Even Microsoft's own software teams are struggling with the avalanche of AI-generated code

Microsoft's Edge team is grappling with a surge in AI-generated browser extensions, a development that has both positive and challenging implications. The company attributes this influx to the rapid, easy development and tweaking capabilities AI provides developers. While Microsoft perceives this as beneficial for the Edge ecosystem, which has long lagged behind Google's Chrome in browser market share, the company is also concerned about the added pressure on its internal development teams.

Microsoft addressed the issue by expediting its review process for extensions, but the team reports that the pipeline has become overburdened, leading to suboptimal review times. To tackle this, the company has implemented automated systems to flag known policy violations and security issues, aiming to maintain high standards without reducing the number of necessary checks.

Microsoft's strategy includes adding more frequent reassessments of extensions, with a new requirement to re-check them every 15 days. This increased frequency is designed to reward high-quality extensions with quicker recognition while also providing developers with faster feedback on their efforts. Despite these improvements, Microsoft acknowledges that Edge still lags significantly behind Chrome in terms of user adoption, currently holding an 11% market share compared to Chrome's 71%.