GitHub has launched an AI-powered developer agent that can fix bugs, add features, and improve documentation — all on behalf of developers. Built directly into GitHub Copilot, the agent starts working as soon as a user assigns it a task, according to a Microsoft Build announcement.
To complete its tasks, the AI agent automatically boots a virtual machine, clones the repository, and analyzes the codebase, GitHub says. As it operates, it saves changes and logs its reasoning in session logs. Once finished, the agent tags you to review the changes. Developers can leave comments, which the agent will automatically process.
Starting a new agent is simple: assign one or more GitHub issues to Copilot. This can be done via github.com, GitHub Mobile, or the GitHub CLI — just as you would assign a task to yourself or a team member. You can also ask Copilot to open a pull request from Copilot Chat on GitHub or directly within VS Code.
How the Agent Works in the Background
Once the issue is assigned, the agent reacts and begins its process. It boots up a VM, clones the repository, sets up the environment, and analyzes the codebase using GitHub’s Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) based code search. Throughout the process, the agent commits changes to a pull request draft and updates the pull request description. Its reasoning and review steps are visible in the session logs, allowing users to track decisions and review potential issues.
The agent also supports image recognition, thanks to integrated vision models. This means it can interpret screenshots of bugs or design mockups attached to GitHub issues.
Expanded Integration and Future Access
With the Model Context Protocol (MCP), developers can grant the agent access to external data and tools. MCP servers can be configured in repository settings, and GitHub data can be retrieved from the official MCP Server. The agent also respects custom repository instructions and takes into account the context of issues or pull requests, ensuring it aligns with project-specific coding standards.
This new coding agent is available to Copilot Enterprise and Copilot Pro Plus users via GitHub’s web interface, mobile app, and CLI tool, notes NIX Solutions. Microsoft also revealed that GitHub Copilot is now open source in Visual Studio Code.
Beyond GitHub, other companies are launching their own AI agents. Google introduced Jules in December, and OpenAI recently presented its authoring agent, Codex. The field is rapidly evolving — we’ll keep you updated as more integrations become available.