Microsoft turns GitHub Copilot into an AI agent with autonomous coding

• GitHub Copilot now acts as a full-fledged AI agent
• AI coding accelerates enterprise software development
• Microsoft bets on autonomous agents with integrated security

At its Build 2025 conference, Microsoft revealed a significant evolution of GitHub Copilot, transforming it into a more robust AI agent. The system now goes beyond code completion to take on entire programming tasks based on instructions provided in natural language, allowing developers to delegate entire functions to the assistant while they perform other tasks.

This approach, dubbed flutter coding, has been highlighted by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella as part of a paradigm shift in software development. He said the new GitHub AI Agent represents a leap forward comparable to historic moments for the company, such as the arrival of 64-bit Windows and the rise of the cloud.

Since its acquisition of GitHub in 2018 and its partnership with OpenAI in 2021, Microsoft has been increasingly integrating artificial intelligence into the coding process. Now, with the new version, Copilot can operate in sandbox environments with security protocols and automated notifications for code review.

Integration with the VS Code editor remains, and while Copilot remains free, more advanced features are restricted to Pro and Pro+ subscribers. Nadella also announced that the agent’s core tools will be available to partners building specific solutions, such as SREs or code reviewers.

GitHub Copilot now has a coding agent embedded right where you already collaborate with developers: on GitHub. And yes, you can access it from VS Code too. 🤖 pic.twitter.com/S2oiPyMGbs

— Thomas Dohmke (@ashtom) May 19, 2025

The company’s strategy is in line with the rapid growth in AI adoption in the industry. In 2024, GitHub reported a 59% increase in contributions related to generative AI and nearly doubling of new projects on the platform. Meanwhile, a survey by Opsera indicated that more than 80% of developers already use the Copilot extension in the IDE.

During the live demo at the event, Copilot assigned a task on GitHub, ran the code in a secure environment, and notified the user for review. According to Thomas Dohmke, CEO of GitHub, the new agent maintains compliance with existing security policies, such as branch protections and detailed tracking through session logs.

Microsoft emphasizes that the technology can be customized according to the language and tone of each organization, expanding access to internal knowledge through specialized and scalable agents for companies of all sizes.