- Safari is now ahead of Microsoft Edge and Google’s market share has barely budged (Statcounter)
- Microsoft has however introduced quite a few new AI-based features for Edge and Bing
- As for Google, it should soon launch new features based on generative AI
In recent months, Microsoft has had something of an “iPhone moment” thanks to artificial intelligence. The Redmond firm has partnered with OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, to integrate generative artificial intelligence on as many products as possible, including the Edge browser and the Bing search engine. This allowed Microsoft to boost the use of these products. However, it would seem that these increases were not enough for Microsoft Edge to maintain its number 2 position in the global computer browser market.
As our colleagues from 9to5Mac explain, Microsoft Edge overtook Safari in 2022, to become the second most popular browser in the world. But new data from Statcounter shows that in April Safari overtook Microsoft’s browser to become the world’s number two. With a share of 11.87%, Safari is now positioned ahead of Microsoft Edge, whose market share is 11%, according to data from Statcounter.
Google Chrome, for its part, continues to be the undisputed number 1, with a global market share of 66.13%. In other words, Microsoft’s recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence have yet to affect Google’s browser. According to 9to5Mac’s explanations, compared to 2022 data, Google Chrome’s market share has hardly changed. Safari and Microsoft would have progressed slightly.
The AI race between Edge and Chrome
In any case, it should be remembered that Microsoft and Google are currently engaged in a race for artificial intelligence which, in the long term, will bring big changes to our societies. As mentioned above, Microsoft relies on OpenAI products, including GPT-4, the improved version of ChatGPT. This is already integrated, in the form of a conversational chatbot, into the Bing search engine. And Edge, for its part, also benefits from these new technologies.
On the Microsoft browser, AI becomes a kind of assistant that can summarize content for you, write text for you, or even help you adapt the tone of an e-mail. Microsoft has also integrated an image generator, based on DALL-E, into its browser. As for Google Chrome, it hasn’t changed too much in recent months. But Google is preparing a major artificial intelligence offensive to counter Microsoft. And we expect to hear more about Google’s generative AIs (including the Bard chatbot) at its I/O conference scheduled for May.
Unlike Microsoft and Google, Apple has not yet officially entered this artificial intelligence race. But the Cupertino company can count on loyal users. Safari has also benefited from the new features that Apple has included in the macOS Ventura update for its computers.
Moreover, in June, Apple will present a new big update for Macs, during its traditional WWDC conference. And it will be interesting to see what’s new for Safari and whether Apple will come up with something related to generative artificial intelligence.
Internet Explorer still has users
Otherwise, it should be noted that according to Statcounter data, after Microsoft Edge, there is Mozilla Firefox with a market share of 5.65%, then Opera with a market share of 3.09%. And at the end of the Top 6, there is Internet Explorer, with a share of 0.55%. However, IE has already been officially abandoned by Microsoft in February.
