GitHub Copilot Coding Agent: assign an issue to AI like to a junior dev
In one sentence GitHub announces the Copilot Coding Agent at Build 2025: assign an issue to `@copilot` like a teammate — the agent creates a branch, writes code, opens a PR, responds to reviews.
GitHub and Microsoft announce a major Copilot update at Build 2025. Until today Copilot was "smart autocomplete" or chat inside the IDE. From May, it becomes something different: a virtual teammate you can assign tasks to.
How it works: in GitHub you open an issue (e.g. "add dark mode to the site") and assign it to @copilot like a colleague. The agent:
- creates a new branch;
- reads the codebase;
- writes the code;
- runs tests in an isolated Actions environment;
- opens a pull request;
- responds when you leave review comments (changes the code if needed).
It's the first mainstream "async coding agent". Open 5 issues, go to lunch, come back to 5 PRs to review. Available to Copilot Pro+ and Business/Enterprise subscribers.
Companies
GitHub, Microsoft
Tools
GitHub Copilot Coding Agent
Tags
Sources