GitHub releases technical preview of desktop Copilot app for agentic development

GitHub has released a technical preview of a desktop GitHub Copilot app for agentic software development.

The app lets developers start work from GitHub context, including issues, pull requests, prompts, and previous sessions. Each session has its own branch, files, conversation, and task state.

GitHub says the session model is designed to keep work separated across repositories and tasks. Developers can pause and resume sessions, review plans and diffs, run commands, open previews, test changes, and move completed work into pull requests.

The app also connects to GitHub’s review and merge process. GitHub says Agent Merge can address review comments, fix failing checks, and merge changes once defined conditions are met.

The technical preview is available to GitHub Copilot Pro and Pro+ users through early access. GitHub Copilot Business and Enterprise customers are also receiving access as availability rolls out, with admin settings required for some organizations.

GitHub has also added cloud agent model choices and announced billing changes for Copilot code review. Copilot cloud agent can now use faster and more cost-efficient models for simpler tasks, while Copilot code review will begin consuming GitHub Actions minutes for private repositories on June 1, 2026.

Sources: https://github.blog/changelog/2026-05-14-github-copilot-app-is-now-available-in-technical-preview/ and https://github.blog/changelog/2026-05-18-copilot-cloud-agent-fast-cost-efficient-models-for-simple-tasks/ and https://github.blog/changelog/2026-04-27-github-copilot-code-review-will-start-consuming-github-actions-minutes-on-june-1-2026/