[DigitalToday reporter Chi-gyu Hwang (황치규)] Extensions for Microsoft’s Edge browser have surged to an unmanageable level as AI coding spreads.

The Register reported on Sept. 9 that the Edge team said in a blog post that AI coding tools are helping developers create and submit extensions faster than before.

Microsoft reviews extensions before they are installed, but the growing number of submissions has increased the burden on reviews. A fast-track review process introduced earlier for high-quality extensions has also hit its limits. The company said, "As the increase in submissions continued, the burden on the review pipeline grew and review times also became longer."

As a solution, Microsoft introduced automation for repetitive validation items. It also improved how the pipeline is handled. The Edge team said, "We did not reduce the review criteria or inspection items," adding, "Instead, we can find known policy violations and security issues more consistently, allowing reviewers to focus on complex issues that require human judgment."

Microsoft plans to speed up extension approvals and updates by expanding automation. It will also shorten the renewal cycle for the 'featured' badge given to strong extensions to 15 days. The company added, "Shortening the renewal cycle will help strong extensions be recognized more quickly and allow developers to receive feedback faster," and "Users will be able to check the status of extensions that meet quality standards with up-to-date information."