Microsoft requires login for Copilot, but not Bing's AI answers
Microsoft now requires users to sign in to reach Copilot directly, whether at copilot.microsoft.com or via the Copilot button on Bing’s homepage, per Microsoft AI product lead Krishna Madhavan, cited by Search Engine Roundtable. Copilot Search answers embedded in regular Bing search results remain accessible without login, Microsoft corporate VP Michael Schechter confirmed. The change was first spotted independently before Microsoft’s confirmation.
Why it matters: Microsoft is drawing a login line through its own AI product — standalone Copilot now requires an account while the AI answers folded into Bing search stay open, splitting the same technology into gated and ungated versions depending on entry point.
The record: Microsoft Bing
Via Search Engine Roundtable ↗
Posted to the wire August 31, 2026.