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Update Copilot introduction and capabilities #45924

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99 changes: 48 additions & 51 deletions content/copilot/get-started/about-github-copilot.md
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
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---

title: About GitHub Copilot
shortTitle: About Copilot
intro: 'Understand how {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} helps you ship software faster, how it works, and how to get access.'
intro: 'Understand how {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} helps you write, understand, and ship software, how it works, and how to get access.'
versions:
feature: copilot
feature: copilot
redirect_from:
- /copilot/copilot-individual
- /copilot/copilot-individual/about-github-copilot-individual
- /copilot/copilot-business/about-github-copilot-business
- /copilot/github-copilot-enterprise/about-github-copilot-enterprise
- /copilot/github-copilot-enterprise/overview
- /copilot/overview-of-github-copilot/about-github-copilot-for-individuals
- /copilot/overview-of-github-copilot/about-github-copilot
- /copilot/overview-of-github-copilot/about-github-copilot-individual
- /copilot/overview-of-github-copilot/about-github-copilot-for-business
- /copilot/overview-of-github-copilot/about-github-copilot-business
- /copilot/github-copilot-enterprise/overview/about-github-copilot-enterprise
- /copilot/configuring-github-copilot/configuring-github-copilot-settings-in-your-organization
- /copilot/managing-copilot-business
- /copilot/managing-copilot-for-business
- /copilot/github-copilot-enterprise
- /copilot/copilot-business
- /copilot/copilot-business/github-copilot-business-feature-set
- /copilot/copilot-individual/github-copilot-individual-feature-set
- /copilot/github-copilot-enterprise/github-copilot-enterprise-feature-set
- /copilot/about-github-copilot/github-copilot-features
- /copilot/get-started/github-copilot-features
- /copilot/get-started/features
- /copilot/about-github-copilot/what-is-github-copilot
- /copilot/get-started/what-is-github-copilot
contentType: get-started
category:
- Learn about Copilot

* /copilot/copilot-individual
* /copilot/copilot-individual/about-github-copilot-individual
* /copilot/copilot-business/about-github-copilot-business
* /copilot/github-copilot-enterprise/overview
* /copilot/overview-of-github-copilot/about-github-copilot-for-individuals
* /copilot/overview-of-github-copilot/about-github-copilot
* /copilot/overview-of-github-copilot/about-github-copilot-individual
* /copilot/overview-of-github-copilot/about-github-copilot-for-business
* /copilot/overview-of-github-copilot/about-github-copilot-business
* /copilot/github-copilot-enterprise/overview/about-github-copilot-enterprise
* /copilot/configuring-github-copilot/configuring-github-copilot-settings-in-your-organization
* /copilot/managing-copilot-business
* /copilot/managing-copilot-for-business
* /copilot/github-copilot-enterprise
* /copilot/copilot-business
* /copilot/copilot-business/github-copilot-business-feature-set
* /copilot/copilot-individual/github-copilot-individual-feature-set
* /copilot/github-copilot-enterprise/github-copilot-enterprise-feature-set
* /copilot/about-github-copilot/github-copilot-features
* /copilot/get-started/github-copilot-features
* /copilot/get-started/features
* /copilot/about-github-copilot/what-is-github-copilot
* /copilot/get-started/what-is-github-copilot

---

{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} is an AI assistant that helps you write, understand, and ship software. It suggests code as you type, answers questions about a codebase, reviews your changes, and works on tasks you assign it.
{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} is an AI assistant that helps you write, understand, and ship software. It can suggest code as you type, answer questions about your code and codebase, help you make changes, and assist with code and pull request reviews.

Because {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} is built into {% data variables.product.github %}, it works within the development workflow you already use:
Because {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} is integrated with {% data variables.product.github %}, it can work with the development workflow you already use, including:

* Your code and its history.
* The issues and pull requests you already use to track work.
* The automations you run in your repository.

A change can start as an issue, be picked up by an agent, return as a pull request, get reviewed for quality and security, and be merged.
* Issues and pull requests used to track work.
* Automations configured for your repository.

You and {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} work on it in the same place, with the same context, instead of moving code into separate tools and back again.
Depending on the features available to you, a task can start with an issue, be worked on by an agent, and result in a pull request for review. You remain responsible for reviewing changes before they are merged.

## How {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} works

{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}'s capabilities and supporting features fall into four categories:
{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}'s capabilities can be grouped into several areas:

**Assistive.** {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} responds while you work, suggesting code, answering questions, or explaining code. You review and apply each suggestion.
**Assistive.** {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} can respond while you work by suggesting code, answering questions, and explaining code. You review and apply suggestions as needed.

**Agentic.** You describe a goal, and {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} can work through multiple steps. It researches a repository, proposes a plan, edits files, reviews pull requests, runs tools, and prepares tasks for your review. You remain responsible for reviewing and approving.
**Agentic.** You can describe a goal and use an agent to work through multiple steps toward that goal. Depending on the feature and environment, an agent can analyze a repository, create a plan, edit files, use available tools, and prepare changes for your review.

**Customizations.** You customize {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}'s responses with instructions, reusable prompts, repository context, external tools, agent skills, and custom agents. When {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} understands your project's structure, conventions, and tooling, it gives you better responses.
**Customizations.** You can customize {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}'s behavior with instructions, reusable prompts, repository context, tools, agent skills, and custom agents. Providing project-specific context can help {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} produce responses that better match your project's structure and conventions.

**External AI agents, models, and tools.** Coding agents, models, and tools, including MCP servers from other providers, work alongside {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}. Third-party coding agents work asynchronously on development tasks and can make changes and open or update pull requests for your review. They are subject to the same security protections, mitigations, and limitations as {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}.
**External AI agents, models, and tools.** {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} can work with external agents, models, and tools, including MCP servers from other providers, where supported. External coding agents can work asynchronously on development tasks and may create or update pull requests for your review. The capabilities, security considerations, and limitations of external services can vary by provider.

## What you can do with {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}

{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} helps you throughout the software development lifecycle. For example:
{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} can help throughout the software development lifecycle. For example:

* **Understand code** by asking questions about files, repositories, and development concepts.
* **Plan and implement tasks** with an agent that can research a repository, make changes, and prepare a pull request for your review.
* **Plan and implement tasks** with an agent that can analyze a repository, make changes, and prepare a pull request for review.
* **Customize responses** with instructions, reusable prompts, repository context, tools, and specialized agents.
* **Write code** with inline suggestions and natural-language prompts.
* **Build applications** from natural-language descriptions.
* **Change code** by asking {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to edit, refactor, or fix code.
* **Review code** and pull requests, including summaries and suggestions for potential improvements.
* **Review code and pull requests** by generating summaries and identifying potential improvements.

The capabilities available to you depend on your Copilot plan, the client you use, and your organization's policies.
The capabilities available to you depend on your {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} plan, the client you use, and your organization's policies.

## Get access

You can start using {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} in several ways, depending on your role and needs.

### Individuals

* **Try {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} for free.** Use [{% data variables.copilot.copilot_free_short %}](https://github.com/copilot?ref_product=copilot&ref_plan=free&ref_style=text&ref_type=engagement) to explore core features with no paid plan required.
* **Subscribe to a paid plan.** Upgrade to a paid plan for access to premium features, increased access to models, and a higher monthly allowance of {% data variables.product.prodname_ai_credits_short %}. See [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/manage-your-account/get-started-with-a-copilot-plan) for more information.
* **Get free access if you're eligible.** Students, teachers, and open source maintainers may qualify for access to premium features at no cost. See [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/copilot-on-github/set-up-copilot/enable-copilot/set-up-for-students) and [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/copilot-on-github/set-up-copilot/enable-copilot/set-up-for-teachers-and-os-maintainers).
* **Try {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} for free.** Use [{% data variables.copilot.copilot_free_short %}](https://github.com/copilot?ref_product=copilot&ref_plan=free&ref_style=text&ref_type=engagement) to explore available features without a paid plan.
* **Subscribe to a paid plan.** Paid plans provide access to additional features, models, and {% data variables.product.prodname_ai_credits_short %}. See [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/manage-your-account/get-started-with-a-copilot-plan) for more information.
* **Get access if you're eligible.** Students, teachers, and open source maintainers may be eligible for access to {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} features at no additional cost. See [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/copilot-on-github/set-up-copilot/enable-copilot/set-up-for-students) and [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/copilot-on-github/set-up-copilot/enable-copilot/set-up-for-teachers-and-os-maintainers).

### Members of an organization

* **Request access from your organization.** If your organization or enterprise has a {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} plan, go to [https://github.com/settings/copilot](https://github.com/settings/copilot) and request access under "Get {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} from an organization."
* **Request access from your organization.** If your organization or enterprise has a {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} plan, go to [your Copilot settings](https://github.com/settings/copilot) and request access under "Get {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} from an organization."

### Organization and enterprise owners

Expand All @@ -94,9 +91,9 @@ You can start using {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} in sever

## Control for organizations and enterprises

If you use {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} through an organization or enterprise, administrators decide how it can be used. They control which members have access, set policies for which features are available, exclude files that {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} shouldn't see, and review usage data and audit logs to understand how it's being used.
If you use {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} through an organization or enterprise, administrators can control how it is used. They can manage member access, configure policies for available features, exclude files that {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} should not access, and review usage data and audit logs.

These settings help administrators manage {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} across the environments and features available to their organization or enterprise. Some settings and controls depend on the {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} plan and the client where {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} is used. See [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/administer-copilot).
The settings and controls available to administrators depend on the {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} plan and the client where {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} is used. See [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/administer-copilot).

## Next steps

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