AI coding assistant and agent
GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot is GitHub's AI coding assistant and agent. It completes and edits code in IDEs, answers questions in chat, works from the terminal through Copilot CLI and from the GitHub Copilot desktop app, and can be assigned issues on github.com. Since October 2026 it can also operate desktop applications through computer use, in public preview.
Last reviewed 28 Oct 2026 · by GitHub
Facts at a glance
| Developer | GitHub (Microsoft) |
|---|---|
| Type | AI coding assistant and coding agent |
| Surfaces | VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, Copilot CLI, the GitHub Copilot app, github.com, Slack and Teams |
| Computer use | Public preview in Copilot CLI and the Copilot app on macOS and Windows since 1 October 2026 source |
| Integrations | MCP servers, custom agents and skills, GitHub Actions |
| Status | Generally available; computer use in public preview |
What GitHub Copilot is used for
Developers use Copilot to write and review code, run multi-step tasks in the terminal and hand issues to a coding agent that opens pull requests. Computer use, added in preview in October 2026, extends the agent to GUI-only and legacy desktop software that has no API, command-line interface or MCP integration. The timeline below lists every story on this site that names GitHub Copilot.
Questions people ask
- Can GitHub Copilot control desktop apps?
- Yes, in public preview since 1 October 2026. Copilot CLI and the GitHub Copilot app on macOS and Windows can click, type, scroll and drag in desktop apps after the user approves access.
- Who makes GitHub Copilot?
- GitHub, a Microsoft subsidiary.