser Choice Alliance," collaborating with browser manufacturers like Opera and Vivaldi, accusing Microsoft of improperly promoting the Edge browser by leveraging its monopoly position with the Windows operating system.

According to reports on the 11th, Microsoft recently announced a significant AI upgrade for the Edge browser, deeply embedding the CoPilot assistant into the browser, enabling it to control user tabs to perform tasks like bookings. This move is seen as a crucial strategy in the battle for key user entry points in the AI era.

Sources reveal that although Google is not the only funder of the Browser Choice Alliance, it is the largest financial backer. This is not surprising, as Google faces the greatest potential loss in this contest—Microsoft and its partner OpenAI are seeking to challenge Google's dominance in search.

Desktop Becomes a New Battleground for AI Competition

Although smartphones have become the most commonly used computing platform, desktop and laptop computers remain the primary tools for completing actual work—this is precisely the type of task that AI manufacturers claim to provide the most assistance with.

The industry's focus is shifting back to browser innovation. In addition to existing giants, new players like The Browser Company's Dia browser and Perplexity's Comet have emerged in the market, and it is reported that OpenAI is also developing its own browser product. The key to winning the browser war lies in cultivating new user habits. Perplexity revealed to the media that users who installed its Comet browser conduct AI queries three times more frequently than before.

Microsoft has taken the lead. It recently announced that the default browser Edge for Windows users has received a significant AI upgrade, with the built-in CoPilot assistant capable of directly manipulating user tabs, theoretically able to complete tasks like a human. This initiative aims to transform Edge from a mere web browsing tool into a powerful AI interaction hub.

"Deceptive Design" Allegations Resurface, Google-Backed Alliance Pressures Microsoft

To counter Microsoft's offensive, the "Browser Choice Alliance" is actively gathering evidence. The alliance, composed of Google and smaller browser manufacturers like Opera and Vivaldi, accuses Microsoft of employing a series of unfair competitive tactics.

The BCA claims that when Windows users attempt to download alternative browsers, unnecessary security warnings pop up; during Windows system updates, Microsoft allegedly uses "deceptive design" (dark patterns) to trick users into resetting Edge as the default browser. Gene Burrus, a former Microsoft lawyer now specializing in competition law, stated:

"They are repeating the exact same strategies from 20 or 25 years ago." A Google spokesperson stated:

“We are concerned about Microsoft's use of verifiable deceptive design to make it difficult for Windows users to continue using their preferred browser.”

Currently, BCA has stated that its goal in the U.S. is to raise “public awareness” and has not yet filed a lawsuit. However, in Europe, the alliance has lobbied regulators, claiming that Microsoft has only partially complied with the new competition regulations. Additionally, according to media reports, BCA member Opera has filed a complaint with Brazilian competition authorities.

Microsoft's Counterattack: The Market Leader is Not Us

In response to the accusations, Microsoft pushed back, pointing out the irony in Google's complaints. A Microsoft spokesperson stated:

“The dominant browser market player is not Microsoft, but Google.”

Microsoft provided data as evidence: currently, Google holds a 68% share of the global desktop browser market, while Edge browser only accounts for 5%. Microsoft also emphasized that just a year ago, Google itself was ruled an illegal monopolist for abusing its market default choice. The spokesperson added:

“As confirmed by the U.S. Department of Justice case, Google uses distribution agreements with its partners (such as Opera) to stifle competition in the search field.”

Some analysts believe that although Google's complaints contain elements of hypocrisy, this does not diminish the validity of its complaints. Regulators should focus on Microsoft's control over shaping new consumer behaviors in the AI era. It is precisely the "default" position that has helped Google establish and maintain its massive monopoly in the search field—this is also why Google pays Apple over $20 billion each year to ensure it remains the preferred search engine on the iPhone.

In this context, practices favorable to Google should at least also benefit healthy competition among other companies in the AI field. The company that wins the browser war will reap substantial rewards, but they should win through strength rather than pre-installation or dark patterns. Viable competitors should always have a fair opportunity to challenge the market leader. Microsoft must control its most aggressive instincts, or it may find history repeating itself