Microsoft has confirmed that Bing's Copilot Search now has two distinct experiences: AI Mode, a conversational experience for researching topics in depth, and AI Overview, AI-generated summaries shown alongside regular search results. The distinction is set out in the FAQ on Microsoft's Search with AI page, spotted by Search Engine Watch, which also includes a seven-step walkthrough of the two experiences.

Microsoft says it introduced the names to help users understand the difference, and that the underlying Copilot technology is unchanged. AI Mode answers draw on web information and include source links; users can start a conversation in Bing but are directed to the Copilot app to reach their chat history.

The new AI Mode branding has also reached the Bing Android app, where tapping the Copilot icon opens a screen reading 'You're now in Bing AI Mode.' The naming mirrors Google Search, which already uses AI Overviews for quick answers and AI Mode for conversational search — the two search giants now describe their AI search products in the same words.