ITG NowHome › AI glossary › GitHub Copilot
What is GitHub Copilot?
GitHub Copilot is an AI coding helper from GitHub that suggests code and answers questions while you work.
- Category Agents & tools
- Updated 20 Oct 2026
GitHub Copilot, explained simply
GitHub Copilot is an AI assistant for people who write code. It sits inside your code editor and suggests the next lines as you type.
It matters because it speeds up routine coding and helps beginners learn. You can also ask it to explain code in plain words.
For example, you can type a comment like "sort this list by date" and Copilot offers the code.
It is made by GitHub, which is owned by Microsoft. Always read what it suggests before you use it.
On ITG Now, our daily AI news covers coding tools like GitHub Copilot, and our free tool guides show open source alternatives.
Related terms
AI coding agentGitHubIDEVS CodeCursorLLM
Where you'll see it on ITG Now
- GuideMatt Pocock Skills: Free Claude Code Skills That Work
- GuideCodeGraph for Claude Code: Cut AI Coding Costs (2026)
- GuideGraphify Knowledge Graph: Free Project Map for AI Helpers
- GuideHindsight: Free AI Agent Memory That Learns (2026 Guide)
- GuideOfficeCLI: Free AI for Word, Excel and PowerPoint Files
- GuideOn-Brand Diagrams with Claude: Diagram Design Guide (2026)
Questions people ask about GitHub Copilot
Is GitHub Copilot free?
GitHub has offered a free option with limits and paid plans. Check GitHub's site for current details.
GitHub Copilot vs Cursor: what is the difference?
Copilot is an add-on for editors you already use. Cursor is a code editor built around AI.
Is GitHub Copilot code safe to use?
Treat it like code from any helper. Read it, test it and watch for mistakes.