
GitHub launches new Copilot agent for autonomous task management with GitHub Actions
GitHub has launched a new Copilot coding agent at Build 2025, positioning it as a direct challenger to OpenAI's recently announced Codex agent. This Copilot agent can autonomously complete tasks or issues assigned through GitHub.com, GitHub Mobile, or the GitHub command-line interface. Once assigned, the agent leverages GitHub Actions to create a customizable development environment, working in the background while developers track real-time session logs.
Following task completion, the agent submits a pull request that requires human review before any continuous integration or delivery workflows are triggered. The agent supports the Model Context Protocol, giving it the ability to access third-party tools and datasets beyond the native GitHub ecosystem. It also accepts images, such as screenshots or user interface mockups, expanding the range of tasks it can understand.
The rollout begins for Copilot Enterprise and Copilot Pro+ users, with GitHub highlighting that the agent performs best with low- to medium-complexity assignments in well-tested codebases. While integration with Xcode, Eclipse, and JetBrains IDEs is planned, the initial release focuses on seamless workflow integration within GitHub tooling.
