Microsoft has rolled out a jaw-dropping $1 million sweepstake aimed at enticing more users to its search engine, Bing. This initiative certainly raises eyebrows and leads many to wonder: is Microsoft struggling to compete in the world of search engines?

The sweepstakes, which launched last month, is open to anyone with a Microsoft account residing in the US, Canada, UK, France, or Germany. Participants are encouraged to engage with Bing's search services in various ways to boost their entry chances for the grand prize. Tasks like setting Bing as their default search engine, utilizing the Bing app, or even checking the weather through Bing can award users multiple entries — up to an impressive 200!

Beyond merely using Bing for searches, contestants can rack up additional entries by introducing new users to the platform, making purchases on the Microsoft Store, or achieving a “Bing daily streak” by searching three times a day for a whole week. It's clear that Microsoft is pushing hard for users to adopt Bing as their go-to search tool — and they'll do just about anything to get it.

Despite its best efforts over the years, Bing has struggled to make a significant dent in Google's dominance, which controls an overwhelming majority of the search engine market. Launched in 2009, Bing's market share has consistently hovered below perceived expectations, even as Microsoft has tried various tactics to boost its visibility, including product placements in popular media and aggressive advertising promoting its features.

More recently, Microsoft sought to revamp Bing by integrating a ChatGPT-based AI, named Copilot, enhancing its capabilities with generative search features. However, these changes have not produced a significant impact; Bing's market share barely edged above 4% before settling back into the mid-3% range.

The current sweepstakes might provide a temporary spike in usage, as some speculate that it has already contributed to a slight uptick in numbers. Nevertheless, patience runs thin as users must wonder if a mere cash incentive is enough to sustain long-term interest in Bing. Will this extravagant prize help Bing build a faithful user base, or will it merely serve as a fleeting gimmick? Microsoft certainly has its fingers crossed!

With the sweepstakes running until the end of December, it will be intriguing to observe if this bold move can genuinely shift the tides in favor of Bing. Meanwhile, users are left to ponder whether Bing can deliver a search experience worth switching for — or if a million-dollar prize isn’t enough to make them stay.