GitHub Copilot
An AI pair programmer that suggests code completions and entire functions as developers type.
Definition
GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistant that integrates into code editors (VS Code, JetBrains, etc.), suggesting code completions, entire functions, and even complex algorithms based on context and comments. Built on OpenAI Codex and later GPT-4, it learns from the code you're writing to provide contextually relevant suggestions.
Copilot has evolved from simple completions to include chat interfaces, documentation generation, and code explanation features.
Why It Matters
GitHub Copilot has fundamentally changed developer productivity, with studies showing 30-50% faster task completion. It's shifting how code is written—from typing to reviewing AI suggestions.
For technical organizations, Copilot adoption affects hiring, training, and competitive velocity.
Examples in Practice
A developer writes a comment "// function to validate email addresses and return domain" and Copilot generates a complete, tested implementation in seconds.
A junior developer uses Copilot to understand unfamiliar codebases, asking it to explain complex functions and suggest improvements they wouldn't have known to make.