Bing Copilot Search: Floating Box and Keyword Prompts Reshape Discovery

Microsoft quietly expanded the Bing interface this summer by adding keyword suggestions adjacent to a floating Copilot search box, a small-looking tweak with outsized implications for how users discover, refine, and are nudged toward conversational search—an experiment first surfaced by industry observers and quickly discussed across search and Windows communities. (seroundtable.com)

Background​

Since Microsoft rebranded and rebuilt its AI-assisted search into Copilot Search in Bing, the company has been iterating rapidly on how and where Copilot surfaces inside the search experience. The official Copilot Search rollout emphasized integrated summaries, transparent citations, and related-topic suggestions designed to support exploration rather than replace the underlying web. (blogs.bing.com)
Parallel to the official rollout, testers and industry trackers have spotted UI experiments: a floating Copilot search box that persists on the results page and, as reported in June, an additional set of clickable keyword suggestions that appear next to that floating box. These discoveries were documented with screenshots and short video captures by independent observers on social platforms and subsequently covered by search industry outlets. (seroundtable.com)

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What changed: the floating Copilot box with keyword suggestions​

The visible behavior​

• After performing a standard Bing search, certain users see a floating Copilot input appear on the page. It hovers as users scroll, inviting follow-up queries or a jump into a conversational session with Copilot. (seroundtable.com)
• In the most recent variations of this experiment, three short keyword phrases appear beside that floating box as quick prompts—essentially nudges that aim to help users figure out what to search for next. The prompts are presented as clickable starters that funnel the user into Copilot or into a Copilot-style follow-up search.

How Microsoft describes Copilot Search (officially)​

Microsoft positions Copilot Search as a hybrid of traditional and generative search: an interface that produces concise answers with explicit source citations while also surfacing related topics and follow-up prompts to encourage deeper exploration. Those related-topic suggestions are a core part of Microsoft’s design intent for Copilot Search. The floating box and keyword prompts are consistent with this objective, except they place follow-up prompts in a more persistent, attention-grabbing position on the page. (blogs.bing.com)

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Why this matters: intent, discoverability, and friction​

Nudging users toward conversation​

By making a Copilot input persistently available and spotlighting ready-made queries, Microsoft is lowering the activation cost for conversational search. Where traditional search required writing or refining queries, the floating box + keyword prompts present a near-zero-effort path to ask a question in natural language.

• Benefit: faster exploration for users who don’t know precise keywords.
• Risk: the UI shift subtly steers intent from traditional results to a Copilot-mediated experience—potentially reducing clicks to publishers and changing how people form queries over time. (seroundtable.com)

Discoverability vs. clutter​

The keyword suggestions aim to solve a perennial user problem: figuring out what to search for next. For novice users or complex topics, curated query starters can accelerate research. However, when UI real estate becomes occupied by floating elements, the interface runs the risk of:

• Visual clutter and cognitive overload for seasoned users.
• Redundancy if similar suggestions already exist elsewhere on the page (People Also Ask, related searches, or the Copilot “topics” section). (seroundtable.com)

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Design and UX analysis​

Positive design choices​

• Contextual prompts: When suggestions are genuinely context-aware—reflecting the original query and common follow-ups—they can reduce effort and lead to more effective searches.
• Persistent affordance: A floating box is an always-available action point; that’s a strong pattern for tool discoverability, especially on long pages where the top-of-page search bar disappears from view.
• Microcopy and phrasing: Short, action-oriented phrases (three to five words) work well as lightweight scaffolding for follow-up queries.

Problem areas and trade-offs​

• Duplication with existing elements: Bing already surfaces related topics and PAA (People Also Ask) sections. Adding another visible set of prompts risks redundancy and user confusion. (seroundtable.com)
• Interaction ambiguity: Early test reports indicate clicking the floating bar sometimes launches Copilot in a different experience or launches a separate Copilot page instead of refining the current Bing results—this can feel like a context switch, not a refinement. Reported behavior varied between testers, suggesting this is an A/B experiment with inconsistent behaviors. (seroundtable.com)
• Performance and page layout: Persistent DOM elements can create performance overhead, especially on older devices or when implemented with heavy animations, a concern previously raised in UI changes to Copilot. User feedback from community fora shows some frustration when Copilot UI changes reduce perceived responsiveness.

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Privacy, telemetry, and data-flow considerations​

Any change that encourages additional input or channels more queries into conversational systems raises data and privacy questions.

• Microsoft states Copilot Search uses sources and provides citations; that transparency is positive and central to Copilot’s pitch. However, how follow-up prompts are generated, what telemetry is used to select them, and whether they are influenced by personalized signals were not disclosed at the time observers captured the floating-box experiment. That makes some aspects unverifiable without an official Microsoft engineering statement. (blogs.bing.com)

Key privacy questions users and admins should watch for:

• Are the suggested keywords generated by local heuristics, aggregate telemetry, or personalized signals tied to a signed-in Microsoft account?
• Do suggestions get logged as Copilot prompts separate from standard search logs, and how long are they retained?
• Is the suggestion generation susceptible to showing promotional or in-house biased prompts (e.g., to nudge Copilot adoption)? Independent reports have noted that Bing sometimes surfaces Copilot promotions when searching for competing models, which highlights how suggestion framing can be promotional. (pcgamer.com)

Until Microsoft clarifies these specifics in product documentation or support pages, some of these questions remain open and merit cautious language when interpreting the experiment.

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Implications for publishers and SEO​

This UI experiment reinforces a long-running concern in the SEO community: the shift from list-based links to answer-first interfaces changes how traffic and attention flow.

• Potential traffic compression: If more searches are resolved within Copilot summaries or within the Copilot chat, publishers may see fewer click-throughs for queries that previously generated visits.
• Citation and attribution: Microsoft’s Copilot Search emphasizes source citations. That’s a positive alignment for publishers who want recognition—but citations don’t always translate into clicks. (blogs.bing.com)
• New optimization signals: The presence of keyword suggestions suggests Microsoft is formalizing particular follow-up intents. Content strategists should start thinking about:
• Structuring content to satisfy answer intent for both initial and prompted follow-ups.
• Monitoring whether Copilot-driven queries produce traffic anomalies or introduce new long-tail phrases that weren’t previously prominent.

For webmasters, immediate tactical steps:

• Monitor query and referral traffic closely for changes after Copilot UI tests appear in analytics.
• Ensure content is clear, authoritative, and structured with short answers and clear citations that Copilot can reference.
• Use server logs, branded-query trends, and Search Console/ Bing Webmaster Tools to correlate any dip in organic clicks to Copilot engagement signals. (blogs.bing.com)

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Accessibility and internationalization​

Floating UI elements introduce accessibility challenges if not implemented with robust ARIA support and keyboard navigability.

• Keyboard focus: Floating inputs must be reachable and usable without a mouse.
• Screen reader semantics: Suggestion chips should announce context (“Suggested follow-up: …”) so users relying on assistive tech understand the action.
• Localization: The value of keyword starters depends on cultural and language context. Microsoft’s Copilot Search supports global rollouts but UI experiments often appear first in specific regions; testers have reported inconsistent exposure across browsers and regions. That inconsistency complicates localized accessibility reviews. (seroundtable.com, blogs.bing.com)

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Community response and real-world testing​

Observers and community discussions reflect mixed reactions.

• Some users appreciate the convenience of quick-starters—they reduce friction when someone isn’t sure how to phrase an advanced query. (seroundtable.com)
• Others find it intrusive or redundant, reporting that duplicate search boxes or persistent overlays can feel like unwanted marketing for Copilot rather than a neutral UX improvement. Community threads on Windows-focused forums and social feeds captured those tensions early during the experiment.

These mixed reactions are typical for large-scale UI changes and highlight the need for iterative testing, careful telemetry, and the ability to opt-out or revert for power users.

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How to test, opt-out, or adapt as a user​

Microsoft runs many UI experiments; exposure can be random and region-based. If you want to check or manage your experience:

• Sign out and test in an InPrivate (or incognito) window to determine whether the floating box appears only for signed-in users or accounts. Community testers found variations between signed-in and private sessions when earlier Copilot UI updates rolled out. (seroundtable.com)
• Use different browsers (Edge, Chrome, Firefox). The floating Copilot features are service-side, but some behaviors can be Edge-specific depending on tight integrations.
• Provide feedback using the in-page feedback controls when the floating box appears—product teams rely on structured feedback from testers to adjust UX.
• For enterprise admins, consider guiding users via internal communications about Copilot and privacy, and review any Microsoft 365 or Bing admin controls (if available) that govern AI features or telemetry.

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Recommendations for Microsoft (based on observed risks)​

• Prioritize consistency across browsers and regions during experiments to avoid fragmented user expectations.
• Provide an explicit toggle for “Turn off Copilot floating prompts” so power users and accessibility-conscious users can opt out without losing other Copilot functionality.
• Publish a short transparency note about how keyword suggestions are generated and whether personalization plays any role.
• Ensure the floating design follows accessibility standards (keyboard focus, announcements, clear semantics).
• Monitor publisher impact and surface a “publisher CTR” dashboard or guidance so content owners can adapt to Copilot-driven impression vs. click dynamics. (blogs.bing.com)

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What to watch next​

• Will Microsoft make keyword suggestions a permanent part of Copilot Search, or will this remain an A/B test with limited exposure? So far, public documentation on the feature is absent and the only reports are from testers—this suggests the experiment is still in an early stage. (seroundtable.com)
• Will Copilot suggestions begin showing promotional or monetized prompts? That’s a regulatory and trust issue that warrants attention if the company ever blends promotional content with top-level follow-up prompts. Independent reporting has already noted instances where Bing nudges users toward Copilot for searches about other AI systems. (pcgamer.com)
• How will publishers adapt? Expect technical SEO teams to test content shapes that satisfy both the initial query and likely follow-up prompt patterns once those patterns stabilize. (blogs.bing.com)

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Conclusion​

The introduction of keyword suggestions beside a floating Copilot search box is a classic example of a small UI change with big behavioral intent: it lowers friction for conversational queries, promotes Copilot as a follow-up tool, and tightens the link between intent and a generative assistant. That makes the feature useful for many users while raising substantive questions about discoverability, duplication, access neutrality, publisher impact, privacy, and accessibility.
For now, the change appears experimental—documented by independent observers and discussed widely in forums—rather than universally rolled out, and Microsoft’s official Copilot Search message continues to emphasize citations and exploration. Users should test the experience in their accounts and browsers, publishers should monitor referral patterns, and Microsoft should prioritize clear controls and transparency as this experiment progresses. (seroundtable.com, blogs.bing.com)

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Bold moves like this are central to the ongoing redesign of search: small affordances that shift how millions ask questions and where those questions are answered. The stakes—user trust, publisher traffic, and regulatory scrutiny—mean even modest experiments deserve careful measurement and clear communication as they move from test buckets to default experiences.

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Source: Search Engine Roundtable Microsoft Bing Search Floating Copilot Search Box With Keyword Suggestions