Microsoft has officially integrated OpenAI’s GPT-5 into GitHub Copilot for Visual Studio, marking one of the fastest adoptions of a new frontier AI model in a major developer tool.
The rollout comes just days after the public debut of GPT-5, and is available to all paid GitHub Copilot plans.
This upgrade introduces two distinct interaction modes, Agent Mode and Ask Mode, giving developers more flexibility in how they collaborate with AI inside their coding environment.
Two New Modes in Copilot with GPT-5
- Agent Mode
Acts as a proactive coding assistant that works alongside you in real-time. It continuously suggests code completions, detects potential issues, and can even help refactor code without you having to prompt it directly. - Ask Mode
Functions like an on-demand expert. You type a question or request in plain language, and GPT-5 responds with explanations, sample code, or solutions tailored to your current project context.
With these modes, developers can choose between always-on assistance or context-specific help depending on their workflow.
How to Access GPT-5 in Visual Studio
- Update Visual Studio
- Make sure you’re on the latest version to get GPT-5 support.
- Enable GitHub Copilot
- Go to Extensions, Manage Extensions and install/enable GitHub Copilot.
- Sign In with GitHub
- Use a GitHub account with an active paid Copilot subscription. GPT-5 is now included by default.
- Choose Your Mode
- Switch between Agent Mode and Ask Mode from the Copilot settings menu.
- Start Coding
- Enjoy smarter, faster suggestions and natural language help powered by GPT-5.
GitHub has also announced a phased deprecation of several older AI models in Copilot. For organizations on Copilot Enterprise and Copilot Business, administrators must enable the GPT-5 policy in Copilot settings before the new model becomes available.
Once enabled, team members can select GPT-5 from the model picker in Visual Studio, allowing enterprises to manage adoption while preparing for the retirement of legacy models.
