Microsoft's AI-powered programming tool GitHub Copilot is being upgraded to use OpenAI's latest GPT-4 language model, unlocking a range of new functionality in the process.
When GitHub Copilot was first released back in June last year, it relied on GPT-3 and could help developers by auto-completing comments and code. The upgrade to GPT-4 sees the so-called "AI pair programmer" receive a name tweak to GitHub Copilot X, but it's also promising programmers a number of highly-desirable new features, including the ability to have a chat, in return for the subscription fee.
It will be possible to hold context aware conversations with Copilot X using a ChatGPT-like interface (GitHub Copilot chat), so developers can use natural language to ask for help or tell the AI to perform a task. There's also the option to interact with the AI using your voice, verbally giving natural language prompts (GitHub Copilot voice).
Copilot X can be asked to explain a piece of code, write tests for your code, automate running of those tests, fix bugs, provide personalized documentation on specific features, help with command line syntax, and handle code pull requests including generating descriptions for them.
GitHub Copilot is currently available for $10 per month for individuals and $19 per month for business users. Access to GitHub Copilot X's new features are all in a "coming soon" state with different prerequisites for each. For example, accessing the ChatGPT-like interactions requires joining a waitlist and having an active GitHub Copilot subscription.
Microsoft hasn't decided if the new features teased as part of this Copilot X unveiling will simply be integrated into the Individuals and Business plans when they are ready. It may end up being the case that the tiers/pricing are tweaked to reflect the additional functionality on offer.