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GitHub Integrates GPT-5.5 Into Copilot to Solve Complex Agentic Coding Challenges

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GitHub Integrates GPT-5.5 Into Copilot to Solve Complex Agentic Coding Challenges
GitHub released GPT-5.5 as a generally available model for GitHub Copilot Pro+, Business, and Enterprise users. This integration mirrors the GPT-5.5 launch at OpenAI and extends GitHub's own agentic coding capabilities. The model is now accessible in Visual Studio Code, JetBrains, and the Copilot CLI.

This update marks a transition from reactive chat assistants to proactive partners capable of solving multi-step engineering problems. While it offers superior performance, it introduces a 7.5x premium request multiplier. This reflects the high inference cost of frontier reasoning capabilities in production environments.

You can select the new model via the model picker in your IDE or terminal. For organization-level accounts, administrators must manually enable the policy in settings. The rollout is gradual, so check your settings if the option is not yet visible in your environment.

Read the full update →

Frequently asked questions

Who can use GPT-5.5 in GitHub Copilot?
GPT-5.5 is available to subscribers on the Copilot Pro+, Copilot Business, and Copilot Enterprise plans. Individual users on the standard Pro plan or free tier do not have access to this specific model. The rollout is gradual, so eligible users should check their model picker across supported development environments for availability.
How much does it cost to use GPT-5.5 in GitHub Copilot?
While GPT-5.5 is included in high-tier Copilot subscriptions, it carries a 7.5x premium request multiplier as part of its promotional pricing. This means each interaction with the model consumes significantly more of a user's usage allowance compared to standard models, reflecting the higher computational cost required for its advanced reasoning.
Which IDEs and platforms support GPT-5.5 for Copilot?
GPT-5.5 is rolling out across the entire GitHub Copilot ecosystem. Supported environments include Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains, Xcode, and Eclipse. It is also available in the Copilot CLI for terminal-based workflows, the GitHub mobile apps for iOS and Android, and the web interface at github.com.
How do I enable GPT-5.5 for my GitHub Copilot organization?
For users on Copilot Business or Copilot Enterprise plans, the model is not enabled by default. Organization administrators must navigate to the Copilot settings menu and manually enable the GPT-5.5 policy. Once this administrative step is complete, the model will become selectable in the model picker for all authorized team members.
What are the main benefits of using GPT-5.5 for coding?
GPT-5.5 is specifically optimized for complex, multi-step agentic coding tasks where the AI autonomously plans and executes several steps to reach a goal. GitHub's testing indicates that this model can resolve difficult, real-world coding challenges that previous GPT versions were unable to solve, making it a more capable partner.