
GitHub launches a free version of its AI assistant GitHub Copilot for VS Code users
GitHub has just launched a free version of its GitHub Copilot AI-powered code completion tool, now available by default with Microsoft's Visual Studio Code editor. This expansion allows all developers to access Copilot, which previously required a subscription starting at $10 per month or restricted to verified students, teachers, and open-source maintainers.
With the developer community growing to 150 million, GitHub's move aims to capitalize on this expansion by providing AI-driven code completions and explanations in natural language, using models like GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet. The free version allows developers up to 2,000 code completions per month and 50 chat messages in Copilot Chat, supporting multi-file edits and offers access to a third-party ecosystem for enhanced code suggestions.
GitHub's move to a freemium model comes as competition in the AI code completion market intensifies, with startups like TabNine and Cursor also offering free plans.
Desperation. How long until Microsoft ruins GitHub too?
...I think they already have just by acquiring GitHub.
Reply written Dec 19, 2024
stop whining, GitHub is doint great since Microsoft bought it, 90% of opensource programs is hosted in Github
Reply written Jan 5, 2025
2k code completions a month is not enough for a hobbyist dev on sub-part-time secondary minor project bug fix. But hey, it's free (but account needed), and giving the fact that Microsoft is still loosing money on each GitHub Copilot account, it's some sort of gift from Microsoft... Of course, I don't want to feel bad about it but I believe I'm hearing the sound of next antitrust lawsuit targeting the whole Microsoft/GitHub/OpenAI ecosystem.