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Bing

All articles tagged with #bing

GTA 6 Preorders Go Free for Some via Microsoft Rewards
entertainment10 days ago

GTA 6 Preorders Go Free for Some via Microsoft Rewards

GTA 6’s release was delayed to Fall 2025 for bug fixes, but a small group of players says they preordered the Ultimate Edition for free by accumulating about 98,000 Microsoft Rewards points through Bing searches and other Microsoft Store activities; while the Ultimate Edition is $99.99, earning that many points requires months or years of activity (Bing has a typical 5,000-point monthly cap, with Game Pass boosts possible). The article also notes there will be no physical edition and that preorders are open for Standard and Ultimate editions.

Google’s AI push encounters headwinds as rivals surge and users rethink search
technology17 days ago

Google’s AI push encounters headwinds as rivals surge and users rethink search

Google still dominates search, but rising competition and user caution about AI are reshaping the landscape: DuckDuckGo and Bing are gaining traction, Google Search traffic has softened, and AI features like AI Mode are rolling out; talent exits from Gemini and DeepMind to OpenAI and Anthropic illustrate a fierce AI‑talent war, while Google’s ad-driven revenue funds its long‑term AI bets. Despite the headwinds, Alphabet’s stock remains up over the past year.

Windows 11 gains a toggle to kill Bing in Search and prioritize local results
technology1 month ago

Windows 11 gains a toggle to kill Bing in Search and prioritize local results

Microsoft is testing a Windows 11 feature to disable web/Bing results in Search and even hide Microsoft Store results, enabling a fully local search. Preview builds and a Windows Insider meetup showed that two-character input now triggers local results and that substring search is supported, with local results ranked above web results. The rollout to testers is expected in coming weeks, marking a shift toward greater user control and away from Bing-only search behavior (previously achievable only via registry edits).

Google's AI Search Triggers User Exodus, Opening a Narrow Bing Window
technology1 month ago

Google's AI Search Triggers User Exodus, Opening a Narrow Bing Window

An opinion piece argues Google's AI-first search is degrading result quality and trust, prompting users to switch to rivals like Bing. It cites Google's AI-search MAUs (~2.5B) vs Bing's ~1B and notes a surge in alternative engines (e.g., DuckDuckGo) as evidence of backlash. The author contends Microsoft could capitalize by delivering a genuinely human-first search experience with verifiable results, rather than flooding with AI summaries, to protect the web’s information ecosystem and win back users.

Microsoft Goes All-In on Agentic AI as Copilot Shifts to Usage-Based Pricing
technology2 months ago

Microsoft Goes All-In on Agentic AI as Copilot Shifts to Usage-Based Pricing

Microsoft outlined a broad AI push: Agent Mode (now the default 'edit with Copilot') is integrated across Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, with Copilot and GitHub Copilot moving to usage-based pricing. Nadella said nearly 90% of Fortune 500 companies have active agents built with Microsoft’s low-code tools, and Copilot usage is rising as customers deploy custom agents. GitHub Copilot will include monthly AI credits, and Microsoft plans more AI infrastructure spending (~$40B). Bing reached 1 billion active monthly users, underscoring the company’s AI‑driven strategy.

Microsoft Rewards expands in May with a new three-tier system across more regions
technology2 months ago

Microsoft Rewards expands in May with a new three-tier system across more regions

Microsoft is broadening its Rewards overhaul to UK and several additional countries in May, introducing three participation levels (Member, Silver, Gold) with lower daily search-point caps (15, 30, 60) and a Bing Star Bonus offering up to 300/900/2,100 points per month for genuine Bing searches; a future option to spend Rewards points directly on Xbox consoles is also on the way, though rollout timing outside the UK is not fully known.

Windows 11’s Internet Speed Test Is a Bing Shortcut, Not a Native Feature
technology4 months ago

Windows 11’s Internet Speed Test Is a Bing Shortcut, Not a Native Feature

A March 2026 Windows 11 update adds a new “Perform speed test” option on the taskbar, but it merely opens Bing’s internet speed test in your default browser instead of a native tool. The feature, tied to a Bing–Speedtest (Ookla) partnership, can’t be removed or redirected yet. Critics say Microsoft should have delivered a true built‑in network diagnostics tool, like the old Windows 8-era solution, rather than a web shortcut.

Windows 11 adds a quick taskbar speed test for Insiders via Bing
technology4 months ago

Windows 11 adds a quick taskbar speed test for Insiders via Bing

Microsoft is testing a Windows 11 feature that adds a taskbar button to launch a network speed test via Bing (backed by Ookla). The tool is available to Windows 11 Insiders in the Release Preview channel and shows download/upload speeds and latency after testing. While convenient, it currently redirects to Bing rather than running entirely in-system, and some users may prefer a fully integrated, in‑OS speed test like Ookla’s Speedtest before a broader release.

Windows 11 Introduces Bing-Powered Google Lens-Like Feature
technology8 months ago

Windows 11 Introduces Bing-Powered Google Lens-Like Feature

Windows 11's Snipping Tool now includes a Bing-powered Visual Search feature, offering a Google Lens-like experience for screen captures, but Google Lens on Windows still outperforms it in accuracy and convenience. The update enhances the tool's functionality with features like live annotation, color picking, and better sharing options, making it a powerful utility for users, despite some limitations compared to Google Lens.

Warning: Avoid Installing This App on Windows PCs
technology1 year ago

Warning: Avoid Installing This App on Windows PCs

Microsoft's Bing Wallpaper app for Windows is under scrutiny for allegedly decrypting Chrome cookies and pushing users towards Bing and Edge, raising privacy concerns. Critics liken its behavior to malware, urging users to avoid the app due to its aggressive data practices. Microsoft denies the claims, stating the app only checks Bing cookies to prevent redundant installations.

Microsoft Offers $1 Million to Switch from Google to Bing
technology1 year ago

Microsoft Offers $1 Million to Switch from Google to Bing

Microsoft is incentivizing users to switch to Bing and Microsoft Edge through a new sweepstakes program under its Microsoft Rewards initiative. Participants can win up to $1,000,000 by performing simple tasks like using Bing for searches and installing Edge. The sweepstakes are available in select countries, including the US, UK, and Germany. Microsoft is also donating up to $500,000 to charities based on participant entries. The program aims to attract users to Microsoft's ecosystem by offering rewards for engaging with its products and services.

Microsoft Outage Highlights Google's Search Dominance
technology2 years ago

Microsoft Outage Highlights Google's Search Dominance

A recent Bing outage highlighted the lack of competition in the search engine market, emphasizing Google's dominance. The incident affected services relying on Bing's API, including ChatGPT and DuckDuckGo. With only Google, Bing, and Yandex maintaining large global indexes, alternatives are limited, raising concerns about dependency and the need for more robust options.