Short answer

In November 2026, Microsoft describes Copilot Search as two Bing experiences: AI Overview and AI Mode. Bing has also announced a page-level AI Grounding preference, separate from AI training, that it will honor from February 1, 2027. For SEO and GEO, the priorities are to keep grounding allowed on pages you want cited, verify your site in Bing Webmaster Tools and read its AI Performance report.

Copilot Search has a new name, and Bing now lets you decide whether AI answers can use your pages. Below are the five facts that matter for brands and marketers, each linked to its original source. Short on time? Swipe through the 60-second story or browse the whole November 2026 AI News rack.

Watch it as a story7 animated slides · swipe or tap through
Fact 01 / 05Bing AI Mode

Copilot Search is now AI Mode and AI Overview

2AI experiences on Bing

One feature became two. Microsoft's Search with AI page says Copilot Search has evolved into two distinct AI experiences on Bing: AI Overview, a quick summary at the top of the results with links to its sources, and AI Mode, a conversational experience for follow-up questions that lists the references it used.

Microsoft — sourceSearch with AI: AI Overview and AI Mode on Bing
Fact 02 / 05Bing AI Mode

Training and grounding become separate choices

2027Honored from February 1

Opt out of training, stay citable. On October 30, Bing introduced an AI Training preference and a separate, page-level AI Grounding preference. Grounding can be set to Disallow, or to the new DisallowExtended, which limits use to Microsoft experiences such as AI Mode, AI Overview, Copilot and Microsoft 365. Bing search eligibility does not change.

Microsoft Bing — sourceYour content, your choice: clearer preferences for training and grounding
Fact 03 / 05Copilot

Blocking grounding reduces AI visibility

NoCacheReplaced by the new preferences

No grounding, fewer citations. Microsoft states that choosing Disallow or DisallowExtended for grounding will reduce brand visibility in AI experiences, and that allowing it makes content eligible to inform answers with links and citations. The new preferences replace NoArchive and NoCache for training and grounding.

Microsoft Bing — sourceYour content, your choice: clearer preferences for training and grounding
Fact 04 / 05Copilot

Copilot citations have a first-party report

FreeIn Bing Webmaster Tools

Microsoft shows where you are cited. The AI Performance report in Bing Webmaster Tools shows how often a site is cited across Microsoft Copilot, AI-generated summaries in Bing and select partner integrations, with total citations, cited pages and sample grounding queries. Microsoft says cited-page counts do not indicate ranking or authority.

Microsoft Bing — sourceIntroducing AI Performance in Bing Webmaster Tools Public Preview
Fact 05 / 05Copilot

Copilot is heading for the Windows search box

Opt-inCopilot in Windows Search

Opt-in answers on the taskbar. Microsoft plans an option to bring Copilot answers into the new Windows 11 taskbar Search, with a jump to the full Copilot app. It says the experience will be opt-in and will first roll out to select markets later this year.

Windows Experience Blog — sourceBuilding Windows for hybrid intelligence
Arrow's take

What it means for SEO and GEO

  • Review your AI Grounding choice before February 1, 2027: blocking grounding takes your pages out of the sources Bing AI Mode, AI Overview and Copilot can cite.
  • If you use NoArchive or NoCache today, plan the switch to the new preferences instead of relying on the old tags.
  • Verify your site in Bing Webmaster Tools and check the AI Performance report alongside your own prompt tests: third-party trackers can change which engines they cover.

Go deeper

Sources

  1. Search with AI: AI Overview and AI Mode on Bing — Microsoft
  2. Your content, your choice: clearer preferences for training and grounding — Microsoft Bing
  3. Introducing AI Performance in Bing Webmaster Tools Public Preview — Microsoft Bing
  4. Building Windows for hybrid intelligence — Windows Experience Blog

Published November 11, 2026 · See the linked sources for dates and access.