GitHub launches a free version of its AI assistant GitHub Copilot for VS Code users
Dec 18, 2024 at 6:57 PM

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.

Dec 18, 2024 by Mauricio B. Holguin

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GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistant that utilizes OpenAI Codex to offer real-time code suggestions and function completions directly in your editor. Trained on extensive code datasets, it translates natural language prompts into coding suggestions across multiple languages. Key features include code generation, AI-powered assistance, and integrated chat. Alternatives include Codeium, CodeGeeX, and TabbyML. Rated 3.7, it aims to enhance coding efficiency.

Comments

arsCynic ??
CommentDec 19, 2024

Desperation. How long until Microsoft ruins GitHub too?

2 replies
Asumeh

...I think they already have just by acquiring GitHub.

Reply written Dec 19, 2024

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demian_vi

stop whining, GitHub is doint great since Microsoft bought it, 90% of opensource programs is hosted in Github

Reply written Jan 5, 2025

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UserPower
CommentDec 18, 2024

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.

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Gu