GitHub retires several Copilot models across Chat and completions

GitHub has retired a set of AI models inside Copilot, its AI helper for writing code. The change took effect on October 19, 2026. It covers most Copilot experiences, including chat, inline edits, ask and agent modes, and code completions. If a team's setup depends on one of these models, it needs a new choice.

What changed

GitHub says it announced the retirements on September 18, 2026, so this was not a surprise drop. The retired models are removed automatically. GitHub states that no action is required to remove them. The work falls on the people who relied on them.

The material provided does not name the retired models. GitHub's full changelog post and its documentation on models are the places to find the list.

Who it affects

Developers and admins who use Copilot are the main group. Copilot Enterprise organizations may feel it most. Their administrators may need to turn on replacement models through the model policies in Copilot settings. Until a policy is enabled, the replacement may not show up for their team.

Anyone who only uses Copilot's default suggestions and never picked a specific model can likely relax. The article does not say whether defaults are affected, so a quick check is still wise.

What to do

The steps in the alert box above cover the checks. Enterprise customers with questions can contact their GitHub account manager, as GitHub suggests.